The desire to modernise construction industries seems to be an increasingly urgent ambition across most developed economies in the world. With global megatrends of economic volatility, an ageing workforce, poor productivity and decarbonisation bearing down on the construction sector, governments are looking at the tools they have to influence change and industry is looking for the change agents that will push it towards a new way of working.
Mark's presentation will reflect on the journey that the UK has gone on since 2016 in attempting to modernise its construction industry, with both successes and lessons learned highlighted. He will also point to other global reference points for Canada to consider in the context of its own market.
Mark is CEO and a Founding Director of Cast. He has over 30 years experience in construction and real estate and is a recognised international commentator on a variety of industry and policy related issues.
Mark authored the Farmer Review, an influential 2016 independent government review of the UK’s construction labour model entitled ‘Modernise or Die’. From 2019 until 2023 he was appointed as the government’s Champion for Modern Methods of Construction in Housebuilding.
Mark served on the Construction Leadership Senior Advisors Group from 2020 to 2023 and was an advisory board member of the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre from 2018 to 2023. Mark is a national co-chair of Constructing Excellence and from 2020 until 2024 served as the chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority Future Homes Taskforce.
In 2023 Mark was appointed lead independent reviewer by the UK Government for the UK Construction & Engineering Construction Industry Training Boards public bodies review.
Mark is an honorary professor at The University of Salford’s School of Built Environment and holds honorary doctorates from the University College of Estate Management and the University of Wolverhampton. Mark is a trustee of the MOBIE educational charity and was recipient of the CIOB President’s Award in 2021 in recognition of his work driving long term change into the construction industry.
The desire to modernise construction industries seems to be an increasingly urgent ambition across most developed economies in the world. With global megatrends of economic volatility, an ageing workforce, poor productivity and decarbonisation bearing down on the construction sector, governments are looking at the tools they have to influence change and industry is looking for the change agents that will push it towards a new way of working.
Mark's presentation will reflect on the journey that the UK has gone on since 2016 in attempting to modernise its construction industry, with both successes and lessons learned highlighted. He will also point to other global reference points for Canada to consider in the context of its own market.
