Management Board

SECBE Chair since October ’24. Helen is the Chief Development Officer and Acting Chief Digital and Information Officer, responsible for Process Improvement, Technology, Procurement, Infrastructure & PMO. Previously, she was the Procurement Director at Heathrow Airport, where she was responsible for the strategic sourcing and execution of all third party spend. During the COVID pandemic, her previous role, which looked after c£1bn of operational and capital spend, focussed on new procurement strategies across their supplier base to save money in the short term whilst maintaining long term value and relationships and ensuring Heathrow’s longer-term ambitions around Sustainability, Diversity, Innovation and Technology are not compromised.

Helen has been with Heathrow for 12 years and prior to her role in Procurement, she has spent her career in construction. Joining Heathrow in 2009 as a Senior Project Manager, Helen has grown through the organisation first becoming a Programme Director, then the Programme Management Office Director to finally leading the entire Capital Portfolio as the Development Director. These roles along with her last two roles in Expansion and Procurement has enabled Helen to develop a client perspective on all elements of the construction lifecycle from developing the business case, design, investment, delivery, logistics, project controls, procurement, supplier relationship management, operational readiness and handover.

SECBE Deputy Chair since October ’24. Malcolm is Chairman and Managing Director at Baxall Construction with over 40 years construction experience.

As a well-known and respected name across the industry, Malcolm was a key figure with the National Federation of Builders (NFB) with whom he has progressed from local membership to National Chairman. His active involvement has included representation at National and European Government levels and ongoing support for SMEs and localism. Malcolm joined the Board of SECBE from 2018-2021 and was instrumental in proposing and supporting the IFLP.

At operational level, Malcolm promotes exceptional standards, a customer-focused culture and collaborative team approach to each and every project, leading by example and encouraging the same. Malcolm’s commitment to industry best practice, determination and championing change is particularly evident in his proactive leadership of a number of initiatives, including modern methods of construction, sustainable carbon reduction, safety best practice and staff development.

After 27 years growing and ultimately leading Advanté Ltd, an SME within the construction sector, Mandy founded mm² insights, a commercial practice supporting founders and senior leaders of SMEs.

Throughout her career, Mandy has been passionate about focusing on building long-term value rather than short-term fixes – embedding governance and ESG practices ahead of them becoming standard, and building strong teams, culture and long-term relationships.

Mandy has also served as Advisory Board Director of the Supply Chain Sustainability School, working closely with the industry on collaborative approaches to sustainability.

Having seen first-hand the amazing work SECBE does, Mandy is keen to support and grow the SECBE programmes like IFLP, CLOCS, and the CoTrain apprenticeship scheme – and in helping scale the social value initiatives already making a real difference across the sector.

Crispin Walker is Director of Logistics (Infrastructure & Defence) at Turner & Townsend, bringing more than 40 years of leadership experience spanning military logistics, infrastructure delivery and construction. During his 33-year Army career, he served in Germany, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Afghanistan and Iraq, leading multinational logistics operations in the Balkans, establishing the UK's in-country logistics in Afghanistan, and planning the logistics for the London 2012 Olympic security operation and the UK's strategic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

His expertise in integrated logistics and major project delivery brings valuable strategic insight to the SECBE Board, supporting innovation, productivity, safety and sustainability across the built environment. A strong advocate of CLOCS, Crispin also champions the development of future industry capability through SECBE initiatives including the Innovative Future Leaders Programme and CoTrain.

With 16 years of experience as a lawyer in the construction industry, including 8 years at leading engineering consultancy Hoare Lea LLP, Hamish brings extensive expertise in health and safety, quality management, insurance, risk management and legal affairs. At Hoare Lea, he strives to drive improvement through innovation and has led the development of an AI contract review platform. 

He is passionate about sensible procurement, contract management, and industry improvement, and has been involved with the Get It Right Initiative (GIRI) since 2017. Outside work, Hamish is active in coaching youth football. Delighted to join SECBE's board, he aims to drive positive industry change.

Currently the Head of Technical at Knauf UK & Ireland, Jimmy brings a wealth of experience from his eight years at the company, where he has held multiple roles, including National Specification Director. He oversees technical service, on-site support, training, and R&D, navigating the industry's evolving technical and legislative landscape. 

Jimmy's background includes a degree in Psychology from Loughborough University and participation in the IFLP program. He is passionate about improving industry standards through collaboration and knowledge sharing. On the SECBE board, he aims to enhance competence and legislative understanding, contributing to a more efficient and attractive construction sector.

Maria, a senior people and organizational development specialist, brings over 20 years of experience across various sectors, including professional services and utilities. She has led large-scale change projects and held key roles, such as heading the People Development function at Slater & Gordon Group, where she launched initiatives like The Coaching Academy and The Talent Academy. 

Maria has also worked with Abri Homes, the University of Surrey, and Portsmouth Water on organizational design and development. Passionate about addressing the skills shortage in the construction sector, she aims to enhance the industry's attractiveness and competitiveness. Maria looks forward to contributing to SECBE's mission of driving positive change in the built environment.

With a background in digital (BIM) and regulatory expertise, Jason brings over 15 years of experience in the Nuclear Industry and a deep understanding of sustainability and innovative technologies. Recognised for delivering complex, government-funded projects, he excels in leadership, communication, and management. 

Jason has a proven track record of promoting sustainability, particularly through new nuclear generation as a zero-carbon technology. His industry knowledge, demonstrated by two Royal Fellowships and significant influence through a widely followed podcast, positions him to bring valuable insights to the SECBE board. Jason sits on the membership committee to the board at the Royal Institute of British Architects and offers strong governance experience and a commitment to advancing the construction sector.

An experienced marketing and business development leader, Clare Deakin brings over 25 years of expertise driving strategic growth and brand transformation across consumer, entertainment, property, and construction sectors. As Head of Marketing and Business Development for Galliford Try Building Southern and a Non-Executive Director at SECBE, she plays a key role in shaping strategy, culture, and commercial success across the industry.

Clare is a passionate advocate for neurodiversity and a champion for marketing’s contribution to the built environment. Through thought leadership, mentoring, and advocacy, she promotes inclusion and inspires the next generation of diverse, purpose-driven marketers.

Guided by the belief that “opportunities don’t happen you create them,” Clare combines creativity, empathy, and commercial intelligence to deliver impactful strategies that engage audiences and elevate industry standards.

Catherine is an accomplished HR executive with over 20 years of generalist experience across dynamic and complex sectors including Construction, Real Estate, Financial, and Retail. As Chief People Officer at Bovis Construction, she leads strategic people initiatives that drive transformation, foster organisational agility, and unlock talent potential.

Her career has been defined by a commitment to HR transformation, organisational design, and talent development. Catherine has worked closely with executive leadership to shape strategic vision, build high-performing teams, and deliver HR solutions that align with evolving business needs.

Passionate about driving positive change in the construction industry, Catherine sees talent development and skill leveraging as key opportunities to elevate the sector. She is keen to continue to influence how organisations adapt, grow, and thrive through their people and is excited to join SECBE to continue to champion and evolve the positive change that is already underway.

Charles is Construction Director at JB Construction1, a leading groundworks, civil engineering, and concrete flooring contractor operating nationwide. With over 10 years’ experience in the construction industry, he has progressed from Site Engineer through to Director level, playing a key role in the company’s growth from a regional contractor to a £30m+ turnover business.

Charles has led the adoption of digital construction systems, including Procore and GPS machine control, helping to drive efficiency, consistency, and data-led decision making across operations. He has also been instrumental in expanding the business into new service areas, including ground engineering and concrete flooring.

In 2025, Charles was recognised as a SECBE G4C Future Leader Award winner, reflecting his contribution to the industry and commitment to driving innovation and positive change.

Passionate about developing people and shaping the future of the industry, Charles is a strong advocate for apprenticeships, early careers, and leadership development. He is committed to improving productivity, sustainability, and collaboration across the sector and is excited to contribute to SECBE’s ongoing work in driving positive change within the built environment.

Oona Muirhead is a former Chief Executive of a business support Agency that ran innovation centres, business parks, and business finance schemes. Previously a Senior Civil Servant, she has experience inside and outside Whitehall including in the private and third sectors.

In addition to her non-executive role on the SECBE Board, Oona is Chair of the Groundwork Federation of charities helping communities get green homes, green jobs and green spaces; a Fellow at the cross-party Westminster-based think-tank Policy Connect involved in policy work on climate, sustainability and AI; and non-Exec at the ethical auditing company MSS Global.

Oona leads two Right to Manage companies dealing with post-Grenfell remediation issues, so brings a close-up client-side perspective of the building sector that is relevant to SECBE. She would like to help SECBE lead action across the sector on preparing for and managing the extreme impacts of climate change already being felt in the UK.