2026 Agenda

As well as a comprehensive exhibition, at Kent Construction EXPO you can access a programme of free keynotes, workshops & special networking events – providing fresh insights into current construction industry challenges and opportunities on the horizon as well as emerging technologies, practices and innovations – helping you to keep up-to-date and thrive in the years ahead.

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Sustainable Futures: Net Zero, Retrofit & Resilient Design
 
Available to sponsor

Build 4.0: Digital Construction, AI & Project Delivery
 
Available to sponsor

The Building Safety Act: Compliance, Risk & Accountability
 

Building a Stronger Construction Future: Skills, Leadership & Business Growth
Available to sponsor


Sponsored by:

08:00 - 09:00

KCFG Networking Breakfast - Construction Skills Briefing: Building the Workforce of the Future

Clive Emson Building

Cheryl Causebrook
Construction Industry Professional
Kent Constructing Excellence
Ella Sandall
Head of Communications & Business Development
Jenner
Mark Andrews
Deputy Executive Principal (Strategy & Curriculum)
North Kent College & SECTEC
Lucy Druesne
Deputy CEO
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
Steve Samson
Head of Economy
Kent County Council
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09:00 - 10:30
Registration Opens
09:20 - 09:25

Welcome from Tudor Price, CEO, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce

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Tudor Price
CEO
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
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09:25 - 10:00

Opening Keynote: Building Kent 2030: Infrastructure, Skills and Opportunity

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Samantha King
Skills & Employment Specialist
Lower Thames Crossing
Richard Wood
Head of Commercial
Heathrow
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10:30 - 11:00

Retrofit at Scale: Delivering Decarbonisation Across Existing Buildings

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Bob Bohannon
Group Sustainability Lead
Thorlux Lighting
Paul Dawson
Group Technical Manager
LHC Procurement Group
Adrian Lockwood
Managing Director
Lockwood Building Projects
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AI on Site: Where Construction is Actually Using AI Today

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Lydia McKeown
Director
We Do Marketing Ltd
Tom Fielder
Managing Director
Switchplane
Jack Gilbey
Spatial Operations Lead
Cloudcam UAV Ltd
Matt Lacey
Managing Director
SURVEYTECH
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BSA Enforcement in 2026: Accountability, Risk & Organisational Exposure

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Caroline Watkins
Partner
Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP
Chris Kirby-Turner
Partner
Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP
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Women Shaping Construction

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Faith Abudu
Director
DIIC Diversity and Inclusion in Construction C.I.C.
Huda Lohiya
Area Civil Engineer & Sustainability Advisor
Tensar, a division of CMC
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11:00 - 11:10
Exhibition & Comfort Break
11:10 - 11:40

Embodied Carbon & Low-Carbon Delivery: What Clients Now Expect

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Sarah Campbell
Senior Campaign Manager
Climate Group
Sam Luker
Director
Consult Sustain
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Golden Thread in Practice: What Good Looks Like

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Matthew Barker
Technical Director
Baxall
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Temporary Works, CDM & Competence: Managing Risk on Live Sites

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Andrew Stotesbury
Business Development Manager & Technical Specialist - Temporary Works
StrucX
Oteri Maxwell
Senior Health and Safety Advisor
Morgan Sindall Construction
Steve Booker
Managing Director
Kentec Training
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Mental Health, Burnout & Retention in Construction

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Kelly Hannaghan
Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultant
Mind Work Matters
Marcus de Guingand
Managing Director
Third Pillar of Health
Ella Sandall
Head of Communications & Business Development
Jenner
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11:40 - 12:00
Exhibition & Comfort Break
12:00 - 12:30

Biodiversity Net Gain: What’s Changing in 2026, and What It Means for Your Projects

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Tom Nelson
Director & Co-Founder
Nature Impact
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Cyber Security & Digital Risk in Construction

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Alastair Huntingford
Director of Cyber Security & Compliance
Fluidity
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Gateway Delays, Planning Reform & Case Law Updates

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Jonathan Buckwell
Director
DHA
Elouise Mitchell
Senior Planning Manager
Chartway Partnerships Group
Oliver Davis
Head of Nutrient Neutrality
Dace Environmental LTD
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Building the Next Generation: Skills, Apprenticeships & Alternative Routes

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David Smith
Director of Partnerships
South East Consortium
Chris Hare
Executive Director & Deputy CEO
MidKent College
Stuart Hardie
Managing Director
Baxall
Richard Jackson
Executive Director
Designs for Lighting (DFL)
Shane Forster
Employer Engagement Lead
The Education People
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12:30 - 13:00
Lunch & Networking
12:40 - 13:25

Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce Members-only VIP Reception

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Tudor Price
CEO
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
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13:00 - 13:30

Circular Construction: Reuse, Reclaimed Materials & Waste Reduction

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Bob Bohannon
Group Sustainability Lead
Thorlux Lighting
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Concept to Construction: Bridging the Gap Between Design & Delivery

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Kingsley John Hughes
Architect
Designscape Consultants Ltd
Mark Degiorgio
Managing Director
Degiorgio Properties Ltd
Mehrdad Bahari
Director
Adkins Consultants Ltd
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Fire, Structural Safety & Duty-holder Compliance

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Gok Faromika
Associate Principal Designer
Bailey Partnership Group
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Inclusive Growth, Social Value & Workforce Development

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Jemma Fairclough-Haynes
CEO
Orchard Employment Law
Deborah Turner
Chartered Surveyor & Co-Founder
Breakthrough Women
Malcolm Clarke
Chairman
Baxall
Helen Simmons
Senior Social Value Manager
Clear Voice
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13:30 - 14:00
Lunch & Networking
14:00 - 14:30

Designing Buildings That Perform Better for Longer

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Rob Page
Chartered Architectural Technologist
Hazle McCormack Young LLP
James Galpin
Partner
Hazle McCormack Young LLP
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Smarter Refurbishment: Using Digital Surveying to Reduce Risk & Improve Decisions

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Sam Heard
Refurbishment Divisional Manager
Axter Ltd
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NEC vs JCT in 2026: Risk, Collaboration & Commercial Reality

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Matt Clark
Managing Director
GVE Solutions Limited
Caroline Watkins
Partner
Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP
Stephen Paine
Operations Director
Morgan Sindall Construction
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Winning Work in 2026: Frameworks & Bid Strategy

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Rebecca Richardson
Director
Procurement Edge
Jill Willis
Co-Founder & Director
Attract & Engage
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14:30 - 14:45
Exhibition / Comfort Break
14:45 - 15:15

Old Buildings, New Materials: Balancing Heritage and Sustainability

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Beyond the Hype: Where MMC & Offsite Are Really Delivering Value

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SME Compliance: What Good Looks Like on Smaller Projects

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Jeanette Wessen
ISO, Health & Safety and Food Safety Consultant
Next Step Compliance
Leo Scarborough
The Buildsmith
Buildsmith Solutions
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Construction Under Pressure: Managing Cost, Risk & Market Change

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Martin Kingman
Chief Executive Officer
PLC Pro Legal Group
Steph Harris
Head of Social Value and New Business
Apex
Jarvey Moss
CEO
Saible
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16:00 - 16:30
Exhibition Closes
16:30 - 17:30

Drinks Reception sponsored by DHA (Ticketed Event)

Clive Emson Building

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17:30 - 22:00

Gala Dinner with LIVE entertainment (Ticketed Event)

Clive Emson Building

Ebonie G
Soul, Motown & R&B Vocalist
Black Bird Entertainment Ltd
James Dowdeswell
Stand-up Comedian & Writer
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