New external affairs advisory board chair sets out key policy priorities and calls for member input.
CIOB plans to align its sustainability policy with the United Nations (UN) sustainable development framework, the chair of the institute’s new external affairs advisory board has said.
CIOB external affairs advisory board
Ian Brant FCIOB (chair); Tim Barrett FCIOB (co-chair); Phil Beaumont FCIOB; David Stockdale FCIOB; David Philp FCIOB; Paul Nash FCIOB; Pete Dawber FCIOB; Thomas Dempsey FCIOB; Charlotte Hamman MCIOB; Ada Fung FCIOB; Barbara Entwistle FCIOB; Harvey Francis; John Edwards FCIOB (UK working group chair); Michael Gallagher FCIOB (global working group chair)
Ian Brant, director at Brant Construction Quantum Experts, said: “Sustainability, along with quality, will be the top two priorities for the board. The CIOB and its policy team is already doing a lot of great work on sustainability, and it makes sense to follow the best framework out there, which is the UN. This will also help us internationally as we engage on sustainability with the institute’s global regions.
“Whilst there are 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), not all of them are linked to or influenced by construction. As such, the new policy framework for all the existing (and future) CIOB policies will look to embed a handful of the UNSDGs [see box].”
The new board, formed following the CIOB governance review, will provide strategic direction for the institute on policy and public affairs, with a fresh focus on international policy. Two working groups will contribute ideas to the board, one UK and one global, with representation from all CIOB regions worldwide.
UN Sustainable Development Goals to be embedded in CIOB policy
SDG 4: Quality education
SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities
SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
SDG 17: Partnering for the goals.
“Besides sustainability and quality, the other topics in the board’s ‘big five’ policy areas are innovation, safety, plus equality, diversity and inclusion,” said Brant. “The remit of the board is huge, and we will develop and review strategies in line with industry issues as they arise. An example of this is the CIOB’s response on quality after the 2016 Edinburgh school wall collapse. We’re now starting the process of communicating all the work we’re doing to the membership and the wider construction industry.”
He also urged CIOB members to provide input to the board. “There are experts with CIOB membership in our key policy areas who we don’t always hear from, but we’re keen to find out about the work they’re doing, to help shape our responses on the major issues affecting the built environment.”
The external affairs advisory board, which meets four times a year, will also work with CIOB trustees on the corporate plan.
For further information on the work of the board, please contact: [email protected].
