EDI Event: A Day of EDI with CIOB

Victoria comes to CIOB having previously served as CEO of the Royal Town Planning Institute and with more than 25 years of experience in leadership roles, covering planning, transport and regeneration. Working for all three Mayors of London, her projects included establishing the UK’s second Mayoral Development Corporation, the Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation. Victoria sits on the Advisory Board of Black Professionals In Construction (BPIC) and is a member of the Worshipful Company of Paviors. In 2025, Victoria won the EDI Champion prize for BAME Planners Network.

Ola Obadara is the Senior Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and a CIOB Client Champion since 2023. With more than 25 years' experience in property development, she is Group Director for Property Projects at the City of London Corporation, where she oversees construction projects across the City, contributing to industry leadership, policy development, and professional standards. She also serves as a Board Member at London South Bank University, supporting skills development and future talent pipelines into the built environment. She has a passion for sustainable development, and her key theme is research, innovation and technology in the construction industry.

Mark Harrison joined CIOB as their first Head of EDI Transformation in 2021. Since that time, among other achievements, Mark has launched the CIOB D&I Charter for employers with over 420 company signatories to date and established the CIOB’s annual international EDI Conference. Mark was also one of the initiators of the ground-breaking ‘B.E. Inclusive’ partnership with nine built environment professional membership institutes working together to promote an inclusive and accessible industry. Mark has 18 years’ experience in lead EDI roles in the built environment, charity, and HE sectors.

Rebecca is the founder of Building People CIC, a collaborative network focused on improving equity, diversity and inclusion across the built environment. With a career spanning skills development, social value and workforce inclusion, she has worked with industry leaders to connect organisations, initiatives and individuals across construction and property. Rebecca is a founding member of the Construction Leadership Council’s EDI work and serves in leadership roles supporting culture change throughout the sector.

Sam started her career as a research psychologist and went on to set up and lead mental health services at local, regional and national level. With a personal and professional commitment to the value of diverse and inclusive teams Sam has led DEIB programmes and been a national Safeguarding Lead. During Sam’s career she has retained her interest in research and in developing effective, evidence-based interventions that have positive impact at system, organisational and individual level. Prior to leading Mates in Mind, Sam was the CEO of WPF Therapy. Sam has a Masters in Leading in Organisations: Psychodynamic and Systemic Approaches. Sam started her career as a research psychologist and went on to set up and lead mental health services at local, regional and national level. With a personal and professional commitment to the value of diverse and inclusive teams Sam has led DEIB programmes and been a national Safeguarding Lead. During Sam’s career she has retained her interest in research and in developing effective, evidence-based interventions that have positive impact at system, organisational and individual level. Prior to leading Mates in Mind, Sam was the CEO of WPF Therapy. Sam has a Masters in Leading in Organisations: Psychodynamic and Systemic Approaches.

Osita is a diversity, leadership and organisational development specialist with more than 18 years’ experience across the public and private sectors. He previously led equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives at HS2 and has advised organisations on inclusive leadership, supply chain diversity and employee engagement. Through his consultancy work, he supports businesses in creating more equitable workplaces and developing sustainable approaches to people and culture

Amos is the founder of BPIC Network and Winway Group, combining extensive experience in construction delivery with a strong commitment to improving representation within the built environment. A mechanical engineering graduate, he has progressed from project and technical management roles to leading his own successful business and industry network. In 2025 he was awarded an OBE for services to the construction industry and to diversity, recognising his work championing inclusion, skills development and business growth across the sector

Michaela Wain is a well established figure in the UK construction industry, known for her leadership across multiple businesses and her commitment to industry change. She is the Managing Director of Design and Build UK, Women in Construction, and Vantage Utility Connections Holdings, and sits on the board of trustees for Nocn. Michaela first came to national attention as a finalist on BBC’s The Apprentice, and went on to secure investment following her appearance on the show. She used that platform to launch the first Women in Construction Awards, now in its fifth year and recognising women across the sector. Her advocacy for equality, diversity and inclusion has taken her to the House of Lords and onto GB News, ITV News and BBC News. She founded the Women in Construction Hub, a national membership network now rolling out regional chapters across the UK, and leads the Girls in Construction programme, taking industry role models into schools to inspire the next generation. Michaela is a strong voice for the North, campaigning for greater investment outside London and the South East, and for SMEs and micro businesses to have a fairer chance at winning contracts.
 

Hollie Cregan is an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion specialist with a background in rail, commercial management, and project delivery. After recognising the underrepresentation of women in the industry, Hollie transitioned into EDI leadership and was named one of the UK's 20 Most Inspirational Women in Rail in 2016. She has successfully led organisations through Investors in Diversity accreditation and industry recognition. At GRAHAM, Hollie has driven the achievement of Investors in Diversity Gold, established over 100 FIR Ambassadors, and supported the growth of employee networks that strengthen inclusion and belonging. Her work has contributed to GRAHAM becoming one of the UK's most inclusive workplaces.

Noemi Davolio is the EDI Project Officer at the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), leading initiatives that advance equity, diversity and inclusion across the built environment sector. With a background spanning logistics, life sciences and the non-profit sector, she has led UK-wide internal programmes that have strengthened employee engagement, championed wellbeing and supported lasting organisational change. Bringing a cross-sector perspective to inclusion, Noemi is committed to helping organisations create cultures where people feel valued, represented and able to contribute their best. She is a CIPD Level 5 Associate.

Adam is a communications professional with extensive experience across strategic communications, events, media, PR, publishing and project management. Proven track record leading creative teams, developing organisational strategies, managing high-profile events and conferences, and delivering impactful digital and print communications. Experienced editor, media spokesperson and accomplished researcher, with strong expertise in brand development, stakeholder engagement and EDI. A former Pride in London Parade Manager in his spare time and a published author of books on Kenneth Williams and Sir John Mills, both of whom he is a leading expert.

Emma is EDI Manager, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation. With a career spanning public health, learning and development, mental wellbeing, and community engagement, Emma has led impactful initiatives across the voluntary, public, and professional sectors. She is an experienced inclusion professional and social justice advocate with strong roots in the voluntary and community sector

Dr Karen Blay is Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Reader in Information Resilience and Digital Inclusion at Loughborough University. A Chartered Construction Manager and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, she has a background spanning computing, construction project management, teaching and research. Her expertise encompasses digital construction, artificial intelligence, building information modelling, digital twins, data resilience, cybersecurity and infrastructure monitoring. She champions inclusive practice through university leadership, research and external service. Karen is Vice-Chair of the CIOB EDI Advisory Panel, and an EDI Advisory Panel member for The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM).

During her 40-year career in construction Dr. Gretchen Gagel helped clients such as GM, Intel, Procter & Gamble, and Dominion Energy successfully deliver significant construction programs. Gretchen is the Founder and CEO of the International Institute for Women in Construction (IIWIC), created to identify, share, and scale global strategies to advance women in construction and related industries. Her book, Building Women Leaders: A Blueprint for Women Thriving in Construction (Wiley US), is available on Amazon.com. Gretchen is a member of the National Academy of Construction and divides her time between Australia and the US.

Gamiel Yafai MBE is Founder and CEO of Diversity Marketplace, a UK-based, Global DEI consultancy working with clients across the private, public, and third sectors. He moved into diversity and inclusion work in 2000, following 15 years in business magazine publishing, and founded Diversity Marketplace in 2005. Gamiel holds GDEIB Accredited Auditor credentials and is a TEDx speaker. He was awarded an MBE by King Charles III and an Honorary Doctorate from the Open University in 2025, both for services to Diversity and Inclusion. Gamiel is a Trustee of Women Leaders UK and a Global Goodwill Ambassador. He co-founded the MK Ethnic Business Community and co-authored Demystifying Diversity and Yemen Proud. 

Luke Ives (he/him) is a strategic Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) leader who leads Culture, Equity and Inclusion at Arup across Europe, India, the Middle East and Africa. He works with senior leaders to embed inclusion into organisational culture and business delivery, driving sustainable change across complex international environments.
Recognized as a Top 10 Diversity Trailblazer at the British LGBT Awards 2025, Luke combines expertise in EDI, organisational change, learning and development, and strategy. Known for building trust, challenging constructively, and inspiring action, he is a respected adviser and speaker dedicated to creating inclusive cultures where everyone can thrive. 

Helen has spent two decades in executive leadership roles across both technology and construction sectors, spending the last 10 years working in scaffolding, structural steel and principal contracting, as well as supporting industry bodies and initiatives. She is an industry leader in developing and implementing strategies to build business resilience and high-performing teams with psychologically safe cultures. She now runs Building Strategy, a consultancy that supports construction businesses with improving business and project operations, and strategy implementation. 

Faye is a highly experienced Chartered Quantity Surveyor with over three decades of experience in the construction industry. She supports a variety of construction and engineering clients to avoid, mitigate and resolve disputes and is regularly involved in dispute resolution processes both domestically and internationally. Her clients, both contractors and client organisations, benefit from her breadth of experience having worked for various contractors and consultants across a wide range of sectors. Faye’s expert quantum work includes building and engineering disputes nationally and internationally. She is accredited as a practising member of the Academy of Experts and is an RICS Accredited Expert Witness and has been instructed as an Expert providing reports and expert evidence and witness evidence in high value/high profile disputes and has given expert evidence and been cross examined by leading counsel in litigation. Faye has significant knowledge of the construction process from the first 20 years of her career working for various contractors as a quantity surveyor and commercial manager running large and varied teams on multimillion-pound projects from inception to completion. She has worked in numerous sectors including residential (housing, university accommodation & flats/apartments), commercial, large scale mixed-use developments, education, hotels, healthcare, power plants, shipbuilding, aviation, rail and sports stadiums and she still regularly undertakes independent advisory work on live projects. Faye is also author of bestselling and Goodie Business Book award winning book "Building Women - How Everyone in Construction Can Win’ a call for change to tackle systemic issues affecting women and men in construction and built environment.

Ayo Allu is the Chair of the CIOB’s Client Steering Group, where he promotes collaboration among stakeholders, innovation, and transformation within the built environment sector. He is a Fellow of the CIOB and is also a member of the Association for Project Management and the Chartered Association for Building Engineers. As the Principal Consultant at AAA Project Services Ltd, Ayo focuses on building safety, strategic project development, and construction project support. With more than 20 years of experience in the UK’s built environment sector, he provides guidance to clients throughout the entire project lifecycle, merging extensive technical knowledge with a strong emphasis on compliance and best practices.Ayo has spearheaded significant programs in housing, higher education, and complex residential developments, having held senior positions with registered providers, developers, and main contractors. He possesses substantial experience in leading multidisciplinary teams, executing large-scale projects, and implementing robust procurement strategies that align with sustainable commercial and technical principles.

Anna Rzepczynski is the Founder of We Build Too, a workforce insight platform focused on helping the construction and built environment sector attract, retain and support a more diverse workforce, starting with women. With 12 years’ experience in user-centred design and strategic innovation across the public and private sectors, Anna leads with a human-centred approach to understanding workforce challenges. She founded We Build Too to address persistent issues including retention, inclusive culture and the ‘leaky pipeline’, using women’s lived experience to generate actionable workforce insight. Anna is passionate about using data, lived experience and design to help create more inclusive workplaces and a sector that works better for everyone.

Faith Abudu is a qualified Construction Manager and senior business, ESG and inclusion leader with over 15 years’ experience spanning construction, engineering and global media. She is the Managing Director of DIIC Diversity & Inclusion in Construction, a national Community Interest Company advancing representation, skills pathways and measurable social value across the built environment. Faith works strategically with main contractors, local authorities, educational institutions, professional bodies and supply chains to embed inclusive recruitment, community engagement and ESG principles into industry practice. Alongside DIIC, she's a committee member of women in construction southeast while serving as Head of Business Development (Southeast) at Prima Systems, driving regional growth while integrating ESG, PAS 2030 and community impact into infrastructure delivery. Previously working with global media organisations including CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera, Faith brings powerful storytelling to industry transformation. She is an award-winning speaker and advocate for equity, responsible growth and lasting cultural Change.

Gary Ford is a transformational IT and Diversity & Inclusion leader.  As a former Managing Director within Global Technology at JPMorgan, he co-founded their male allies programme for women in technology. His Amazon best-selling book “The Accidental Sexist:  A handbook for men on workplace diversity and inclusion” tells the story of how to change the culture in a traditional male-centric sector and how we can all build inclusive work practices. Alongside Mark Freed, he is the co-founder of Men for Inclusion, an organisation that works with companies across multiple sectors to help them engage men in diversity and inclusion efforts and create an all-gender narrative to deliver an inclusive culture that leads to real improvements in business performance. He has presented at multiple diversity conferences, as well as appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour to talk about allyship.  He recently presented at the UN Women’s conference on Gender Equality in Seoul. Gary lives with his wife, Julie in Fulham in London.  They have 2 children, Isabella who is a Public Relations Associate for Strand Partners, and Lily, who is the UK correspondent of the Hollywood Reporter. 

Renée Preston is CEO of Gallaway Construction, a nationwide UK main contractor, and a leading voice on workforce, skills, culture and the future of construction.
She is also the founder of Construction for Women, a nationally recognised CIC creating pathways for women into and through the built environment, and the National Site Standard, an independent workforce governance standard driving measurable improvements in leadership, culture, retention, wellbeing and accountability.
Working across industry and with government, Renée helps shape discussions on skills and workforce reform. As a respected speaker and commentator, she combines the authority of a contractor, employer and industry reformer to challenge established thinking and influence lasting change.

Dana is the Head of Fairness Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Programme at Action Sustainability and the Supply Chain Sustainability School. The FIR Programme team works to keep the work of inclusion front-of-mind in the construction and built environment sector, and to benchmark and communicate both progress and ways to go when it comes to diversity and inclusion, leading discussions and showcasing and celebrating best practices for inclusion across the sector. The free industry-endorsed resources, training, initiatives, reports, events and conferences the team works on, help address workplace culture challenges and build fair and respectful working environments.

Machel Bogues is an accomplished Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) professional. As the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Manager at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), he leads the development and execution of the RTPI CHANGE ED&I Action Plan. Machel has over a decade of experience managing ED&I projects, integrating ED&I principles into daily business practices. He has also contributed significantly through his consulting company, Abeng ltd, working with organisations such as the Royal Institution of British Architects and  . His passion for ED&I stems from a strong commitment instilled by his family, who were political refugees from South Africa.

Anjali Pindoria is a Senior Project Surveyor at Avi Contracts and Chair of the CIOB Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Panel. She has spent over 14 years at a carpentry and joinery subcontractor, progressing from Trainee to Graduate to her current role. She leads the commercial side of the business and supports its wider operations. Her research into modern perceptions of construction showed that young people from ethnic minority backgrounds are underrepresented in the industry. Since then she has been committed to being a voice for change. She is a regular keynote speaker, panellist and writer, has contributed to campaigns such as Go Construct and is a STEM Ambassador. Outside work, she is a sports enthusiast, holding a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Taekwon-Do and gives back to her community wherever she can.