Judges
Meet the panel of industry experts who will be judging the nominees for the “Building The Future Awards.” These experts have years of experience and knowledge in the construction industry and have been hand-picked to ensure the most fair and thorough evaluation of the nominees. They represent a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives, and are committed to recognising the achievements of young people in the construction industry. Each judge will bring their unique expertise and experience to the evaluation process, ensuring that the winners truly represent the best and brightest in the industry. We are honoured to have such a distinguished group of individuals serving as our judges and are confident that the awards will be a fair and accurate reflection of the contributions of young people in the construction industry.
Our Judges
Mike Brooman
CEO of Vanti
Mike has a proven track record of delivering results and adding value on a variety of engagements across multi-national, corporate, government, education and small / medium business clients; consulting on, presenting about, implementing and supporting IT, audio-visual and smart & intelligent workplace and building technologies.
As a result, Mike can see beyond the immediate or presented requirements of a client and in addition support the longer-term strategic needs of their organisation. His ability to maintain this focus not only achieves immediate success but allows him to deliver an even greater return on investment on the initial scope.
Avril Grant
CEO AT AVISION
Avril formed her organisation AVision for Empowerment in 2012, a social enterprise which delivers holistic empowerment interventions that supports people to overcome personal challenges so they can achieve sustainable career success. Avril and her teams work within the Criminal Justice Sector delivering bespoke accredited empowerment courses to over 26 prisons across the UK in partnership with many large prime organisations, transforming attitudes and leading over 5000 delegates including those with serious violence convictions, along the road to desistence and to achieve long term employment and entrepreneurship.
Jayne Hanson
Birmingham City Council
I am currently employed by BCC Employment Access Team working alongside varying stakeholders to reduce unemployment in Bham and Solihull. Account managing numerous SME and large businesses. I am currently leading on construction related activity feeding into HS2, Commonwealth Games and other key builds in Birmingham. I actively support main contractors and supply chain by upskilling individuals to fill skills gaps and creating a talent pool to fulfill 106 and CSR obligations.
Sachin Parmar
CHARTERED TOWN PLANNER
Sachin is a Chartered Town Planner based in our Birmingham office and covers the Midlands area. He is proven at shaping and guiding complex development schemes through the planning system to a positive outcome. With a strong background in the public sector being responsible for projects across various sectors, Sachin understands the complexities of the planning system, the role of politics in planning and the ways in which to negotiate the balance in favour of development.
Lee Burke
HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, NFB
Lee Burke is the Head of Business Development for the National Federation of Builders – one of the UK’s longest standing trade federations with unrivalled standards, services, and advocacy. With over a decade of experience in sales and business development, Lee leads the NFB’s work to support construction businesses in saving money, winning more contracts, and keeping up to date with legislation and policy advocacy.
Rosa Wells
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BIRMINGHAM
A former Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer, Rosa has been delivering employer responsive training for the engineering sector for over a decade. As a firm advocate for flexible training solutions to ensure learning opportunities linked to career development are available to employees of all backgrounds, she was invited to join the Trailblazer groups that developed apprenticeships in Civil and Building Services Engineering. More recently, she has taken on a Board Director role for Greater Birmingham & Solihull Insitute of Technology and has been appointed as Executive Dean Engineering, Digital & Sustainable Construction at University College Birmingham (UCB). This is an exciting time for Rosa to be joining UCB as it moves into delivery of new Engineering and Construction courses; design, development and delivery of the new Curriculum is supported by substantial investment and a new accreditation partnership with the University of Warwick.
Natalie Penrose
Head Of Legacy At HS2 Ltd
Natalie is the Head of Legacy at HS2 ltd, and she is responsible for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, Skills, Education and Employment. Prior to taking on this role in early 2022, Natalie was in leadership roles at HS2 ltd in Community & Stakeholder Engagement. Before joining HS2 in 2018 Natalie worked in senior roles across a wide range of sectors, including health, education, welfare and public sector audit. She has been leading teams for over 25 years, and is passionate about integrity and fairness.
Lorraine Gregory
Executive Director Of CECA Midlands
Lorraine is the Executive Director of CECA Midlands, (Civil Engineering Contractors Association) Lorraine studied Health and Social Care at college before going onto do a degree in Education and History at University. She started her career in Education, Skills, and Careers with a focus on education policy development and development of employability workshops in schools. She then went into the construction industry working as a recruitment adviser before developing her role to work supporting employers with skills, funding and influencing policy. Lorraine joined CECA in 2022, where she now leads the trade association to support civil engineering businesses to gain work opportunities, support with social value commitments and deliver training.
Keith Shayaam-Smith
Legacy Centre Of Excellence
Keith Shayaam-Smith is an award-winning Business Leader, Social Entrepreneur and Creative Visionary with a passion for community and business development. Keith is the CEO at 7E Youth Academy, and Chairman of The Legacy Centre of Excellence, Europe’s largest Black owned Arts and Business Centre. He is also a trustee and Chair of several professional organisations, a business advisor to aspiring entrepreneurs, and has over 20 years of experience in youth engagement.
Ghazala Javed Associate
Director At Tetra Tech
Ghazala Javed is an Associate Director in Planning at Tetra Tech, a global consultancy firm. She has extensive experience advising clients on various planning matters, particularly in property development and regeneration schemes. Ghazala is actively involved in the construction industry, serving as the chairperson of United in Construction (formerly Women Working in Construction). The organization promotes diversity and inclusion within the industry. She also co-hosts The Construction Curry Club, a quarterly networking event for industry professionals to connect and explore business opportunities. Ghazala’s passion lies in encouraging young people, especially women, to pursue careers in construction. She emphasizes that the industry offers diverse roles beyond the traditional perception of “bricks and mortar.” Her dedication and leadership have been recognized by the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee, where she was invited to share her insights.
Alex Tross
Built Environment Commercial Director
With a wealth of experience in Commercial Property, having qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 2008, Alex is responsible for driving Centrick’s Commercial growth in the West Midlands and beyond. In addition to his role at Centrick, Alex is Deputy Chair of Colmore Business District, providing him with expert knowledge of Birmingham’s business quarter. Alex was also voted Man of the Year, at the city’s Business Awards in 2022, after being nominated alongside leading business figures across Birmingham.
Byron Dixon OBE
Founder And CEO Of The Award-Winning Brand, Micro-Fresh®
Byron Dixon OBE is the founder and CEO of the award-winning brand, Micro-Fresh®- An innovative technology used globally by manufacturers and retailers to protect and preserve the freshness of their products. Byron began his career as a lab technician, developing leather finishing products for ECCO in Denmark. He returned to the UK with extensive knowledge and a network in the footwear industry to launch Corium Solutions in 2001. In 2006, Byron created the winning formula of Micro-Fresh, which prevents mould, bacteria and viruses on products including shoes and bedding. Now, Micro-Fresh® is found in retailers such as John Lewis, Next and M&S. In 2014 Byron completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 businesses programme and went onto win many awards himself and for the company. Most recently, being named amongst the UK’s top 50 most ambitious business leaders in 2022 by the LDC.
Emma Rhymes
Winvic
Social Value Manager for Winvic Construction Limited, Emma has spent her whole career mainly working within the construction industry or helping people in the not-for-profit sector and her role at Winvic is the perfect blend of these two passions. Starting as an apprentice in construction from finishing school she has worked in an array of construction roles, before having a complete change in career which led her towards the third sector, and becoming a Community Engagement Officer. Very fulfilling, Emma managed funding to deliver support services to the Birmingham communities and seen Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was gaining much momentum at that time (around eight or nine years ago), particularly in construction so focused on this area and undertook online courses to gain qualifications within CSR and move back into construction sharing her third sector and CSR learnings. Emma supported the creation of the virtual ‘Aspire Hub’ one of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability’s (ICRS) Hubs. The Aspire hub is for people who are new to the sector and seek to become a professional in the field. Emma chairs both the North East and South East Social Value Working groups for National Highways, as part of a collaborative group of contractors on their SDF framework. Emma uses her knowledge and project expertise from working across construction sectors and in many areas across the UK to share best practice between communities.
Charlene Wall
Journalist and Broadcaster
Damini Sharma
CEO The OM Group
Cheryl Causebrook
Cheryl Causebrook is an Associate Director at GVE Commercial Solutions, with a rich background in the construction industry. She began her career as a quantity surveyor and has gained extensive experience working across contractors, subcontractors, and client-side roles. Cheryl’s passion lies in helping others, particularly in nurturing and guiding young businesses. Now, she is returning to her roots in construction while expanding her expertise in the contractual and legal aspects of the industry. Cheryl is committed to delivering optimal commercial outcomes by supporting negotiations and resolving disputes, helping projects achieve their best results.
Siu Mun Li, named Most Influential Woman in Construction 2023/24, is a Director at the Temporary Works Forum and an active IOSH Construction Group Committee Member. With an in-depth understanding of practical site and buildability issues, Siu Mun brings a wealth of experience in coordinating works on live sites. Her exceptional communication and liaison skills ensure seamless collaboration across teams, while her strong leadership abilities enable her to manage people effectively, maximizing their skills and contributions to each project. Siu Mun is dedicated to advancing the construction industry by fostering a culture of safety, innovation, and teamwork.
Danny Clarke is the Engagement Director for England at CITB, championing people and skills development within the construction industry. A recognized leader in the sector, Danny was named one of the Top 100 Women in Construction. With extensive experience working alongside leadership teams across multiple organizations, she has successfully helped drive growth and strategy, focusing on team building, leadership development, and diversity & inclusion. Her expertise spans management consulting, strategic planning, executive coaching, and public speaking. Passionate about supporting a skilled, competent, and inclusive workforce, Danny is dedicated to attracting talent and developing future-ready training systems for the construction industry. Engage with Danny to explore how CITB’s initiatives can enhance your skills and contribute to industry growth.
David Browne is a Director at Pareto Projects, bringing over 30 years of experience in the development and construction industry. His career trajectory includes leadership roles in a diverse range of projects, from retail and commercial to large-scale mixed-use developments, with project values ranging from £100k to £160m. In 2005, David played a key role in the management buy-out of the Back Group, which later became DBK and was acquired by RPS in 2016. As a Project Director at RPS, he oversees service delivery, client relationships, and the management of costs, revenues, and fee proposals. David is also focused on recruitment and development, managing teams of Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors. His expertise spans project management, contract administration, and addressing technical, management, and contractual project challenges. A member of the Chartered Institute of Building, he has contributed to the profession by reviewing membership applications and conducting Professional Interviews.
Dr. Bola Abisogun OBE (Hon DUniv, Hon MBA) is a renowned industry disruptor, serial curator, and innovative Systems Architect/Developer specializing in Digital Twin solutions through ConTech and PropTech platforms. As a Gemini Ambassador for the Centre for Digital Built Britain (#CDBB), he co-authored the Gemini Papers and the Digital Twin Business Case Toolkit, published with techUK in February 2021. A Chartered Construction Manager, Chartered Surveyor, and eminent Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Dr. Abisogun has delivered over £8 billion in capital projects across various sectors, with extensive experience in public sector procurement, contract management, and regulatory compliance. Through his independent consultancy, he offers cutting-edge construction cost management and asset management solutions. Awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours for his services to diversity and young people in construction, Dr. Abisogun is unapologetically committed to challenging the status quo and driving positive change in the industry.
Sarah Taitt is the Chief Property and Services Officer at Wickes, where she leads a multi-functional team and drives one of the company’s key growth strategies. With extensive experience in senior leadership roles, Sarah has successfully designed and implemented strategies that foster business growth and operational efficiency. Her leadership has been instrumental in driving change and managing diverse operations within organizations. Passionate about mentorship, she is dedicated to nurturing and supporting future generations of diverse leadership in retail. Sarah’s expertise and commitment to development continue to shape Wickes’ success in the home improvement sector.
Assistant Director Development (Places, Prosperity & Sustainability Directorate) Birmingham City Council
