Ambassadors

Senior Architect - Noviun Architects

Zane Putne is a Senior Architect at Noviun, specialising in education projects with a particular interest for special education needs learning environments. Zane leads Noviun’s SEN sector alongside Design Director Peter Stephens, overseeing all SEN projects within the practice. She is passionate to explore how designs can enhance pupils’ experience and believes that collaborative approach to learning environments achieve the best results. Zane leads practice’s research group that undertakes studies of how our designs perform, once in use and exploring research into special needs.

 

Education Director - Galliford Try

Claire Jackson is education sector strategy lead at Galliford Try and is a Chartered Building Surveyor with over 30 years’ experience in construction, working client side, in a consultant role and now for a main contractor. For the last 12 years Claire has specialised in education, delivering new and refurbished schools through Building Schools for the Future (BSF), Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP) and Free schools programmes. At Galliford Try, Claire leads the national education team who are responsible for driving innovation and collaboration across the company, ensuring the delivery of high quality education buildings.

Concept Developer - Education, Saint-Gobain Ecophon

Shane Cryer manages the education sector in the UK and Ireland for Swedish acoustic experts, Ecophon. After a career in the construction industry, having studied building and property surveying, he now concentrates on building acoustics and is an Associate Member of The Institute of Acoustics (AMIOA). Working closely with organisations such as The Association of Noise Consultants (ANC) and the RIBA, Shane has been promoting the new BB93: Acoustic Design of Schools standard via CPD seminars, conferences and articles in the trade press. Shane also manages several acoustic research projects around the UK.

Partner - Haverstock

Claire Barton is a partner at Haverstock and has extensive experience of providing architectural design, client design advisor and technical advisor architectural services to SEND Schools at nursery, primary, secondary and higher educational level together with experience in residential settings. Claire also works as a technical advisor for the DfE and PSBP and has an in depth understanding of the current SEN requirements and specifications in line with the current Department for Education funding streams. She is passionate about innovative SEND design that respects and supports children and young people and their families/carers.

CEO - Caudwell Children

A successful textiles entrepreneur and Projects Director in the private sector, since 2000 Trudi has been the driving force at the UK charity, Caudwell Children. Over the past 20 years Trudi has orchestrated the charity’s continued growth, developing it from a small local charity to a national organisation helping over 50,000 children and has become an influential voice within the voluntary sector. It was Trudi’s vision to develop the new Caudwell International Children’s Centre (CICC) in Staffordshire which is home to the innovative autism assessment, intervention and research service. As a champion for the rights of disabled children and families and an ambassador for inclusivity, Trudi sits on the Board of the Design In Mental Health Network, the Children’s Activities Association and the steering committee for building guidelines at the British Standards Institute.   

Design Adviser lead for SEND, AP & Inclusive Design and Post Occupancy Evaluations - Department of Education

Since February 2019, Mark has worked as the DfE Design Adviser lead for SEND, AP & Inclusive Design, contributing to a range of design guidance documents, building programmes and individual projects. He is currently working on strategic SEND design support for the current college, special free school and AP, and school rebuilding programmes.

Mark is on the RIBA register of Client Advisers and has been a SEND specialist in private sector architect and project management companies with DfE and many local authority clients.

His presentation will provide more detail on the DfE Design Team approach to SEND provision across the sector and capital programmes, to ensure more inclusive education settings.

Senior Design Researcher - Atkins Limited

Ruth Hynes is a Senior Design Researcher within the Research & Innovation team, with a background in architecture and a qualified WELL AP. She has experience in combining qualitative and quantitative research methods to better understand how buildings shape people's experience. Ruth has experience working on a diverse range of research and design projects, including supporting collaborative research projects, and supporting the application of Human-Centred Design approach and the integration of wellbeing objectives within projects for Bournemouth University including Bournemouth Gateway Fusion Building and University of Bristol Biomedical Sciences Building.

Architect Director, Atkins

I am an Architect with 20 years experience in the Education Sector. As Head of Education Architecture for Atkins, I bring together our team designing everything from nurseries to university facilities. I have a passion for working with stakeholders to promote the value of good design, whilst embedding the importance of human centred design and wellbeing.

Director - UK & Europe, Faithful+Gould

Marcus is responsible for leading Faithful+Gould’s National Education Sector, which accounts for over 25% of the business. He has over 25 years’ experience within the Education Sector in senior leadership roles for both consultant and contracting organisations. 

Currently he is delivering West Sussex County Council £500m Capital programme, which has a large emphasis in modernising their Education Estate.

His experience spans both traditional and MMC projects and recently presented at the Association of Directors Estates conference on Social Value.

Strategic Facilities Adviser, King's College London

Ian is a chartered architect, graduating from Strathclyde University in 1977, with a further qualification from MIT in 2013. His early career included experience in private practice, local government and central Government where he was responsible for projects for a variety of clients including the Royal Palaces, the Ministry of Defence, the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery in London, the National Galleries of Scotland and the Supreme Courts of Scotland.

In 1989 Ian joined Deloitte where he carried out project and property assignments for a number of major clients, and in 1991 he was appointed Director of Estates and Services at Sheffield Hallam University, where he masterminded their redevelopment strategy. Ian was then appointed to be been Director of Estates at Imperial College London, following which he joined King’s College London in 2002 as Director of Estates and Facilities. In July 2014 he became Facilities Advisor at the College including a period as Acting Director of Space Management until March 2015, where has been assisting development of the Estate Strategy to support the College’s Strategic Vision for 2029 and assisting development of spatial briefs for projects such as the major refurbishment of Bush House, the former HQ of the BBC World Service, introducing new collaborative teaching, learning and working spaces and spaces for interface with external communities.

Ian is a Trustee and Past-Chairman of the Higher Education Quality Design Forum and contributed to the book “Future Campus” published by RIBA Publications in July 2017.

Head of Education, HLM

Lucy Plumridge is Head of Education for HLM and a University design tutor specialising in social, sustainable architecture. Her award winning designs explore how architecture can enhance the student experience and support changing educational pedagogies. Projects range from strategic master planning, brief development and stakeholder engagement through to design development and innovative active learning spaces. She has a particular interest in designing for students with special educational needs.

Associate, Barker

Formerly the Director of Estates for one of TTN’s founding Multi-Academy Trusts, Matt has begun a new role with a leading property consultancy, bringing with him over a decade of ‘client-side’ experience in property management and capital project delivery.

With 14 years of first-hand experience working at the forefront of Education Estates management he has worked with staff and colleagues across the Trust sector from the “C-Suite” level to the operational Facility Management teams. In doing so he has developed and established a variety of strategic and tactical approaches to support and enable the effective management and operation of the property portfolio for the schools of the Trust.

Scott Brownrigg

Helen's commitment to sustainability, diversity, inclusion and supporting the next generation has driven her work in Education design for nearly 20 years. She is passionate about cross industry collaboration, engagement and research. She played a significant role in the establishment of Modern Apprenticeships in Architecture and was recently made a Fellow of the RIBA and is currently an Honorary Research Fellow at Oxford Brookes University

Account Director, Schools, Trusts & Local Government

Andrew leads our UK offering to Schools, Trusts and Local Government Education clients. He has been supporting Education sector clients with developing and enhancing their estates for 20 years, with experience across Universities, Schools and Diocesan Portfolio Holder Clients as well as Multi Academy Trusts. His primary focus is around delivering large volumes of refurbishment and extension schemes, capital condition projects and strategic property related advice. Andrew has held key roles in supporting the Department for Education, particularly relating to condition strategy and led the Technical mobilisation of the Condition Data Collection Programme.

Principal & RIBA Client Adviser, S Williams Architects

Sarah Williams of S Williams Architects is a strategic RIBA Client Adviser and architect, working with private developers and Local Authorities, implementing high profile schemes of up to £150m.

Sarah set up S Williams Architects in 2013 having spent the last 25 years working in private practice in the UK and overseas. She is a practitioner and also works strategically as an RIBA Client Adviser, often collaborating with other architectural practices.

Sarah is known for her collaborative approach. She has participated in a number of design review panels, is an accredited RIBA Client Adviser and Chair of the RIBA steering group, regularly speaks at conferences and has organised and judged various competitions and awards. Past and previous clients include RIBA, Winchester City Council, The Crown Estate, The Department for Education, Berkeley Homes, Sevenoaks Town Council, and various other private developers and Local Authorities.

Group Strategy Director and Managing Director Government Affairs - Wates Group 

Steve joined Wates in 2010 and is responsible for Wates’ Group Strategy, Group Communications and Government Affairs. He is accountable for guiding, informing and co-ordinating relationships with government departments, including the Department for Education, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Justice. 

In his previous role as Managing Director Education and Investment Solutions, Steve was instrumental in the development of Adapt – the Wates kit-of-spaces design solution for cost effective schools. He was also responsible for investments across the Wates Group, focused around social infrastructure. 

With over 28 years’ experience, Steve has an excellent industry track record. He began his career as an Engineer with Tarmac in 1987 and progressed into a number of commercial roles before moving into a development and programme management role with Schal. Subsequent roles included Development and Sector Directorships with Jarvis and Laing O’Rourke, where he was responsible for over £2bn worth of PFI contracts across education, social housing, MOD, MOJ and infrastructure. He is a Chartered Surveyor, Chartered Builder and a Trustee of XP Free School in Doncaster. 

 

Head of Planning - Capital Directorate, Department for Education

Mike joined the Department for Education in 2016 after a spell in local government and 10 years in private sector planning consultancy, including as a Director in the Planning and Development Team at Jones Lang LaSalle. Mike leads an in-house team of 14 planning professionals within the Capital Directorate of the DfE, working across Operational and Forward Planning. The team operates on a regional basis across the two main school delivery programmes (Free Schools and PSBP), and alongside the likes of MHCLG and Homes England on a range of strategic planning initiatives to secure allocations, land and/or funding for schools.

Mark has spent time in marketing with Unilever before moving into advertising as a strategist with Leo Burnett, Creative Director at Starcom and founder of award-winning creative agency Weapon7. He has a passion for sustainable eco-buildings and has been with TG Escapes for 8 years building the brand and helping expand the business into education. Built around a timber frame, these natural buildings enhance well-being and educational outcomes. Mark also runs the social enterprise Street Wisdom, providing free creative workshops around the world.

Senior Associate, the-Learning-crowd

Sharon is an Education Adviser and over the past 18 years she has worked with education leaders, architects and contractors to create the best possible learning environments on a wide range of projects nationally and internationally. Previously she worked as a civil servant and was Managing Director of the not for profit company School Works.  

Director of Estates, LSE

Julian is Director of Estates at the London School of Economics, responsible for the delivery of all capital development, facilities and property management. He has delivered many high profile projects including the RIBA London Building of the Year 2014, when the LSE was also named AJ100 Client of the Year.

Holding post graduate qualifications in Town Planning and Surveying, most of his working life spent as a client side project manager. He was a CABE Enabler and is Chair of the Higher Education Design Quality Forum (HEDQF). In September 2016, Julian was made an Honorary Fellow of the RIBA and appointed to the National panel for Civic Trust Awards in 2017.

UK Learning+ Lead, Arcadis

Sector Lead on schools and educationally led mixed use developments in London and the South.  His portfolio covers all education strands, including nursery, primary, SEN, secondary and sixth form, in the new build and refurbishment/remodel sectors.  He is an RIBA Registered Client Advisor, and actively supports education providers across the age ranges, including STEM Ambassador, and ICC member at the University of West London. 

Deputy Managing Director - Wernick Buildings Limited

Andy started his career in the Modular industry 20 years ago working for the Portakabin Group in the Technical Department where he gained valuable knowledge of the special features of modular design and product development. Andy is currently Deputy Managing Director of Wernick Buildings Limited, a company that has decades of experience working within the education sector.

A valued member of the Modular & Portable Building Association, Andy has been Chairman of the Technical Committee for 12 years working with other members of the industry to improve the professionalism of the industry and raise awareness of the benefits of modular buildings.

Richard Bysouth joined Kier as a civil engineering undergraduate in 1989. In his early career, Richard progressed from Site Engineer to Project Manager, working on a range of projects, and achieving CEng MICE status.  More recently, he has specialised in the education sector, initially responsible for Kier’s school projects in London, then Kent and now as overall Education Sector Director for Kier Construction. Richard’s role covers all aspects of ‘delivering excellence’ in education projects, from overall client relationships, through pre-construction to delivery, and into aftercare. He is passionate about delivering high quality yet affordable education projects that enable our young people to flourish and achieve their goals in life.

Director - UK Head of Public Sector and Education -  Faithful+Gould

Terry is a Chartered Structural and Civil Engineer with over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry. Terry has worked in both the public and private sectors managing large organisations and delivering projects across a wide social infrastructure asset class –  schools, universities, prisons, courts, administrative estates etc. Terry was the Deputy Director of Estates for the Ministry of Justice with responsibility for the delivery of all estates related projects across the whole asset lifecycle – strategic planning, capital delivery, operations and end of life.  Terry led the UK Government’s first BIM projects and is the current UK Digital Built Britain Delivery Director for BIM Level 2. Terry is now a Director with SNC-Lavalin’s Faithful+Gould business and is their UK Head of Public Sector and Director for BIM. Terry is the current chair of the Government BIM Working Group which is attended by Govt Depts, large UK infrastructure providers and Local Government Representatives. Terry has chaired the UK Cabinet Office New Forms Of Construction Procurement Group, developing and implementing collaborative procurement models across UK Government departments. 

Strategic Adviser - Education - ISG

With more than 30 years in the construction industry, Jane was a driving force behind the Vale of Glamorgan’s 21 Century Schools programme, leading the team as they innovated and developed the model that is now the blueprint for schools delivered across the county.

With a construction background, Jane is not only an expert in the field of education, but passionate about creating places that inspire the next generation to take charge of a sustainable future. She believes that the places that educate our children should reflect and deliver on a better future for our planet, providing the best environment, flexible learning spaces and value for money for local authorities and school trusts.

Lead design advisor - Department for Education

Jennifer Singer is an architect and education design advisor, leading the design team’s work in Further Education (FE). Originally from Philadelphia, USA, her work includes the development of new standards in college projects, guidance on sustainable estates and assurance on the FE Capital Transformation Fund. Jennifer’s background is in design advice and evaluation on a range of major capital programmes, stakeholder engagement and the use of research and evidence to create high quality, sustainable places for education. Jennifer is also a Trustee for a small Multi Academy Trust (MAT), enabling her to connect directly with the experiences of the learners and staff who use and manage the buildings and estates. 

Warneford Consulting

Tim Warneford is an experienced academy funding consultant who provides a range of bid management and strategic estate management services. He is a SEND Link Governor at the Wootton Academy Trust where is also advises on estate and energy strategy. He is the producer of a series of podcasts, Developing the Trust' in which he explores best practice from fellow professional service providers across the academy sector. With degree's in both building surveying and social policy, he is particularly interested in the causal link between environment and life chances.

University of Birmingham - Director of Estates

Trevor Payne is the Director of Estates at the University of Birmingham responsible for a complex portfolio of heritage and cutting edge HE buildings. He is responsible for over 200+ buildings, over half a Million M2 of floor space and over 700 acres of award winning grounds and sports fields that support 40,000 students and 8000 staff. Trevor is currently delivering a £1BN capital programme to 2021 and is halfway through the delivery of a ten-year estates strategy that will see a further £500M invested in developments to 2026. He is also working on the delivery of a new 4,500 student Dubai university campus to open in Dubai in autumn 2021 and a new Life Sciences Park with Bruntwood Scitech that started on site in August 2021 in Edgbaston working closely with the NHS.

The University is preparing to host key facilities for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham in July 2022. UoB have just signed a ground breaking living lab/IoT partnership deal with Siemens to create the World’s Smartest campus. Trevor completed a successful 28-year career in the UK Health service managing a portfolio of the largest, oldest and newest NHS healthcare buildings & sites, including Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals, UCLH and Barts Health. Trevor conceived and delivered the NHS Sustainability Day initiative and worked closely with the NHS SDU. He has developed an active network that links NHS and HE estates Directors. His first book “Facilities Management – A Strategy for Success” was published in May 2000 (ISBN: 1 90237535 1) and is still on the International reading list of a number of University FM MSc academic courses.  He regularly presents papers nationally & internationally at seminars and conferences on a wide range of matters relating to Facilities, Estates Management, SMART, intelligent Campus design and Sustainability. Trevor has been invited to speak at the House of Lords twice on sustainability and previously presented to a Parliamentary select committee on sustainability.