Conference In Person

Heritage That Works: Delivery, Skills & Value in Conservation

by The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

Event details

  • Hilton London Tower Bridge, London
  • 23 April 2026
  • 08:45 AM - 04:30 PM GMT

Event fees

CIOB Member

£99.00

Non Member

£130.00

CIOB Assist Optional Donation

£5.00

Summary

A practical, inclusive conservation conference focused on real world delivery.

Heritage conservation is at its strongest when it is practical, affordable, and deliverable. Heritage That Works will reframe conservation as a sector defined not by exclusivity, but by collaboration and relevance. The conference hopes to bring together the full ecosystem of people who make heritage projects happen — project managers, site managers, QSs, engineers, craftspeople, apprentices, graduates, and specialists — many of whom have traditionally felt that conservation events were “not for them.”

The conference addresses one of the sector’s constant challenges: the perception of conservation as elitist or inaccessible. If the future of heritage is to be inclusive and resilient, then early‑career professionals, emerging practitioners, and those working at the interface of heritage and construction must feel represented, welcomed, and equipped.

Sessions will centre on the issues practitioners face every day, including navigating skills shortages; overcoming planning delays; working with traditional materials; learning from failures; and building collaborative teams capable of delivering complex projects. Alongside this, the programme will create space for early‑career voices and offer practical tools, templates, and insights that delegates can apply directly to their projects.

Heritage That Works champions a shift towards relevance, value, and wider engagement — ensuring that conservation is not only about protecting the past, but about enabling people across the sector to deliver better, smarter, and more inclusive heritage outcomes.


If you are interested in sponsoring the CIOB Conservation Conference please contact our sponsorship team [email protected]


Are you considering booking but want to experience the CIOB Conservation Conference before you commit? Check out our 2024 conference online. The Future of Heritage Conservation


Please note: this event is for over 18’s only

Agenda

  • Agenda
    08:45
    Arrival and registration
    09:25
    Welcome & introductions - Morning Chair
    09:30
    DELIVERY - speaker presentations
    10:30
    DELIVERY - panel discussion
    11:00
    Break
    11:20
    SKILLS - speaker presentations
    12:40
    SKILLS - panel discussion
    13:10
    Lunch
    13:55
    Welcome - Afternoon Chair
    14:00
    VALUE - speaker presentations
    14:40
    Break
    15:00
    VALUE - panel discussion
    15:55
    Close of conference - Afternoon Chair

Our Speakers

A picture of Andy Beardsley

Andy Beardsley

Managing Director, Terra Management
Managing Director, Terra Management

Andy Beardsley MRICS is a Chartered Geospatial Surveyor and Consultant with over 32 years’ experience delivering complex survey and monitoring solutions across the built and historic environment. He is the Founder and Managing Director of Terra Measurement Limited, a UK-based consultancy specialising in high-accuracy geospatial surveys for heritage buildings, infrastructure, and complex structures.
 

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A picture of Morwenna Slade

Morwenna Slade

Director & Visiting Professor at the University of the West of England
Director, Hennacliff Consulting; & Visiting Professor at the University of the West of England

Morwenna Slade is a Visiting Professor at the University of the West of England (UWE) and Director of Hennacliff Consulting, a specialist conservation consultancy delivering thoughtful, high-quality, and climate-responsive solutions for the historic built environment. A conservation-accredited Chartered Building Surveyor, she is a leading voice on climate change adaptation and energy efficiency in heritage and traditional buildings.
Known for her ability to translate complex technical and policy challenges into practical, achievable outcomes, Morwenna brings together deep technical expertise with strategic leadership to support owners, practitioners, and organisations in responding to a rapidly changing climate while safeguarding cultural significance.
Previously Head of Climate Change Adaptation at Historic England, Morwenna has also held roles with the National Trust, Churches Conservation Trust, and the Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance, influencing national guidance, professional practice, and sector-wide approaches to conservation and resilience.
 

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A picture of Kasia Howard

Kasia Howard

Senior Education Manager, King's Foundation Trust
Senior Education Manager, King's Foundation Trust

Kasia Howard has been with The King’s Foundation for over 4 years and has been instrumental in developing the craft training delivery at Highgrove Gardens, home to His Majesty the King Charles III. She manages the flagship Building Crafts and Conservation Programme which has been creating opportunities for people to upskill and focus on traditional heritage crafts for over 15 years.  Prior to this, Kasia worked for The Landmark Trust for 13 years, delivering the engagement and training programmes for award winning conservation projects across the county including the Stirling Prize winning scheme for Astley Castle in Warwickshire. Kasia completed her MA in Conservation of the Historic Environment at Birmingham City University.

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A picture of Mark Hosea

Mark Hosea

CEO, London Historic Buildings Trust
CEO, London Historic Buildings Trust

Mark Hosea is the CEO of London Historic Buildings Trust (LHBT), specialising in heritage-led regeneration to save at-risk historic buildings to benefit communities across Greater London and beyond. Mark was formerly Director of Estates and Conservation at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and also held Project Director roles for The Canterbury Journey at Canterbury Cathedral and for York Minster Revealed at York Minster. Prior to these roles, Mark worked in the private sector advising multiple clients across England.

Mark is Chair of the CIOB Heritage Advisory Panel and a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Planning and Development) with an MSc in Urban Regeneration. Mark is also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers, where he is Vice-Chair of the Education and Training Committee. In addition, Mark is Chair of The York Glaziers Trust and Chair of the Stained Glass Museum. Mark acts in an advisory capacity to numerous other heritage focussed funders, projects and institutions.

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A picture of Victoria Hills

Victoria Hills

CEO, CIOB
CEO, CIOB

Victoria Hills is Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). She comes into this role having previously served as CEO of the Royal Town Planning Institute and with more than 25 years of experience in senior leadership roles.

Her previous experiences have most recently been in the membership sector, covering planning, transport, regeneration and regional government. Working for all three Mayors of London, her projects included establishment of the UK’s second Mayoral Development Corporation, the Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation.

While at the Royal Town Planning Institute, she advocated for resourcing planning and putting the discipline at the heart of delivery for quality places. She also drove the RTPI’s Strategic Plan for their 27,000 members, both domestically and globally, raising the profile of the work of planners and supporting efforts to attract a diverse and inclusive profession. In her time at the RTPI, Victoria oversaw an 8% growth in membership.

Victoria currently sits on the Advisory Board of Black Professionals In Construction (BPIC) and the Transport Knowledge Hub Advisory Board. Victoria also is a Commissioner on the Essex Climate Action Commission and is a member of the Worshipful Company of Paviors.

In 2024, Victoria was awarded an Honorary Degree Doctor of Technology.

Outside of work, Victoria enjoys time with family, fitness and horse-riding.

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A picture of Sarah Dowd

Sarah Dowd

Founder and Chair, The Tricolor Collective
Founder and Chair, The Tricolor Collective

Sarah Dowd is a dynamic force in the cultural and creative sectors, seamlessly blending strategic acumen with a bohemian spirit. As the founder and guiding visionary behind The Tricolor Collective, Les Raconteurs, and Heritage, Culture & Crafts for All (HCCA), Sarah has dedicated over 25 years to creating strategic programmes that balance the sustainable transformation and management of heritage assets, as well as pioneering heritage and culture into resilient, inclusive and accessible experiences and businesses.
Navigating life with late ongoing diagnosis of ADHD, Sarah champions neurodiverse leadership, turning perceived challenges into catalysts for innovation. Her podcast, History For F***'s Sake, aims to move history and culture back into the hands of the public by inviting them into the stories not often told, from the weird to the wonderous, via honest conversations - bringing history into the everyday through pop culture connections.
Sarah is a recognised expert in heritage and culture business strategy, governance, entrepreneurship, fundraising and change management, and has guided many projects through governance transitions, leadership changes, and organisational development, ensuring teams are aligned and prepared for long-term sustainability. Sarah was the lead Masterplanner on Wentworth Woodhouse, the Hull City of Culture legacy programme - Maritime Hull, led the change programme at Durham Cathedral, and launched the consultancy support offer to grantees on behalf of the National Lottery Heritage Fund during the pandemic. She is the Programme Director for one of England's largest and most successful heritage asset transfer programmes for Historic Chapels Trust, working directly with Historic England and National Lottery Memorial Fund.
Sarah believes the goal of the sector should be that heritage has a future and that the next generations have a future in heritage. This means having a use, a purpose and a community or business that will cherish it - reinforcing that heritage for heritage’s sake is no longer a viable option.
 

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A picture of Lynda OSullivan

Lynda OSullivan

Senior Project Manager, Historic Royal Palaces
Senior Project Manager, Historic Royal Palaces

Lynda is an experienced Chartered Building Surveyor and Project Manager specialising in construction within the historic Environment. With a background in Archaeology and Historic Building Conservation, Lynda’s interests include the impact of climate change on historic fabric, and the best means of protecting our heritage for future generations.

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