Aaron Reid

Sustainable procurement and D&I specialist

Aaron is a sustainable procurement and D&I specialist who has gained valuable insights from working at the cutting-edge of the agenda in both the public and private sectors. 

He is currently the lead on Balfour Beatty’s sustainable procurement strategy and its award-winning supplier diversity programme. Aaron is also the immediate past chair of Balfour Beatty’s BAME employee network and was responsible for developing Balfour Beatty’s £1bn spending commitment to SMEs, which was recognised by the then prime minister, he also led Balfour Beatty to become the first company in the world to be assessed against the international standard for sustainable procurement (ISO20400).  Aaron is a current and longstanding member of the CITB and CECA Fairness Inclusion and Respect Steering group and Chairs the WMCA Construction Skills Taskforce as well as sitting on the WMCA Skills Board.

He has held senior D&I roles with the London Development Agency (LDA) at Diversity Works for London, and with Advantage West Midlands at Birmingham Professional DiverCity where he worked with blue chip organisations to help them adopt good practice

Asif Sadiq

Senior Vice-President for Equity & Inclusion – Warner Media

Asif is the Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion at adidas and has a long and rich career in the diversity and inclusion space with senior executive roles at The Telegraph Media Group, EY Financial Services and the City of London Police. He is a board member for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and a member of the board of advisors for Hedley May. Over his 20-year career he has worked in Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa and Asia.  

Asif has been credited with impactful global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion activities and programs across organizations, that have created a strong sense of belonging for all and resulted in truly diverse workplaces. He has been key in building synergies between internal and external D&I efforts within organizations, ensuring diversity and inclusion is embedded in all elements of a business, resulting in innovative, creative and inclusive products and services.   

He is a Multi-Award Winning Diversity and Inclusion expert with a proven track record in D&I, Sustainability and Social Impact, being listed as one of the most influential Global D&I Leaders by Hive Learning, the CIPD’s Top 20 Power list and a LinkedIn Influencer. He is winner of numerous awards- including the highly commended Head of Diversity Award at the European Diversity Awards and was honoured with an MBE in 2017 by the Queen and granted the freedom of the City of London in 2016

Barry Cullen

Diversity & Inclusion Director, RICS

Barry Cullen has over 20 years’ experience in inspiring, educating and supporting a range of people from a variety of backgrounds into work and careers. Responsible for developing unique programmes and projects that have local and international appeal, Barry’s expertise covers skills, employability, apprenticeships, and helping firms to reap the tangible benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce.Barry is leading the delivery of RICS’s ‘Diversity & Inclusion’ strategy, which aims to build a 21st century professional body through equality, diversity and inclusion. 

Belinda Blake

EDI Manager, Highways England

Belinda Blake is one of the EDI managers within Highways England. 

She has specific responsibility to support both the business and supply chain in meeting Highways England’s ambition to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all they do.

Belinda has worked in the equality field for over fifteen years, acting as a critical friend to the private, public and voluntary sectors to improve equality of access, experience and opportunity for employees, customers and communities.

Carys Rowlands

Head of Professional Standards, RIBA

Carys is a barrister and the Head of Professional Standards at the RIBA.

Carys’ work for the RIBA involves professional standards, professional conduct issues, dispute resolution and ethics in architecture. She has written publications in collaboration with the UN Global Compact titled ‘The UN Sustainable Development Goals in Practice’, ‘Ethics in Architectural Practice’ and ‘A Decade of Action’ and she supported the RIBA Ethics and Sustainable Development Commission throughout 2018.

Carys also co-wrote ‘Close the Gap’ – the RIBA’s research and guidance document relating to gender equality in practice. Carys is currently supporting the development of the mandatory competence framework identified in the RIBA’s ‘The Way Ahead’. She is passionate about raising standards of professionalism and driving forward ethical practice through debate and discussion.

Chris Keast

FCIOB C.Build E FCABE MInstLM MICOMOS FHEA

Chris is a Chartered Building Engineer, Fellow of The Chartered Association of Building Engineers, Fellow of Chartered Association of Building and Fellow of The Higher Education Academy.  Following a successful career in the public sector as a Building Surveyor Chris moved into education heading up the Postgraduate Building Surveying course at Nottingham Trent University.

Following an accident in 2006, where he suffered life-changing injuries, Chris became acutely aware that much of the Built environment remains inaccessible for people with disabilities, which has driven much of his current research.

Harish Bhayani

Senior Partner, PRM Diversity Consultants 

Harish has specialised as a diversity consultant, trainer and researcher since 2001.

His expertise is grounded in some 20 years of prior experience working in large corporations such as Exxon Mobil and Deloitte.

Harish has developed leading edge initiatives in areas such as Unconscious Bias, Diversity Strategy, Inclusive Recruitment, Diversity Benchmarking and Supplier Diversity.

Julie Musesoglu

Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Homes England

Julie Musesoglu is Homes England’s Diversity and Inclusion Manager. She began her diversity and inclusion journey in 2013, setting up Build Together; Homes England’s LGBT+ network.

She has since supported the creation of other networks at Homes England, as well a co-founding LGBT+ Property Professionals; a Manchester based network aimed at advancing LGBT+ inclusion in the property sector.

She is a committee member of Greater Manchester’s Building Equality, and a member of Freehold and HouseProud.

As part of her current role as Homes England’s Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Julie is exploring how Homes England can help to further embed equality, diversity and inclusion, both within the Built Environment and through the homes they deliver.

Mara Makoni

External relations lead, AFBE (UK)

Mara is the AFBE (UK) Corporate Partnerships Lead and a member of the England Executive board. She is a consultant with international experience (USA, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, SA) and over 10 years of professional experience. She is a qualified Systems Engineer who has managed and implemented complex projects in energy and transport, from feasibility to completion.  She brings a wealth of experience of operation monitoring and due diligence advisory across sustainable development, renewable energy and transport.  Mara is an active and contributing Member of the Institution of Engineering Technology and plays an active role in, Intelligent Transport Systems UK and AFBE (UK) activities.

Sharon Slinger

Director, Constructing Rainbows

Sharon Slinger is the Director of Constructing Rainbows and works with organisations to improve their business through implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies.

With a background in quantity surveying, Sharon has nearly 20 years’ experience of working in the construction industry for main contractors.

She is a member of the Construction Industry Council Diversity and Inclusion panel, and the RICS Women of the Future Network.

Sharon also co-founded STEER Support & Mentoring CIC, a social enterprise which provide industry mentors for built environment students.

Sharon has won a number of awards for her work in diversity and inclusion.

Livia Williams

Industry Director for Construction YouthBuild Ventures UK

Livia Williams MBA FIoR has over 20 years’ experience working in the construction industry both in private and public sector. She is currently working as Industry Director for Construction at YouthBuild Ventures UK which is a chartered member of the YouthtBuild International, a powerful global NGO leading on the youth movement and advocating for youth opportunity and social justice.

Previously, Livia has had several senior roles in both public and private sector and she has been an inspirational leader passionate about fairness, inclusion and respect as well as ethical leadership and cross sector collaboration.

She has also co-founded the national Women in Roofing Group, an ambitious platform which brings likeminded people together promoting skills and diversity in the roofing sector and driving a positive culture for change. She has not only managed to “break the ceiling”, but she has also helped other women to succeed, inspire them and promote role models in the industry.

Theresa Mohammed

Partner at Trowers & Hamlins LLP

Theresa specialises in contentious construction and joined Trowers & Hamlins in June 2010 from a boutique construction law practice. Theresa was promoted to Partner in 2015. 

Theresa has extensive experience of acting for Employers and Main Contractors, making High Court applications and the Enforcement of Adjudicators’ decisions in the Technology and Construction Court. She is familiar with both standard and bespoke forms of construction contracts. Theresa also has experience of running High Court trials, instructing experts on technical engineering matters, resolving construction disputes through mediation and drafting settlement agreements, claims, defences and adjudication submissions. Theresa has also acted for clients in domestic and international arbitrations and frequently works with international clients in contentious proceedings.

Theresa is a regular speaker at London Build and for the RICS CPD training programme and is a regular contributor to Building Magazine and Construction Manager. 

Theresa is the Chair of the National Association of Women in Construction, is on the Board of Women in Social Housing and was awarded Best Woman in Construction Law at the European Women in Construction & Engineering Awards 2017.

Vanessa Howell

Head of Professional Standards, CIH

Vanessa Howell is head of professional standards at the Chartered Institute of Housing – the sector’s professional body – where she leads on the organisation’s work to equip professionals with the skills, knowledge and expertise they need to excel.

She has worked in education for 25 years and has wide-ranging experience of developing and driving standards of practice across a range of professions.

Vanessa also played a crucial role in helping the government to shape the new housing apprenticeships as part of the trailblazer group and is now driving CIH’s work with employers to maximise the changes to bring through new talent.

Mushtaq Khan

Chief Executive, Housing Diversity Network

Mushtaq is Chief Executive of the Housing Diversity Network, helping organisations and people to develop inclusive and thriving businesses.

He is on the Boards of Manningham HA and Syncora (the commercial arm of Calico Group). He has worked for a number of housing and regeneration organisations throughout his career, as well as running his own consultancy business.

He was previously Director of Commercial Partnerships at the Jigsaw Group as well as Director of Aksa Homes.

He has also worked at a senior level in local authorities for the over fifteen years, including working for large metropolitan councils such as Oldham, Trafford and Lambeth.

Maria Coulter

Managing Director, Construction Coach

With a career spanning over 20 years in the industry as a Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager and Risk Manager, Maria’s interest in personal development led her to become a qualified personal and business coach in 2012.

Maria is passionate about bringing positive and lasting change to the industry and launched Construction Coach in 2014 working with SME’s and micro-businesses to grow themselves, their businesses and their people through coaching and training

Maria is also a Non-Executive Director for the Construction Industry Council and chairs their Diversity and Inclusion panel.

Sam Stacey

Challenge Director – Transforming Construction, UKRI

Sam Stacey is Challenge Director – Transforming Construction at UKRI. He is leading the Transforming Construction challenge, a £170 million research and innovation investment, matched by £250 million from industry, to create new construction processes and techniques for building manufacture in the UK. Linked to the Construction Sector Deal, the programme includes funding for research, a new construction network and the creation of an active building centre and innovation hub.

Before joining UKRI, Sam was Director of Innovation, Industrialisation and Business Improvement at Skanska UK, a Trustee of the Building Research Establishment, and Chairman of the National Platform for Construction. Sam has also worked for Wates Construction and Buro Happold Engineering. He is a Chartered Structural Engineer with an MBA from Henley Business School and degrees in Civil Engineering, Architecture and Philosophy from Imperial College and Cambridge University.

Caroline Key

Project Manager – ERYC; Director – Starspan Ltd; G4C National Co-chair

Caroline Key has worked in the sector for over 13 years and continues to be an inspirational leader in the construction industry. You may know her best from her role as national co-chair of the Generation 4 Change Initiative, but Caroline can also be credited with significant contributions to the industry thanks to her past work with the Construction Industry Training Board and working with Constructing Excellence. She is well known throughout industry, with expertise including programme and project management, the development of digital construction strategies, fund management, and the integration of social value benefits into construction. Caroline currently runs her own construction consultancy, Starspan, and is managing the delivery of approximately £20m of construction work.

Rebecca De Cicco

Principal, Digital Operations at Aurecon, Global Chair at Women in BIM

Rebecca De Cicco is a global BIM expert, thought leader and innovator who acts as a role model across the world in BIM and Digital Processes and Standards. Her experience is vast and having worked for a number of Architectural practices in Australia and the UK she founded her own consultancy Digital Node which acted to support clients, industry and education in the uptake of BIM related processes and technology. 

Digital Node was established in the UK and Rebecca worked closely with industry in this region to support BIM knowledge, education as well as alignment to industry BIM Standards. Her work was extensive in this region working for government clients, industry organisations as well as education providers to support BIM implementation and education. 

In March 2021, Digital Node was acquired by global advisory firm Aurecon, who provide leading digital transformation and BIM capability to its people, clients and projects. Aurecon is an engineering, design and advisory company that brings ideas to life by enabling innovative solutions and digital delivery across a variety of different projects. Rebecca’s role across Aurecon is to support the organisation on a number of fronts including building the capability and capacity of the global group, as well as standardising the approach toward project delivery in line with international standards. 

Rebecca also founded the not for profit group, Women in BIM, in the UK in 2012. Her vision was to create an opportunity to gather and grow women in this space by providing an outlet to network, share and work together. The group started off as a relatively UK focused initiative and it has now become a global support network with WIB leaders positioned in over 43 countries across the globe driving and supporting their main themes and incentives. 

As an industry thought leader, Rebecca has been awarded numerous awards and recognitions for her work across the Construction industry and continues to strive to make a difference to ultimately help drive change and innovation in her sector. 

Christina Riley

Managing Director of LGBT Construct Limited & EDI Construct Ltd.

Christina Riley is the Managing Director of LGBT Construct Limited & EDI Construct Ltd.  She is a leading voice on LGBTIQ+ inclusion in Engineering & in the Construction sector. Christina is a founding member of the Building Equality Network, an alliance of over 40 tier one construction engineering companies and consultants. She is also a steering committee member of InterEngineering – who look at empowering LGBTQ engineers of all sectors.

Christina runs the LGBTconstruct global forum on social media and has just been recognised over in the USA by the leading Engineering magazine ENR for her global work on diversity and inclusion in Engineering.  Christina transitioned back in 2014 at Balfour Beatty following the launch of their LGBT & Allies Network & has gone on to be a public speaker on inclusion at companies like Rolls Royce, Walt Disney Company and Institute of Engineering & Technology. Christina was awarded Corporate Rising Star at the 2017 British LGBT Awards. More recently Christina has been recognised in the Involve OUTstanding lists supported by Yahoo Finance.

Christina hosts the main stage at London Build Expo, held at Olympia, on subjects including diversity, inclusion and Women In Construction. Christina is also on the diversity and inclusion advisory group for the Chartered Institute of Building.

During 2019, Christina helped launched the first industry disability network, Construct-Ability for the construction sector.