City of London Corporation exec appointed CIOB vice president

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has appointed Ola Obadara FCIOB as its vice president for the 2025/26 term.

She is the first Black woman to assume the role since CIOB’s establishment in 1834.

Obadara is the group director for property projects at the City of London Corporation and brings a wealth of experience from the public and private sectors.

She has been a member of the CIOB since 2003 and was awarded fellowship status in 2021. She is also a CIOB client champion, an institute initiative to support less-experienced construction clients by sharing best-practice digital resources to help them improve project outcomes.

A strong advocate for inclusive and forward-thinking construction practices, Obadara also serves as a committee member at the British Standards Institution and is currently contributing to the development of inclusive PPE.

Obadara said: “Being appointed as the global vice president of CIOB for 2025/26 is a significant honour and I am grateful for the privilege.

“As the first Black woman to assume this role in the institute’s 191-year history, I recognise the responsibility that comes with this office and I look forward to serving the institute that has been instrumental in my career development, with dedication and pride.”

In her role as vice president, Obadara plans to focus on research, innovation and technology. With the global construction industry facing a significant skills shortage, she believes attracting new people alone is not enough. 

She added: “Adoption of technological solutions must play a key role in bridging the gap. Innovation and technology will empower us to deliver better and faster, and we must lead the way in embedding these advancements throughout the design and construction lifecycle.

“With the advancement in technology and AI, the world is changing rapidly, but within this change lies an opportunity for construction to change the way we deliver projects.

“I am committed to advancing the development of technology, ensuring that our profession possesses the tools, skills and knowledge to deliver the built environment of the future.”

Obadara will succeed current president Paul Gandy FCIOB and Saul Humphrey FCIOB (2026/27 president) when she assumes the role as CIOB president in 2027.