CIRIA announces new Executive Board Chair
CIRIA welcomes Dr David Hancock as the new Chair of its Executive Board, as Professor John Connaughton hands over the reins.
John who stepped down as chairman on 6 May 2021 has been greatly influential in this role over the last eight years in helping CIRIA to deliver performance improvement across the industry. Moreover, he also supported CIRIA’s research focus on innovation, risk management, procurement and sustainability in construction. John served on the CIRIA Board as non-executive director since July 2012.
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John Connaughton, Professor of Sustainable Construction in the School of Construction Management and Engineering at the University of Reading said “CIRIA is a unique and vital part of our industry, championing innovation and translating leading edge research into practice. It’s been a great privilege to have chaired the Executive Board, and I warmly welcome Dr David Hancock as the new chairman at a time when the need for innovation and research-informed practice has rarely been greater. David’s extensive knowledge and experience of practice and policy, and his passion for innovation are exactly what CIRIA needs to enhance its contribution to improving the performance of construction and engineering.”
As the Construction Director for the Infrastructure Projects Authority in the Cabinet Office, Dr David Hancock is a highly respected figure within industry. He brings extensive experience in the public and private sectors, along with a wide breadth of knowledge in the management of complex portfolios with special regard to the people & behavioural aspects and benefits management for Major Projects and Programmes. David is a visiting fellow and lecturer at Cranfield University, School of Management and is a Chartered Engineer, Association of Project Management Fellow, and Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development.
Dr David Hancock on his appointment as CIRIA Executive Board Chair said “John will be a hard act to follow I'm sure. However, I am looking forward to working with CIRIA, which has a really strong reputation in the industry for practical R&D and helping them to shape their direction in line with Government and Industry thinking. The challenges facing construction and infrastructure in the light of Covid, Net zero and the changes to building safety will require all in our industry to collaborate and seek new ways of working, which I would like to see CIRIA at the heart of.”
Dirk Vennix, CIRIA Chief Executive commented“I am looking forward to working closely with David in continuing to deliver CIRIA’s mission. At the end of his tenure, I want to pay tribute to John’s versatility in expertly chairing the CIRIA Board and steering CIRIA through turbulent times from delivering changes in structure and senior personnel to the business continuity response to COVID-19 impacts. John also played a vital role in sensibly driving CIRIA’s agenda on delivering new strategy development and steady growth over the years. I would like to thank John for providing wise counsel and unwavering perseverance in a challenging leadership position.”
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Dr David Hancock, Construction Director, Infrastructure Projects Authority Cabinet Office
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