Katy Dowding, president and CEO, Skanska UK, has been announced as the speaker for the JCT Povey Lecture 2024, taking place on Thursday, 7 November.
The title of Katy’s presentation is “Construction – The Secret to More Collaborative Contracting and Better Project Outcomes Through Diversity and Inclusion”.
As head of one of the UK’s leading contractors, Katy will provide a unique insight into delivering successful construction projects and achieving a more collaborative approach to contracting, by highlighting in particular Skanska’s approach to diversity and inclusion throughout its project teams.
Katy Dowding’s Povey Lecture promises to be an informative presentation that will be important not just to contractors, but all those working across the supply chain who seek to maximise project outcomes by embracing new methodologies.
About the speaker
Katy Dowding has been president and CEO of Skanska UK since May 2023, following a construction career spanning more than 35 years.
She has a wide breadth of experience across the building, infrastructure and service sectors, including defence, transportation, education, commercial office, light industrial and healthcare.
Katy joined Skanska in 2003 in a senior commercial position on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Main Building project, and then the redevelopment of Barts and The Royal London Hospitals.
Following roles in Skanska’s telecoms utilities and facilities services businesses, Katy joined the Executive Management Team in 2017. Her responsibilities covered the building business and building services operation, which delivers facilities management and mechanical, electrical and public health engineering.
A highly respected figure in UK construction, Katy sits on the industry-level Construction Productivity Taskforce. She was also a member of the Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture board, overseeing the delivery of the London tunnels section of High Speed 2.
A passionate advocate for greater inclusivity within construction, Katy chaired the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) for eight years and has been executive sponsor of Skanska UK’s Womxn’s and Pride LGBTQ+ employee networks.
The JCT Povey Lecture
The JCT Povey Lecture is an online event hosted and presented by JCT chair, Karen Kirkham. Karen 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, 7 November 2024.
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/.