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Innovation tsar takes on new role at Construction Leadership Council

Construction Innovation Hub programme director, Keith Waller, has joined the Construction Leadership Council.

Construction Innovation Hub programme director Keith Waller is to join the Construction Leadership Council as part of an overhaul which will see a renewed focus on sector transformation and recovery.

Waller will lead a new manufacturing and performance workstream and sit on the CLC task force group, which was originally set up in March to coordinate the sector’s response to the coronavirus crisis but has now become a formal part of the CLC’s structure.

As part of a CLC reorganisation, the task force group has been given responsibility for leading and co-ordinating the delivery of the sector’s “Roadmap to Recovery”, launched in June in response to the pandemic.

Speaking about his appointment, Keith Waller said: “The CLC task force group has played a crucial role in shaping and leading our sector’s response to the Covid pandemic. Over the course of our 100+ meetings, we’ve seen a resolute determination to weather this crisis together and speak with one voice.

“Even with the prospect of a return to some degree of normality, it is vital that we don’t lose sight of the wider transformative ambitions laid out in the Roadmap to Recovery, in particular those in the ‘Reinvent’ phase. We must build on the momentum and unity of purpose we’ve seen over the past few months to ensure we are setting a clear direction for our sector, one which is focused on delivering better and lasting outcomes for our economy, society and the environment”.

Commenting on the refreshed CLC structure, Andy Mitchell, the CLC’s co-chair, said: “Intentionally larger in numbers than the previous structure, the new membership broadens our industry representation and reach into local regions, creating a CLC that better represents the three million people continuing to work in the industry, playing a vital role in driving the UK’s economy.

“The new structure places the CLC task force at the heart of the continuing drive to lead and transform the industry as set out in the CLC Industry Recovery Plan. To support the task force, a CLC senior advisors group has been established, along the lines of non-executives of a typical board. This group will provide an even wider representation of different parts of the industry, together with support, challenge and guidance.

“As we all know, there is a lot to do over the coming months including supporting industry through Covid and EU transition and leading its transformation. We expect the new structure to remain in place during 2021, but we will be reviewing it next year, to determine a longer term structure and operating model for the CLC, to enable CLC to support and lead the construction industry into the future.”

If you would like to contact Andy Walker about this, or any other story, please email awalker@infrastructure-intelligence.com.