Archives: Speakers

Simon Kneafsey

Simon has over 27 years’ experience in the design and construction industry. Prior to joining Atkins, Simon was client side in the delivery of two new secondary schools and one primary school for Monmouthshire County Council through the 21st Century Schools Programme in Wales, he is able to translate educational visions and contemporary thinking into… Read more »

Jon James

Jon is passionate about sustainable design. Driven by the need to act on the climate emergencies he founded Jon James Studio Architecture, with sustainability as the backbone of our philosophies. The studio is currently working on a number Passivhaus Primary schools and residential schemes. www.jjstudioarchitecture.co.uk. We firmly believe that sustainable design requires consideration at the… Read more »

Stuart McLaren

Stuart is Director of Net Zero Infrastructure at Atkins. He has experience delivering a wide range of low carbon, environmental and engineering service lines. He is also an accomplished client director, providing strategic cross-sector leadership on major infrastructure projects with a recent focus on low carbon and renewable energy schemes in the UK. Through an… Read more »

Andy King

Andy has 22 years of experience working within the modular industry and has valuable knowledge of the special features of modular design and product development. Andy is a Deputy Managing Director of Wernick Buildings Limited, a company that has decades of experience working within the education sector. Wernick’s specialist manufacturing plant is located in South Wales.   Andy has also been Chairman… Read more »

Neal O’Leary

Neal is a Chartered Building Surveyor and RICS Wales Awards Judge with over 30 years’ experience in property investment, construction and estate management across private, public and third sector organisations. Currently employed as Programme Director for the Welsh Government’s £2.3bn Sustainable Communities for Learning he has responsibility for the leadership and management of all infrastructure… Read more »

Helen Groves

I am an Architect with 20 years’ experience in the Education Sector. As Head of Education Architecture for AtkinsRéalis, I bring together our team designing everything from nurseries to university facilities. I have a passion for working with stakeholders to promote the value of good design, whilst embedding the importance of human centred design and… Read more »

Sara Humber

Since starting the role in January 2018, Sara has structured and delivered a bespoke partnering arrangement for Wales, which will allow the Local Authorities and Further Education Institutions of Wales to access partnering services to facilitate the delivery of brand new educational facilities via the Mutual Investment Model (“MIM”).  As well as being a senior… Read more »

Gareth Long

Gareth specialises in school design, supporting schools and authorities in the visioning and preparation of briefing documents through to working with the design team to detailed planning and the 1:50 process. Gareth brings a wealth of knowledge and a dynamic approach to many areas of education.  A teacher for years, becoming a ‘trouble-shooting’ Headteacher of… Read more »

Carys Fisher

Carys is a qualified architect demonstrating experience predominantly in the education and healthcare sectors. Her broad skill base means she is a key asset to any design team throughout the project lifecycle. In Education, Carys is familiar with the aspirations of primary and secondary schools, as well as FE Colleges and Universities. She has effectively… Read more »