PAUL Gandy FCIOB has been officially announced as the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) president for the 2025/26 term.
Previously CEO of Tilbury Douglas, Paul plans to use his platform to champion the role construction plays in enabling a wide range of other key industries and infrastructure across the globe such as healthcare, education, green energy, transport, and utilities. He also hopes to showcase how the sector delivers social value and creates lasting legacies through the built environment it creates.
Speaking at the CIOB’s annual members’ forum event held in Belfast, he said, “As members of a professional body that is a critical enabler for delivering globally significant buildings and infrastructure, we have an obligation to be influencers in our own way – to be advocates of modern professionalism to our colleagues, our businesses, and our communities.
“We play a leading role in increasing levels of competency by influencing policy and regulations and developing new qualifications and keeping up momentum on this is vital for those in the industry and wider society.
“It’s also our place to spread the word about all the good that our profession of building delivers, such as helping the world meet carbon-reduction targets and delivering safe buildings and infrastructure. By doing this we can attract new talent and develop people who see construction as a place where they can leave a positive legacy through their work.”
During his speech, Paul thanked outgoing president Mike Kagioglou and referenced how his theme of the UN Sustainable Development goals was a prime example of social value in action.
He continued, “The concept of generating social value is nothing new. We’ve always tried to use the opportunity that our projects provide us to invest in the local workforce and to support community organisations and economies. What’s new is that we’re managing our social value efforts much better.
“Many contractors have dedicated social value managers, and we’re joining up and sharing good practice. The more we do this, the more we converge on common ways of measuring and managing social value and the more ingrained it will become.”
Paul is the 122nd person to hold the position of CIOB president. His construction career started in 1979 as a trainee engineer with Trollope and Colls Limited and has seen him hold positions as director and MD at several major construction businesses, including Lend Lease, Balfour Beatty, Kier, and Tilbury Douglas. Paul has been a CIOB member since 1987 and became a Fellow in 1999. He has previously served on the institute’s board of trustees.
Caroline Gumble, CEO at CIOB, added, “I welcome Paul into the role of CIOB President. Paul’s many years of industry experience will be invaluable to our mission, particularly at a time of regulatory change and extraordinary demand across the sector. I wish Paul every success during his presidential year. The role of CIOB president is a high honour and a privilege. His commitment to the Institute and the industry will benefit much of our work to advance the built environment sector.”
