Construction Industry Council (CIC) - Experts & Thought Leaders

CIC has published a set of policy recommendations for the new Government ahead of King’s Speech. The recommendations are contained in a new publication, ‘Building A Safer, Healthier and More Sustainable Future for All’, which outlines some of the actions the new Government can take to empower the country’s economic growth, as well as enhance the nation’s health and wellbeing by ensuring a better-built environment for everyone. well-thought-out plan The Government will set out its legislative priorities for the upcoming Parliamentary term and CIC is urging it to consider the exceptional benefits a well-thought-out plan for construction and the built environment can bring. The recommendations have been formulated with the individual assistance of CIC members as well as collectively through CIC committees. As the representative forum for the professional bodies, research organizations, and specialist business associations in the construction industry, CIC has drawn from its wide experience and direct engagement with the government in a wide range of areas including planning, housing, building safety, net zero, and future skills. high-quality built and natural environment The recommendations have been formulated with the individual assistance of CIC members CIC members collectively represent approximately 500,000 individual professionals and 25,000 firms of construction consultants. CIC Chair, Dr. Wei Yang commented on the publication saying, "With buildings meant to last generations, we need a high-quality built and natural environment that benefits everyone." He adds, "A long-term mission-driven commitment will bring improved energy, food, and water security, provide safe and sustainable homes, enhance local amenities, foster healthier families, and protect against global heating and biodiversity loss through blue and green infrastructure." building safety CIC Chief Executive, Graham Watts, said, "As the new government looks to hit the ground running on planning, infrastructure, and housing, we would urge them to consider the broader advantages our industry can provide." He adds, "Construction is a vital tool for growth and there are clear benefits to the public purse of addressing our climate obligations early, working with industry to improve building safety, and getting a skills plan in place to deliver on national objectives for housing and infrastructure."

CIC is pleased to announce the appointment of Mina Hasman as the new Chair of the CIC Climate Change Committee. Mina, who has been serving as the Deputy Chair of the committee, succeeds Stephen Hodder MBE, who has commendably led the committee since its inception. Mina Hasman Mina, Sustainability Director at Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM), brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to sustainability and climate action. In her role at SOM, the global architecture and engineering practice, Mina leads the firm’s sustainability and well-being daily operations and long-term vision. More broadly, Mina has been instrumental in driving forward the agenda of sustainability within the construction industry at large. As a recognized expert in environmental design, her leadership and expertise have been pivotal in various organizations and initiatives aimed at reducing the industry's carbon footprint and promoting sustainable practices. Stephen Hodder His leadership was in the publication of the 'Carbon Zero: The Professional Institutions’ Climate Action Plan Stephen Hodder MBE, the outgoing Chair, has been the foundation of the CIC Climate Change Committee since its establishment three years ago. His leadership was instrumental in the publication of the 'Carbon Zero: the professional institutions’ climate action plan', a milestone document that set the framework for industry-wide climate action. Stephen's tenure has been marked by his resolute commitment and hard work, which have laid a strong foundation for the committee's future endeavors. CIC extends its deepest gratitude to Stephen for his exceptional service and the transformative impact of his leadership. passion for sustainability Graham Watts OBE, CIC Chief Executive, expressed his appreciation, saying, "We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Stephen Hodder for his visionary leadership and tireless efforts in establishing and guiding the CIC Climate Change Committee." He adds, "As we welcome Mina Hasman as the new Chair, her extensive expertise and passion for sustainability will inspire the committee to thrive and continue to show our ongoing commitment to climate action." collaboration and climate change Commenting on her appointment, Mina Hasman said, "It is an honor to be appointed Chair of the Construction Industry Council's Climate Change Committee." Mina Hasman adds, "In this pivotal role, I am committed to fostering industry-wide collaboration and advocating for continuous upskilling to strengthen our collective capacity. Together, we can drive sustainable practices, innovate resilient solutions, and lead the charge against climate change, ensuring a greener and more prosperous future for all. " sustainable and equitable design Mina Hasman leads SOM’s sustainability and wellbeing operations, focusing on the long-term vision and strategy Mina Hasman leads SOM’s sustainability and wellbeing operations, focusing on the long-term vision and strategy for achieving excellence in practice. She oversees the firm’s progress on climate action as it relates to its global business operations and projects. Mina’s experience spans a wide variety of projects in Europe, the UK, Asia, and the Middle East, bringing a deeper understanding of the implications for sustainable and equitable design in different climatic, social, and regulatory contexts. Mina's experience As a recognized expert in her field, she has been elected to and is actively involved with several organizations, including the UKGBC Board of Trustees; RIBA Council, Practice & Policy Committee, and the Climate Emergency Task Group (as Chair); CAA Council (as the Regional Vice Chair of Europe); LETI Steering Committee; UNEP/GlobalABC’s COP Task Force; CIC Climate Change Committee (as Chair); CIBSE Intelligent Buildings Group (as Vice Chair); and the WorldGBC Advancing Net Zero Committee. Mina regularly contributes to the wider climate change, sustainability, and wellbeing debate as a tutor at various academic institutions, including The Bartlett (UCL), the Architectural Association, and the Manchester School of Architecture. climate literacy Mina helped the RIBA define its Mandatory Competence Requirements for climate literacy Using her work as part of the transdisciplinary “Climate Framework” Initiative, Mina helped the RIBA to define its Mandatory Competence Requirements for climate literacy. She also authored the “RIBA Climate Guide” – structured around the Climate Framework – to equip built environment professionals with key knowledge and guidance to mitigate the impact of climate change. expertise, and leadership in climate advocacy Mina’s years of experience, expertise, and leadership in climate advocacy have resulted in numerous accolades, including The Big 5 Construction Award for Sustainable Leader of the Year in 2021 and recognition in TIME Magazine’s 2023 Top 100 list of most influential climate leaders in business.  Mina has also been a part of the RIBA’s Stirling Prize jury and currently chairs the CAA Awards, as well as the prestigious RIBA Silver Medal jury.

UCEM has published a report titled ‘Joined up leadership for an inclusive built environment’ recommending reforms to help the sector work more cohesively to increase the recruitment, retention, and success of those from an array of diverse backgrounds. INSPIRE event This report captures the outcomes of collaborative discussions held at UCEM's most recent ‘INSPIRE’ event, which was supported by the Construction Leadership Council, Construction Inclusion Coalition, Construction Industry Council, and Building People. The event saw the participation of 75 experts from professional bodies, government agencies, academia, and industry, all committed to shaping a more inclusive future for the sector. EDI initiatives EDI initiatives support a strategic approach that avoids duplication of effort and encourages joined-up expert leadership There was a particular focus on bringing together those involved in sector-wide EDI initiatives to support a strategic approach that avoids duplication of effort, encourages joined-up expert leadership, and achieves a ‘one voice’ approach towards EDI strategy in construction and the built environment. Discussions spanned innovative strategies and leadership, existing cross-sectoral equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, and how these could be amplified to embed more inclusive systems and processes throughout the sector, both across its various specialisms and amongst organizations of all sizes. barriers for progress Although the built environment industry is beginning to diversify, the report identifies several barriers that are holding back progress. These were the lack of aligned standards for the collection of EDI data, members of historically minoritized communities who undertake built environment education or training but then decide not to pursue a long-term career in the sector, and the lack of consistent standards concerning EDI policies, practices, and behaviors. report recommendations Seeking to suggest actions to overcome these barriers, the report proposes: Unified EDI Data Framework: Establishing a sector-wide approach to collecting, sharing, and analysing EDI data, to establish benchmarks laying the groundwork for informed and targeted collective actions Voluntary reporting of key EDI data: Larger employers and major projects should report on areas such as pay gaps, modeled on the UK’s mandatory gender pay gap reporting regime. Cooperation to improve retention of diverse cohorts between education and employment: The sector should consider pan-sector outreach, work experience, and professional mentorship schemes to encourage those from marginalized communities in built environment education to join the industry and see it as a long-term career. Embedding of EDI into routine industry practice: Criteria around increasing diversity should be included in processes such as employee appraisal and clients commissioning, or consultants pitching for, built environment projects. Defining EDI standards by professional bodies and education/training providers: Major professional bodies should define EDI standards and competencies, mandated for all practitioners. These standards should be aligned with education/training providers so that these competencies can be incorporated into education and professional qualification curricula. Proposed Initiatives for 2024 Construction Leadership Council is set to spearhead the collaborative effort required to translate the recommendations Identified as a pivotal player, the Construction Leadership Council is set to spearhead the collaborative effort required to translate the report's recommendations into action. Proposed initiatives for 2024 focus on creating a cohesive EDI community within the sector and establishing visible leadership to guide these transformative efforts. collective action Welcoming the report, Ashley Wheaton, UCEM’s Vice Chancellor, said, “There is a huge amount of work across the built environment to make a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive sector a reality. Perhaps the challenge is to channel that collaboration and increase its impact via collective action." "This report aims to identify opportunities for such collaboration and provide recommendations on how this cooperation could be realized to bring about meaningful change.” collaborative approach Dr. Bola Abisogun OBE, Chair of the Construction Industry Council’s EDI Committee, added, “By uniting diverse voices and viewpoints, we seek to cultivate a collaborative approach towards EDI." "The goal of this report was to make proposals to facilitate the synchronizing of existing EDI initiatives, enabling them to resonate with a unified and powerful voice, creating a sector that is accessible, equitable, and respectful for everyone.”