Diego Padilla-Philipps, director, Decarbonisation and Innovation for Building Structures, WSP, has been announced as the speaker for the JCT Povey Lecture 2025, taking place on Thursday, 13 November.
The title of Diego’s presentation is “Human-Centred, Evidence-Based, Augmented Intelligence in Building Design”.
At the forefront of modern construction, from both a design and engineering perspective, Diego will discuss the transformative power of automation and AI in the design of better buildings, and its potential to help us navigate the complexities of modern projects, ambitious sustainability targets, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration.
Automation is allowing us to integrate multiple objectives and generate thousands of design options during the concept stage. This enables clients to choose the most optimal design early in the project, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.
The future of design is already here, and it is going to change everything.
About the speaker
Diego Padilla-Philipps is WSP’s director of Decarbonisation and Innovation for Building Structures. In this role he works towards creating zero carbon buildings to address the climate emergency.
He has led the creation of WSP’s structures decarbonisation roadmap and continues to deliver on its commitment to half the emissions of their designs and advice by 2030.
Diego’s current focus is on digital innovation, harvesting the power of AI to create tools and processes that help engineers, designers, and clients to create better buildings.
As a structural engineer his experience varies from tall building design to complex basements, from office refurbishments to cultural venues.
He was the lead engineer for the design and delivery of 22 Bishopsgate, London.
The JCT Povey Lecture
The JCT Povey Lecture is an online event hosted and presented this year by JCT vice-chair, Sean Smylie.
Sean will give a welcome address and also host a post-event discussion/Q&A, for which audience members will be able to submit questions via the online interface.
The JCT Povey Lecture is open to members of the JCT Network. To receive an invite, the JCT Network can be joined at www.jctltd.co.uk/network-signup.
The event will take place at 4.00 p.m. on Thursday, 13 November 2025.
The JCT Povey Lecture was inaugurated in 2003 to acknowledge and pay tribute to Philip Povey, who served JCT for fifty years.
The lecture is an annual event at which an eminent person is invited to give their thoughts on significant matters relevant to the construction and property industry.
The purpose of the series is to stimulate thought and encourage ways of continuing to improve the quality and value of construction output.
For more information and to view past presentations, visit: corporate.jctltd.co.uk/category/jct-povey-lecture/.