Neal O’Leary

Programme Director - Sustainable Communities for Learning

Welsh Government

Biography

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 investment for education in Wales.

Prior to returning to Education Infrastructure in 2019, Neal spent 11 years heading up Cadw’s Properties in Care, leading on conservation, strategic capital investment, FM and asset management.  During this time he developed and implemented a strategy achieving a 43% reduction (2010-2019) in carbon emissions across 130 historic sites whilst visitor numbers and income generation reached record numbers.

A member of Historic Scotland’s Estates Peer Review Board and former member of Northern Ireland’s Heritage Investment Advisory Group.

A former director (2010-2016) and Chair of Cambria Maintenance Services Ltd., leading the company through incorporation to one of industry recognised success, employing 130 staff delivering over £20m services.

Neal has a deep-rooted passion for the delivery of sustainable buildings in Wales for our young people and future generations – currently working with delivery partners in the development of a Net Zero strategy for the Education Estate in Wales.