Are we ready?
Delivering Net Zero in the built environment: six months on
In the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and Environmental Industries Commission (EIC) report released in December 2020, we asked the question ‘So what needs to change?’ to deliver a net zero built environment. We focused on government policy, but also on the importance of consultants and clients stepping up and working together to make every project as ambitious as possible in terms of cutting emissions.
The six months since the report has seen a flurry of government announcements and business initiatives, but are we really much closer to being able to make our built environment fit for a zero-emission future? And if not, what do all of us need to do next? This panel discussion will explore the answers.
Chair
Dr Sarah Prichard
UK Managing Director | Buro Happold
Chair | ACE & EIC Net Zero Task Force
Sarah joined Buro Happold in the Bath office as a Trinity College Dublin graduate in January 2001. Having completed her PhD on the response of concrete to impact, she decided to put what she had learnt into practice and ‘build things!’.
Sarah became a Partner in 2017 and is the UK Managing Director, a role which seeks to support and unify all of the engineering teams, in the structures, building environment and specialist consulting disciplines, from the five offices in the UK.
Panellists
Matthew Farrow
Director of Policy | ACE & EIC
Matthew Farrow is Director of Policy at the Association for Consultancy & Engineering (ACE) and its sister organisation, the Environmental Industries Commission (EIC). He has led the work the two organisations have done on net zero and is the author of the report Are we ready: delivery net zero in the built environment. Previously, Matthew was Executive Director at the EIC, and has also held senior policy roles at the Environmental Services Association and the CBI.
Ron Lang
Chief Technical Officer | Construction Innovation Hub
Ron takes on responsibility for driving whole life performance, outcome-based procurement models and data driven decision making. Ron will be working closely with industry and the public sector to develop and embed an agreed methodology for measuring future success in the built environment, taking into account the whole life value aspirations of the transforming construction programme. Ron has a BSc in Architectural Engineering and Design Management, an MSc in Construction Innovation and Management and has worked across a broad spectrum of roles over the last 15 years.
Andrew Tabern
Director | Buro Happold
Andrew is a Chartered Structural Engineer with over 15 year’s experience within the construction industry and has sound knowledge in design, incorporating all materials to create elegant and efficient structures. Andrew has developed considerable experience in designing and delivering commercial structures with a balanced mix of the design of modification of existing structures and the design and development of new build structures working with some of the most prominent commercial developers in the UK together with high profile Architectural practices.
Robert Deatker
Estate Director | The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC)
Robert is the Estate Director at The All England Lawn Tennis Club for the past 7 years, overseeing the development, construction and maintenance activities including the Master Plan – the long term vision for the wider Estate. This includes the redevelopment and refurbishment to support a net zero carbon target for 2030. Robert has been involved in property, design and construction for the past 30 years. Prior to the AELTC, he oversaw major projects including The Shard and London Bridge Quarter. Starting his career in engineering design with Arup, Robert moved into commercial development, leading a large range of major projects and programmes, including high rise office developments at Canary Wharf; large scale mixed-use developments in Abu Dhabi; international hotels and major infrastructure projects. Robert is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer.
Alex Edwards
Head of Infrastructure & Energy | Bruntwood Estates
Alex joined Bruntwood in 2006 after completing a BSc in Building Surveying from the University of Salford. Alex initially worked as a Building Surveyor in Bruntwood’s Manchester City Centre portfolio. In 2009 Alex became Chartered and then in 2012 moved to head up the Birmingham portfolio. In 2016 Alex completed a masters degree in Building Services Engineering at Brunel University, graduating with Distinction. In 2017 Alex moved to a central role within Bruntwood and is currently Head of Infrastructure & Energy, playing a key role in Bruntwood’s Net Zero Strategy.
