NEC Annual Conference to explore what the industry can learn from UK prisons

What is the role of the UK’s National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) in strengthening delivery across the HMP Prisons Programme?

That is a question that attendees at the 2026 NEC Annual Conference will be able to explore in a session led by conference host Matthew Garrat and NISTA’s own Professor David Hancock.

Exploring the importance of upskilling, innovation and collaborative contracting, the discussion forms part of a wider programme focused on driving resilience and delivery excellence in today’s volatile market.

Taking place on 18 June at One Great George Street in London, the one-day conference will bring together global leaders and professionals from across the construction and infrastructure sectors.

Through a series of panel discussions, workshops and networking, they will delve into this year’s theme: Collaborating to shape the future of global infrastructure and built environment — celebrating NEC-led excellence worldwide.

Tackling sector-wide challenges

Returning as host this year, Garrat, who’s a commercial director at Dalkia Engineering, will moderate a series of sessions addressing industry challenges, such as:

• Re-thinking the long-term value of projects
• The implications of the UK Procurement Act and The Construction Works and Associated Services 3 (CWAS3) framework
• The future of collaborative alliancing with NEC

Tackling these topics will be a line-up of senior industry figures, including:

• Peter Higgins, chair of the NEC Contract Board
• Professor Lewis Barlow, WSP UK decarbonisation head of profession and ICE trustee for carbon and climate
• Professor Anusha Shah, CEO and founder of Plan for Earth
• Alison Nicholl, head of constructing excellence at BRE
• Claire Kirk, carbon performance lead at the Environment Agency
• David Mosey, Emeritus Professor at King’s College London’s Centre of Construction Law

The conference will also feature a programme of interactive breakout sessions, a popular section of the event, which offer deeper insight into practical challenges and solutions.

Building confidence in collaborative working

Rekha Thawrani OBE, global director at NEC Contracts, said the conference aims to give organisations more confidence in applying collaborative ways of working.

“The agenda for the NEC Annual Conference is carefully curated to ensure we provide essential insight across a range of topics that address the very real challenges facing our global industries,” she said.

The event will follow the recent launch of NEC’s global industry report, Trust, Contracts and Outcomes: A Global Study of Construction Supply Chain Relationships.

The report highlighted growing commercial pressures across international markets while noting a greater and growing understanding of the benefits of collaborative contracting.

“The challenge now is giving more organisations the confidence and the mechanisms to act,” she said.

“We have long been committed to helping supply chains build relationships that deliver better projects for everyone – and the NEC Annual Conference is an ideal platform to share best practice, guidance and knowledge.”

The day will culminate with the Martin Barnes Awards, which celebrate excellence in NEC contract management, followed by an evening drinks reception.

ICE members are eligible for a 25% discount on tickets using the code ICECONF25.

For full details on the conference agenda, visit the NEC Contracts website.