First Speakers and Seminar Hubs Announced for UKCW Birmingham

The first set of speakers and details on seminar hubs have been announced for this year’s UK Construction Week Birmingham, which makes a welcome return to the NEC from October 3-5, following a hugely successful London show in May.

High-profile names will bring some of the industry’s most eminent leaders together to challenge, discuss and address the core issues affecting the built environment sector from transforming infrastructure performance, sustainability, well-being and building health and technology and the skills gap are on the wide-ranging programme, along with some brilliant minds from Nottingham Trent University.

Celebrating Culture Change in Construction, UKCW Birmingham will host three days of debate and discussion from top speakers on how the industry can move forward to tackle its biggest issues, including quality, mental health, and improving diversity and inclusion and climate change.

Confirmed Main Stage speakers include:

Andy Street, Mayor of West Midlands Combined Authority
Anita Malster, CEO, Blossom Mental Health
Becky Valentine, Co-owner, Lead - Sustainability, Wellbeing & Building Health
Chithra Marsh, National Chair of Women in Property
Dame Judith Hackitt DBE, FREng, Chair, Industry Safety Steering Group
Jennifer Winyard, Senior Strategic Land Manager, Barratt Developments plc
Joanne Williams MSc, MRICS, Historic Building Surveyor – Historic Building Climate
Change Adaptation
Jon Loveday, Director of Infrastructure, Enterprise and Growth, Infrastructure Projects Authority
Paul Kitson, Strategic Director of Place, Prosperity and Sustainability, Birmingham City Council
Richard Bull, Deputy Dean, School of Architecture, Design and Built Environment, Nottingham Trent University

Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director, commented: “This year's fantastic line-up of speakers really sets the stage for what the show has in store for in 2023. This is just the beginning for our announcements and we are looking forward to revealing more sponsors, speakers and exhibitors very soon.”

Visitors to UKCW Birmingham will also be able to find a wealth of panel discussions and seminars led by industry experts across various areas including:

Sustainability Hub - the heart of Timber Expo. The hub programme will tackle the issues, layout strategies and case studies to help the sector reach its net zero targets.
Infrastructure Hub - sponsored by Conquip Engineering Group, highlights digitalisation and improving quality and sustainability, this hub will deliver a three-day programme for those working on infrastructure projects of case studies, debates, networking opportunities, and keynote speeches on crucial issues.
Digital Construction Hub – the centre piece of innovation at UKCW. This hub will deliver a series of presentations and panel discussions including topics such as Information Management using BIM.
CPD Hub – sponsored sessions by Pure Vista, Blossom Mental Health Training, Quadrant (QAI Services UK), BP Collins, Lesniak Swann featuring a world-class education programme delivered by industry experts, association partners, government departments and exhibitors.
Robotics Theatre - From little robots on wheels, to exoskeletons and big robotic arms this area sponsored by HP Construction Services showcases the latest in robotics and automation from the global built environment.
Culture Change Hub - a focus on improving inclusivity within the built environment, wellbeing and mental health and professional development.