Low carbon concrete routemap launch

Ed McCann

A past ICE President, Ed McCann is an experienced project director. He was fundamental in growing Expedition Engineering from a startup to Building magazine’s Engineering Consultant of the Year in 2012. 

With a deep understanding of the construction process, McCann is particularly skilled in strategic consultancy, feasibility studies and design. He has led projects all over the world, including the award-winning Infinity Bridge at Stockton-on-Tees and London 2012’s Olympic Velodrome. 

In his most recent projects, McCann has worked with infrastructure clients to improve processes and implement new technologies. This has included creating and delivering a productivity workstream for High Speed 2; designing the Rolls-Royce small modular reactors programme factory for BAM Nuttall; and developing the Berkeley Homes modular housing system.

His interests include developing talent in the built environment sector. This led him to co-create the Constructionarium, a not-for-profit provider of education and training. He is also a co-founder of the Get It Right Initiative, an organisation working to eliminate avoidable errors in construction.

A renowned thought leader, McCann is often invited to write articles and speak at industry events. He has also made TV programmes about civil engineering.  

Dr Asha Panchal

Asha Panchal leads a small team working on expanding the reach and application of distributed fibre-optic sensing instrumentation. She is also involved in undertaking the monitoring and analysis of structures to understand their short- and long-term performance during construction and occupation respectively. Previously, she was pivotal in leading the development of ultra-sustainable, low-carbon innovative technologies in deep foundations.  

Panchal is a chartered civil engineer, specialising in geotechnical engineering. She maintains strong links with academic and research institutions to promote innovative practices and tangible opportunities to achieve a circular economy across the civil engineering industry.

Panchal received a PhD at City, University of London, where she is an honorary visiting research fellow, and has extensive experience in physical modelling relating to piled foundations and deep excavations in clays. She has published a range of geotechnical papers and presented at numerous international conferences. Her practical experience and technical background enable her to implement research-based innovations to benefit live projects. She is also a director of the International Press-in Association, Japan.

Chris Newsome OBE

Chris Newsome, Director of the UK Water Partnership, leads the Digital Water Delivery Group. A civil engineer by trade, Chris has spent the majority of his career in the water industry planning for, designing and delivering capital programmes of work. Chris’ previous roles include: Director of Asset Management at Anglian Water Services Ltd, Chairman of UK Water Industry Research, and President of the Institute of Asset Management. He is a member of the Government's Green Construction Board and is Chairman of the Infrastructure Group. In 2017, he was awarded an OBE for his services to civil engineering and carbon reduction.

Andrew Mullholland

Andrew is the managing director of AMCRETE UK, which provides concrete technology support and advice to many clients within the construction industry across the country. Andrew is a Chartered Construction Manager and a member of the Institute of Concrete as well as holding the position of chair of the Low Carbon Concrete Group since early 2020.

Andrew regularly lectures for the Chartered Institute of Building, reviews papers for the ICE and works with Concrete producers, clients and Contractors advising on concrete related investigations and solutions as well as introducing new and emerging cement technologies to contribute to driving down the industries carbon emissions.

Bruce Martin

Bruce is a structural engineer who cares about elegant and practical engineering. Bruce is passionate about minimising and, where possible, reversing our contributions to the climate and biodiversity emergencies. As a member of the Green Construction Board Low Carbon Concrete Group he is working to change practice across UK construction. Bruce believes that, while we wait for carbon negative concrete to become commercially available, efficient design which minimises the volume of concrete used is a significant and neglected step that we can take to immediately reduce the harmful impact of our work. Bruce is an Associate Director with Expedition Engineering.

Richard Kershaw