WftF Digitising Construction speakers

Jessie is jointly responsible for the development and delivery of the festival. Her previous roles included working for a leading anti-slavery organisation, developing key stakeholder relationships and supporting organisational growth. Jessie is passionate about social justice and equality. Her work is motivated by her conviction of the value and dignity of every person. She is currently undertaking a MSt in Social Innovation at the Cambridge Judge Business School.

Katharine is Director of NOMA Architects a RIBA chartered practice in Bristol. She leads their housing team to provide innovated design solutions for both private and housing associations clients. NOMA have embraced BIM for a decade. They provide 3D imagery which allows them to provide effective design team coordination and clash detection, which inputs into cost appraisals and value engineering discussions.

Joseph Daniels founded Project Etopia in 2015 at the age of 23 and is the CEO of Project Etopia Group. Motivated with a passion to make a difference his objective is to build the smart connected eco cities of the future that work towards solving the global housing crisis, whilst having a positive impact on climate change. He aims to do this by combining various energy, construction and intelligent technologies, through invention or collaboration, to build the highest performing buildings. His ambition was fuelled by the lack of security he faced as a young man and continues to drive his motivation to create a better tomorrow. Joe has been recognised across various industries for his innovative approach to technology and real estate, most recently he received the accolade of Forbes 30 under 30 in the manufacturing and industry category, as well as a feature in the United Nations 75th anniversary book for his contribution to climate change.

Ron graduated from Loughborough University in 2009 with a first-class honours degree in Architectural Engineering and Design Management. After a number of years working in architectural design, Ron turned his attention to the sector’s transformation agenda and particularly the need to move towards more productive, more sustainable methods of construction.

Ron has spent the last 10 years working across the industrial research and innovation landscape, with a particular focus on Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and value-based decision-making. Ron has held a number of roles within the Government funded Construction Innovation Hub programme - most recently as Chief Technical Officer - playing an instrumental role in projects such as the Value Toolkit and Platform Programme.

Ron joined Atkins’ infrastructure division in 2021, with responsibility for driving Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) across the business. He also remains actively involved with the Construction Innovation Hub, currently working as a technical author for the much-anticipated Product Platform Rulebook.

Chris is responsible for the strategic direction of Modulous’ physical and digital products, which includes their design, development, and management. He also acts as the company’s sustainability champion, driving its commitment to creating healthy homes, using resources efficiently, building communities, and promoting social equality.

Chris is an engineer by training and before founding Modulous he dedicated his international career to designing and delivering low carbon and healthy buildings. While a director at Atelier Ten, Chris led the engineering and sustainability design on projects ranging from Google’s HQ in California to the first LEED ND project outside of America at Chelsea Barracks.

Simon has over 25 years experience of innovation construction sector, and leads on Innovation and Digital for Cast. He’s worked for Modern Methods of Construction residential developers, manufacturers and contractors. Simon was a Group Director at BRE, responsible for the consultancy division, spanning innovation, sustainability, and productivity across the building sector. His propensity to assist clients, and transform the sector, led to Simon to create a SaaS business model to enable sustainability and productivity improvement for the construction sector, known as SmartSite

Simon leads on residential digital transformation for Construction Leadership Council, and chairs a Housing Metrics group focused on using metrics and data, incorporating whole life performance, MMC and Digital.

Simon is working with a number of innovative clients, developers and manufacturers, creating digital strategies and tools to create efficiencies and improved outcomes across sales, operations, design, technical and leadership workflows. He’s focused on the successful implementation of Pre-Manufactured Value, through the use of DfMA and MMC strategies.

Simon directed BRE’s Smartsite business, including SmartWaste the environmental tool, and Yellow Jacket the Health and Safety software.