Alun Griffiths and former Construction Management editor Denise Chevin are among figures from the construction sector to be recognised in the Queen’s Jubilee Honours.
Griffiths, who founded civil engineering firm Alun Griffiths in 1968, was awarded a CBE for services to the construction industry.
He sold what is now Griffiths to Tarmac in 2018, agreeing to stay on in a supporting role for three years.
Meanwhile, Construction Management’s former editor Denise Chevin was awarded an MBE for services to the built environment.
Chevin has been a writer and editor in the built environment for 30 years. In addition to editing CM, she was editor of Building magazine from 2004-2010 and also had a spell as consultant editor of Construction News.
In recent years, she has combined journalistic career with policy development – including policy adviser for the Construction Industry Council and in this capacity worked with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment to write two influential reports on housing defects and better redress for homebuyers. These led to the setting up of a New Homes Ombudsman, which passed into law in the Building Safety Bill.
She also worked with Lord Richard Best and other parliamentarians to produce No More Lost Generations, looking at how construction could provide greater opportunities for young people not in employment. The CIOB instigated and supported the work.
Chevin is also the secretary to the Competence Steering Group, a cross-industry group looking to improve competence in the wake of Grenfell. She said: “I’m absolutely honoured, delighted, and humbled to receive an MBE for Services to the Built Environment. I’ve been lucky to have found a sector that never ceases to interest and amaze me and to have met and worked with some great people.”
Diana Chrouch, a member of the Worshipful Company of Constructors, has received an OBE for services to diversity and inclusion.
Caroline Gumble, CEO of CIOB, said: “I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to both Diana, Denise and others from the built environment sector who have been honoured.
“I had the pleasure of working alongside Diana during lockdown, albeit virtually, on webinars for the Worshipful Company of Constructors. She is a great advocate for the sector and for making positive change within construction.
“Denise will be known to many of our members as a former editor of Construction Management. She’s also been a powerful advocate for the construction sector and has lately been a positive force for policy development, supporting the Construction Industry Council, making the case to improve quality in construction and for construction as a route to sustainable, rewarding careers for young people, something of which CIOB is very supportive.”
Avnish Goyal, founder of construction company Savista Developments, was another recipient of a CBE. Goyal received the honour for his work during the pandemic with the largest representative body for social care, Care England, The Care Workers Charity and volunteer-led initiative Championing Social Care.
Goyal said: “I’m deeply humbled to be recognised by her majesty the Queen in her special platinum jubilee year for my work in social care and philanthropy as we celebrate our own silver jubilee for Hallmark Care Homes. I joined the sector because I wanted to make a difference and I knew I had something to offer.”
Other construction industry figures to be recognised in the Queen’s Jubilee Honours include:
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Alistair McAuley, for services to business, the construction industry and to charity
- Melissa Zanocco, head of programmes, Infrastructure Client Group, for services to the built environment
- Donna Williams, director of supplies and services division, construction and procurement delivery, Northern Ireland Civil Service, for public and charitable service
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Jonathan Manns, lately executive director of Rockwell, for services to planning, real estate and to built environments
