NEC Annual Conference & Martin Barnes Awards
18th June 2026 One Great George Street, London
You have chosen Full day, London in this United Kingdom event on 18 June 2026
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£435.00
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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 -
Driving Resilience, Innovation and Delivery Excellence in Today’s Volatile Environments
Discover how volatility is reshaping risk, opportunity and decision making, and how organisations can build resilience into programmes and portfolios. This session shows how NEC mechanisms, supported by digital tools, real time data and AI enabled decision intelligence, strengthen adaptive planning, rapid decisions and controlled innovation, helping teams sustain delivery excellence even as conditions shift at pace.
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member, NEC Contract Board
David Hancock
Director of Construction, National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) -
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, 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 -
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, NEC Contract Board
Oliver Conde
Global Work Winning Director, Mace Consult
Stuart Grant
Director of Asset Management and Operations, Tideway
Sam Costello
UK Major Programmes Lead, Turner & Townsend
Helen Sturdy
National Head of Construction & ProCure23 Framework, NHS England -
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.- Procurement Act: Insights into changing procurement rules
- Construction Works and Associated Services 3 (CWAS3) Framework: Creating and delivering the largest construction frameworks
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member, NEC Contract Board
Dawn Mathias
Commercial Deputy Director, Government Commercial Agency (GCA)
Luke Butler
Professor of Public Procurement Law & Regulation and Director, Executive Programme in Public Procurement Law & Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nottingham -
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, NEC Contract Board
Peter Higgins
Chair, NEC Contract Board and Director, pdConsult
Professor David Mosey
Emeritus Professor , Centre of Construction Law, King’s College London and Member, 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, NEC Contract Board
Peter Higgins
Chair, NEC Contract Board and Director, 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, NEC User Group, APAC, NEC Contracts -
Conflict Avoidance in Practice: NEC’s Approach and Cross Industry Perspectives
Explore how NEC’s dispute avoidance route, real case experience and cross industry initiatives support early resolution and healthier project relationships. This session clarifies how different approaches align with Project 13 principles and how proactive behaviours can reduce escalation and strengthen delivery confidence.
Shy Jackson (Moderator)
Partner, BCLP and Member, NEC Contract Board
Sue Barrett
Contracts & Commercial Director, Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority
Jim McCluskey
Senior Commercial Manager, KierBAM JV
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, pdConsult
Professor David Mosey
Emeritus Professor , Centre of Construction Law, King’s College London and Member, 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
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, 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, 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, NEC Contract Board
David Tan
Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Development Group), JTC -
TBC
Matthew Garratt (Moderator)
Commercial Director, Dalkia, EDF Group and Member, NEC Contract Board -
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, 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, pdConsult
Professor David Mosey
Emeritus Professor , Centre of Construction Law, King’s College London and Member, 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
- Grow your business and generate new leads
- Increase your brand awareness and get in front of your target market
- Reengage with key customers, meet new ones and gain a valuable insight into their requirements
- Align your brand with best practice in industry
- Stand out from your competitors and gain a competitive edge
- 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.
Peter Higgins, Chair, NEC Contract Board and Director, 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.
Helen Sturdy, National Head of Construction & ProCure23 Framework, NHS England
Helen Sturdy is the National Pre‑Construction Deputy Director (Strategy) for the New Hospital Programme, leading national strategy and early‑stage decision‑making for major healthcare infrastructure. An NEC4 Contract Board member, and previously as the National Head of Construction and lead for the NHS ProCure framework, she supports the stewardship and international application of NEC, promoting outcome‑based delivery, collaboration, transparent governance, and long‑term value.
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.