CSEI Director Professor Whyte joins Construction Leadership Council

NEW CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBERS APPOINTED

Imperial's Centre for Systems Engineering and Innovation Director Professor Whyte joins Construction Leadership Council

The Construction Leadership Council has appointed two new members, Professor Jennifer Whyte and Chris Carr, to broaden its representation of the industry and to support the effective delivery of the Construction Sector Deal.

Jennifer Whyte is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London. She is Director of the Centre for Systems Engineering and Innovation and the Laing O’Rourke/Royal Academy of Engineering Professor of Systems Integration, focusing on systems integration in built infrastructure. Related research activities cover digital engineering and advanced manufacturing capabilities linked to the construction and built environment sectors. Jennifer is on the Transforming Construction Advisory Group and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). She has also been a member of the Industry Safety Steering Group, established following the Grenfell Tower fire to drive higher standards of safety within the industry. 

Chris Carr is the Joint Managing Director of Carr & Carr (Builders) Ltd. Carr & Carr is a family business established in 1924 who specialise in the top end of the new homes market. They have won many awards for its developments in recent years. The company has built many bespoke properties in and around the North East Lincolnshire area, from traditional design to new eco-homes. Chris has been actively involved in training apprentices and spends time promoting construction as a lifetime career in local schools and colleges. Chris is on the Board of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and has Chaired the FMB’s Home Builders Group. He has a place on the Board of the UK Business Council for Sustainable Development, and is a member of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Nation Council for England and the NHBC Council.

CLC Chairman Andy Mitchell said:

“I am delighted to welcome new members of the calibre of Jennifer Whyte and Chris Carr to the CLC. Both possess great knowledge and experience of the construction sector, and will bring new, diverse perspectives to the work of the CLC, enabling us to effectively represent the whole of the industry, and strengthening the links of the Council with academia and the small firms that make up the majority of our industry. Their appointments are the first step we are taking to strengthen the ability of the CLC to deliver the sector deal and drive the transformation of the construction and built environment sectors in the UK”.

Professor Jennifer Whyte said:

“I am passionate about transforming construction, and delighted to join CLC to help ensure its initiatives, such as the Sector Deal and the Transforming Construction Programme, deliver to the industry.  I hope to bring fresh insights and focus to CLC priorities for research, innovation and industry change. There is a great opportunity to mobilise research to inform, support and sustain transformation - to benefit all those who use infrastructure and buildings”.

Chris Carr said:

“I am looking forward to joining the CLC at a vital time for the industry. The industry is facing significant challenges, which we need to work together to overcome. I want to ensure that the work the CLC is leading on issues such as skills and payment practices benefits all firms in the sector, and delivers a stronger and fairer industry”.

Further reading on the CLC website.