Paul Drechsler, Chairman and Chief Executive of Wates Group will deliver the 2012 JCT Povey Lecture on Thursday 15 November.
Paul’s lecture, entitled “At the Crossroads – a wasted generation or inspired talent? The power to choose”, will focus on youth, aspiration and education, covering in particular the social responsibility aspect of the construction industry.
Paul is a passionate believer in education as a major contributor to improvement within the construction industry, and that raising the aspirations of young people is an important long-term objective for the UK in order to compete in business on a global scale.
This year’s Povey Lecture will discuss some of the key issues facing the UK and the construction industry in terms of social responsibility, as well as highlight some initiatives that the Wates Group have put in place to provide opportunities and encourage young people to join the industry.
Since 2006, Paul Drechsler has been both Chairman and Chief Executive of the Wates Group. His tenure has seen Wates win the Best UK Family Business Awards by J.P. Morgan and Coutts banks (2007), BitC Company of the Year (2011), as well as Contractor and Employer of the Year at the Construction News Awards (2011). Paul himself was named KPMG Chief Executive of the Year for Building Magazine in 2009 and in 2011 he was awarded a place on Construction News’ Leaders Roll of Honour and was named PwC Private Company Chief Executive of the Year.
Paul Drechsler is a member of the Trinity College Dublin Business School Advisory Board, a board member of Business in the Community and Chair of its Education Leadership Team, and Vice-Chair (public-sector) of the Prince’s Trust Construction and Business Services Leadership Group.