NEC Annual Conference & Martin Barnes Awards
18th June 2026 One Great George Street, London
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“Collaborating to shape the future of global infrastructure and built environment — celebrating NEC-led excellence worldwide”
The NEC Annual Conference, a flagship event, brings together senior leaders and practitioners from across the global infrastructure and built environment community to examine the forces shaping how infrastructure is planned, designed, procured and delivered. Through global insight, practical case studies and forward‑looking discussion, today’s most pressing delivery challenges and showcases how progressive commercial and contractual models can unlock better, more resilient outcomes. The NEC Martin Barnes Awards is a highlight of the Conference programme, celebrating outstanding achievement in applying NEC contracts worldwide, recognising individuals, organisations and project teams that exemplify collaboration, innovation and exceptional project delivery.
NEC Annual Conference
“Scaling Excellence in a New Age of Delivery”
Infrastructure and the built environment are entering a period shaped by constant change, rising expectations and increasing complexity. Success now depends on how well organisations anticipate uncertainty, adapt quickly and deliver outcomes that last. Excellence is no longer defined by completing a project. It is defined by creating systems that perform over time, withstand pressure and earn public trust. NEC supports this shift through clarity, collaboration, early warning and fair risk allocation and strengthens early warning, governance and dispute‑avoidance mechanisms to prevent issues before they escalate. True excellence also requires aligned behaviours, capable leadership, transparent governance and delivery models that strengthen the supply chain.
This Conference explores how organisations can scale excellence across the full lifecycle to help the industry navigate volatility, embed climate resilience, harness digital intelligence and deliver infrastructure that endures.
Martin Barnes Awards Ceremony
"Celebrating global excellence in NEC delivery"The NEC Martin Barnes Awards honour outstanding achievement in the application of NEC contracts and frameworks worldwide. The awards ceremony is a highlight of the conference, recognising organisations, individuals and teams who exemplify the principles of collaboration, innovation and exceptional project delivery.
Why Attend:
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See what’s working globally: Gain insight into how NEC contracts are enabling smarter, more resilient outcomes through insights from live projects.
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Navigate today’s industry challenges: Discover established strategies in digitalisation, risk management, sustainability, governance, innovation and collaborative delivery.
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Connect with industry leaders: Engage with clients, contractors, consultants and suppliers shaping the future of infrastructure across multiple regions and sectors.
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Future‑proof your organisation: Understand emerging trends to strengthen capability, resilience and long‑term competitiveness.
- Drive lasting impact: Join a global community committed to delivering social, environmental and economic value through transformational infrastructure.
Who Attends
You will connect with senior professionals actively planning, designing, procuring and delivering infrastructure and built environment projects globally, across multiple regions and sectors, including:
- Public and private sector clients and asset owners
- Major programme, portfolio & project delivery organisations
- Contractors, consultants, legal and specialist supply chain partners
- Government, regulators, NGOs and public bodies
- Academia, research institutions and think‑tanks
Morning Plenary Sessions (Please note: The programme, times and speakers are subject to change(s))
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Registration and Networking
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Opening Remarks
Andrea Naylor
Managing Director, Thomas Telford Ltd -
Welcome Remarks
Matthew Garratt
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member, NEC Contract Board -
Delivery Excellence in Today’s Environment for Growth
Explore how organisations are strengthening delivery excellence through capability building, clearer pipelines, and modernised approaches set out in the Construction Playbook. This session highlights NISTA’s role, industry upskilling, innovation and industrialisation, and the value of collaborative contracting, illustrated through the HMP Prison Programme case study.
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member of NEC Contract Board
Professor David Hancock
Director of Construction, National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), HM Treasury -
Collaboration as a Key Driver of Industry Innovation
With all industry stakeholders, Hong Kong has embarked on a challenging yet rewarding journey of NEC collaboration. Through alignment, empowerment, and joint ownership, a profound cultural change has been cultivated. We gained far more than initially set out for, proving collaboration to be the vital bridge to successful projects, innovation, and reciprocal industry-wide impact.
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member of NEC Contract Board
Ir Ricky LAU Chun-Kit
Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Development Bureau, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and Chair of NEC Users’ Group APAC of NEC Contracts -
From Projects to Outcomes: Rethinking Long‑Term Value
Infrastructure success is increasingly defined by long term outcomes rather than project completion. This session explores how decisions, governance and behaviours must evolve to demonstrate value beyond cost, strengthen public trust and ensure outcomes that endure. It highlights how NEC enabled programmes, supported by digital maturity, whole life performance data and transparent reporting, reinforce outcome based delivery and aligned behaviours that sustain confidence over time.
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member of NEC Contract Board
Sam Costello
Head of Delivery, Infrastructure UK, Turner & Townsend
Oliver Conde
Global Work Winning Director, Mace Consult
Stuart Grant
Director of Asset Management and Operations, Tideway
Helen Sturdy
Deputy Director of Pre-Construction New Hospital Programme, NHSE and Member of NEC Contract Board -
Reshaping Construction Procurement: CWAS3 and The Procurement Act
Get a clear, practical view of how CWAS3 and the Procurement Act are reshaping procurement rules, flexibility and transparency. Learn what these changes mean for NEC‑based strategies, how to prepare clients and suppliers for new expectations, and how reform supports capability, consistency and long‑term value.
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member of NEC Contract Board
Clare Chamberlain
Head of Construction Works Category, Government Commercial Agency (GCA)
Dawn Mathias
Commercial Deputy Director Construction, Government Commercial Agency (GCA) -
Revealing the Next Generation of NEC Alliancing
Discover how next generation alliancing is redefining how teams collaborate, govern and deliver major programmes. This plenary session introduces the vision, principles and performance drivers behind the new model, showing how shared purpose, aligned incentives and transparent decision making can unlock stronger outcomes across complex delivery environments.
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member of NEC Contract Board
Peter Higgins
Chair, NEC Contract Board and Director of pdConsult
Professor David Mosey
Emeritus Professor, Centre of Construction Law, King’s College London and Member of NEC Contract Board -
NEC Contract Suite: What’s New & What It Means in Practice
Hear directly from the NEC Contract Board on the latest updates across the suite, including the new ECSC for NGOs and enhancements to Option X29. This session explains the rationale behind recent changes, their implications for clients, suppliers and international users, and how updates strengthen governance, clarity and dispute avoidance.
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member of NEC Contract Board
Peter Higgins
Chair, NEC Contract Board and Director of pdConsult -
Refreshments and Networking
Breakout Sessions
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Helpdesk Heroes: Ask the NEC Expert
Bring your NEC contract questions to this interactive session with two of our most experienced Helpdesk advisors. Drawing on real FAQs, common misconceptions and live delegate questions, this session offers clear, practical guidance, including a focused look at Z clauses (‘the Z Factor’) and how to manage them confidently in practice.
MiMi Aye (Moderator)
Head of Content, NEC Contracts, Thomas Telford Ltd
Ian Heaphy
Director, IN Construction Consulting and Member, NEC Contract Board
Robert Gerrard
Senior NEC Consultant and Secretary of NEC Users’ Group APAC, NEC Contracts -
Designing for Climate Reality: Resilience, Adaptation & Nature‑Based Solutions
Understand how climate uncertainty is reshaping design and delivery, and how NEC climate clauses and Option X29 embed resilience and accountability. We explore how to balance cost and long‑term performance, apply climate clauses effectively, and use nature‑based solutions to reduce risk and strengthen whole‑life resilience.
Shy Jackson (Moderator)
Partner, BCLP and Member of NEC Contract Board
Sue Barrett
Contracts & Commercial Director, Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority
Jim McCluskey
Senior Commercial Manager, Kier Infrastructure
Will Rue
Partner, Allora Infrastructure and member of Project 13 -
Deep dive into the next generation of NEC Alliancing
Take a closer look at the practical application of next generation alliancing. This session explores the behaviours, governance structures and delivery mechanisms that enable integrated teams to operate as one, strengthen decision making and drive consistent, high value performance across programmes and portfolios.
Peter Higgins
Chair, NEC Contract Board and Director of pdConsult
Professor David Mosey
Emeritus Professor, Centre of Construction Law, King’s College London and Member of NEC Contract Board -
Designing for Climate Reality: Resilience, Adaptation & Nature‑Based Solutions
Understand how climate uncertainty is reshaping design and delivery, and how NEC climate clauses and Option X29 embed resilience and accountability. We explore how to balance cost and long‑term performance, apply climate clauses effectively, and use nature‑based solutions to reduce risk and strengthen whole‑life resilience.
Professor Lewis Barlow (Moderator)
Decarbonisation Head of Profession, WSP UK and ICE Trustee for Carbon and Climate
Claire Kirk
Carbon Performance Lead, Environment Agency
Professor Anusha Shah
CEO & Founder, Plan for Earth
Katherine Drayson
Senior Environment Manager, TfL -
Lunch
Afternoon Plenary Sessions
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Delivering Mega and Multi‑Programme Systems
As programmes become interconnected systems, delivery demands new forms of governance, accountability and collaboration. This session examines how NEC mechanisms, supported by digital ecosystems, AI enabled decision infrastructure and integrated data environments, enable shared outcomes, coordinated decisions and supplier resilience across complex, system wide environments.
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member of NEC Contract Board
Amanda Meeder
Manager NEC4 Knowledge Center Oosterweel Antwerp, Lantis -
Collaboration at Scale
Collaboration is becoming essential as programmes grow in scale and interdependence. This session explores how organisations across the UK, Europe and global markets are applying collaborative delivery models in practice, what drives successful behaviours, and how NEC mechanisms support trust, transparency and shared outcomes across diverse and increasingly complex delivery ecosystems.
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member of NEC Contract Board
Isabelle Adams
Enterprise Director, Great Grid Partnership, Strategic Infrastructure, nationalgrid
Gustavo Martinez
President, European International Contractors (EIC) -
Collaborative Contracting in Practice: JTC’s NEC Journey
Discover why JTC adopted NEC. This session reflects on lessons from two years of target cost delivery, explores how pain/gain mechanisms shape fair outcomes to strengthen collaboration, transparency and capability across major developments, and highlights emerging and synergistic opportunities such as deep tier financing.
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member of NEC Contract Board
Ngu Wang Chung
Acting Director, New Estates Division, JTC -
Delivery Leadership: Skills, Capacity and Leading Under Pressure
Discover what leadership looks like under sustained complexity and pressure. This session explores how leaders maintain trust, balance technical authority with ethical, people centred decision making, embed meaningful social value, and use NEC governance, supported by digital transparency and data driven clarity to build resilient, high performing teams with psychological safety.
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member of NEC Contract Board
John Welch
Commercial Director, United Utilities
Jamie Hillier
Partner, Akerlof
Ambrose McGuire
Program Director, AECOM
Jyoti Sehdev CEng MICE
Senior Sustainability Engineer, Costain
Alison Nicholl
Head of Constructing Excellence, BRE -
Closing Remarks
Matthew Garratt
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member, NEC Contract Board
The Martin Barnes Awards
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The Martin Barnes Awards Ceremony
Peter Higgins
Chair, NEC Contract Board and Director of pdConsult
Professor David Mosey
Emeritus Professor, Centre of Construction Law, King’s College London and Member of NEC Contract Board -
Drinks Reception
ECS
Providing strategic consulting and management solutions that improve project performance and deliver successful outcomes across all sectors.
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Gordon & Partners and JCP Consultancy International
JCP is a specialist consultancy that empowers engineering and project teams to achieve high performance through trusted collaboration, behavioural insight, and strategic facilitation.
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Pangea
Pangea was founded in 2014 after a need was identified for further transparency and collaboration across disciplines in the project delivery eco-system.
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Digital Beehive
Transforming infrastructure projects with intelligent, scalable digital solutions that streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and drive better outcomes.
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Sypro
Sypro ensures every construction contract is run compliantly, removing the risk of costly disputes and delays. We’re the only contract management software ready to manage all global contract types.
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Thinkproject
Empowering customers to manage multiple built assets across the entire lifecycle through a Connected Data Ecosystem.
Visit websiteSponsor this event
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- Reengage with key customers, meet new ones and gain a valuable insight into their requirements
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- Benefit from the networking and discover new industry trends through discussion opportunities
- Be a part of the flagship NEC annual conference
Secure your sponsorship today by emailing sheetal.mistry@neccontract.com.
London
Product code: L07113
Event Speakers
Professor Lewis Barlow (Moderator), Decarbonisation Head of Profession, WSP UK and ICE Trustee for Carbon and Climate
Lewis Barlow is Decarbonisation Head of Profession at WSP UK, a Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde and ICE Trustee for Carbon and Climate. He advises governments and major programmes on whole-life carbon, integrating decarbonisation and resilience, and is a leading contributor to PAS 2080 and industry best practice.
Ir Ricky LAU Chun-Kit, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Development Bureau, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and Chair of NEC Users’ Group APAC of NEC Contracts
John Welch, Commercial Director, United Utilities
John Welch is an experienced leader and proven commercial and procurement professional, with extensive experience in major commercial delivery and execution in both public and private sectors. He has led teams and partnerships across complex and diverse organisations delivering on commercial strategies, managing organisational and functional change and translating policy into strategic direction and delivery.
Over his career he has held several senior positions in the private and public sector and is currently Commercial Director at United Utilities responsible for commercial delivery of their £13bn AMP8 programme improving water and wastewater services.
Ian Heaphy, Director, IN Construction Consulting and Member, NEC Contract Board
Robert Gerrard, Senior NEC Consultant and Secretary of NEC Users’ Group APAC, NEC Contracts
Robert specialises in NEC contracts, both setting these up and successfully managing them. He has 43 years’ experience in contract management, 31 of those using NEC contracts, and carries out training and consultancy around the world. Robert is based in Hong Kong and works as a Senior NEC Consultant for Thomas Telford Limited.
He is an examiner for the Institution of Civil Engineers Certificate in Law and Contract Management course and has also held the position of NEC Users’ Group Secretary from 2006 to date. Robert is an NEC4 Contract Drafter, part of the NEC3 contracts working group and an Accredited NEC4 ECC Project Manager.
Robert is an Accredited Mediator through the London School of Mediation, IMI Qualified (International Mediation Institute), registered through the UK Civil Mediation Council and is a member on mediation panels in UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand. He has a Master of Laws in Mediation and International Commercial Dispute Resolution at Newcastle University, UK, and is a temporary part-time lecturer at Hong Kong University.
Robert’s publications include NEC3 and NEC4 Compared (2017, 2nd edition 2025), NEC2 and NEC3 Compared (2005, 2nd edition 2025), joint author in NEC4 Avoiding and Resolving Disputes (2019), NEC4 Practical Solutions (2017) and NEC3 Practical Solutions (2015).
Sue Barrett, Contracts & Commercial Director, Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority
Sue is the Contracts & Commercial Director at the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority, where she leads the development of the commercial strategy direction for the programme.
With over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, Sue has held a range of senior leadership roles in procurement. Her expertise spans strategic network extensions, station capacity improvements, interchange developments, and station upgrade schemes.
Sue has operated at a strategic level on several high-value infrastructure projects. She has led the development of commercial, procurement, and contract strategies across a portfolio of construction projects, with individual project values exceeding £4bn and a total portfolio value of £9bn.
Andrea Naylor, Managing Director, Thomas Telford Ltd
Andrea Naylor is the Managing Director of Thomas Telford. With over 25 years’ experience of building digital growth, she specialises in the creation of information products for busy professionals. She is committed to developing teams dedicated to helping their customers use technology to solve business challenges.
Dawn Mathias, Commercial Deputy Director Construction, Government Commercial Agency (GCA)
Dawn Matthias is a senior commercial and construction procurement leader serving as Deputy Director of Construction at the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) responsible for centralised procurement and commercial policy.
In her role as Deputy Director, Dawn plays a key leadership role in overseeing the Construction Category team and related strategic frameworks, helping public sector clients and government bodies to source effective, compliant, and high-value construction solutions across major infrastructure and built environment programmes. Her portfolio includes working closely with local authorities, public infrastructure providers and industry partners to deliver frameworks that align with government policy such as the UK Government’s Construction Playbook, while supporting broader social value and sustainability goals.
Peter Higgins, Chair, NEC Contract Board and Director of pdConsult
Peter is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. In 2000 he established pdConsult, a consultancy organisation to provide strategic advice, contract procurement, contract management and dispute resolution services to the construction industry.
Since 1995 Peter has led the NEC drafting panels set up by the ICE to prepare the NEC forms of contract and guidance, and now chairs the NEC4 Contract Board.
Professor David Mosey, Emeritus Professor, Centre of Construction Law, King’s College London and Member of NEC Contract Board
Professor David Mosey CBE PhD FICE is a member of the NEC Contract Board, an Emeritus Professor at King's College London and former Head of Projects and Construction at law firm Trowers & Hamlins.
David is author of the NEC “FAC-1” and “TAC-1” alliance contracts. He is also author of “Constructing the Gold Standard” whose 24 recommendations for improving value, managing risks and achieving net zero carbon have been adopted as ‘cross-cutting priorities’ by the UK government.
Professor Anusha Shah, CEO & Founder, Plan for Earth
Professor Anusha Shah is a global leader in sustainable, climate resilient and nature‑positive infrastructure, with over 26 years ‘experience across the UK and internationally. ICE Past President (2023-24), she is Founder & CEO of Plan for Earth and holds senior advisory, and non‑executive roles championing climate adaptation, equity and sustainable development.
Helen Sturdy, Deputy Director of Pre-Construction New Hospital Programme, NHSE and Member of NEC Contract Board
Helen Sturdy CEng MSc BEng (Hons) FIHEEM CIWFM MCIBSE MAPM MAfH NECR is Pre-Construction Deputy Director (Strategy) for the New Hospital Programme and a member of the NEC Contract Board. She is a nationally recognised leader in healthcare infrastructure, with extensive experience across construction, capital, estates and facilities and a distinguished record of senior leadership within NHS England. Helen previously led the national NHS Construction Team and the NHS ProCure frameworks, supporting national programmes and more than 700 live projects nationwide each year. Her work has influenced national approaches to procurement, programme delivery, building safety and long-term value in public infrastructure. She also works across government with other public sector construction clients and industry partners to drive improvement across the sector, and is active internationally, advising and presenting across established infrastructure markets. She has a strong commitment to collaborative contracting and brings strategic client-side perspective grounded in the delivery of complex public sector programmes along with current industry insight to the NEC Contract Board, helping to ensure that NEC contracts remain relevant, practical, and aligned to sector need.
Amanda Meeder, Manager NEC4 Knowledge Center Oosterweel Antwerp, Lantis
As driving force in the Lantis established NEC4 Knowledge Centre Oosterweel Antwerp, Amanda - an accredited NEC4 ECC Project manager and Supervisor - fosters knowledge sharing and implements lessons learned.
Matthew Garratt, Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member, NEC Contract Board
Matthew is a commercial director who has spent 30 years working in the UK engineering and construction industry.
He is a chartered surveyor and fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He has enthusiasm for contract strategy and collaborative working.
Jyoti Sehdev CEng MICE, Senior Sustainability Engineer, Costain
Jyoti is an award-winning Chartered Civil Engineer with Costain. She is also a Trustee, Biomimic, and ecotonal thinker, committed to climate justice and social equity.
Jyoti is an award-winning Chartered Civil Engineer with Costain, a Trustee, EDI Advisor, and Biomimic. Jyoti is committed to climate justice and social equity and was recognised as in the Top 50 Women in Engineering (2021) and Asian Women of Achievement (2022) for her contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Alison Nicholl, Head of Constructing Excellence, BRE
Alison has a background in knowledge transfer, driving innovation and change into the construction sector both in the UK and oversees. Alison is currently Head of Constructing Excellence at BRE, where she works with its members and wider movement to drive positive change in the built environment. Alison has a passion for transforming the construction sector into a more innovative, inclusive and sustainable industry.
Katherine Drayson, Senior Environment Manager, TfL
With almost two decades of environment-related experience, Dr Katherine Drayson currently leads Transport for London’s strategic work on climate change adaptation and green infrastructure.
Dr Katherine Drayson is a Senior Environment Manager in Transport for London’s Sustainability & Corporate Environment team with 19 years’ experience in ecology and adaptation-related roles in consultancy, academia, the third-sector and public sector. She currently leads TfL’s strategic work on climate change adaptation and green infrastructure.