'We need to prioritise and promote leadership and well-being', says CIOB's new President

Professor Charles Egbu FCIOB, Pro vice-chancellor (Education and Experience) at the University of East London, has become the 116th President of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

In his first official CIOB address, at the CIOB’s President’s Dinner in Edinburgh on 27 June 2019, he will outline the theme for his Presidency and explain why leaders in construction - those on construction sites and in head offices - must take proactive, positive stances on mental health and well-being policies.

“Good leadership should promote professionalism and high ethical behaviours. In our procurement practices, human resources planning and work allocations, we need to be minded of the well-being of our construction personnel. The very high level of mental health and welfare issues in our industry means that we need to do things differently. We also need to be ready to reach out to others - individuals, organisations, sectors - where support and additional resources are available.”

Professor Egbu was appointed as Pro vice-chancellor at the University of East London earlier this year. Prior to that, he was Dean of School of the Built Environment and Architecture at London South Bank University, where he held the Chair in Project Management and Strategic Management in Construction.

“We are seeing a great deal of change in our industry - and others - and, as such, we need someone with Charles’ experience, knowledge and insight. His focus on wellbeing, mental health and professionalism will help enormously in ensuring that the industry is providing the right support to people, at all levels, to deliver consistency and quality and deal with the uncertainty and change that are common place within our industry. I am delighted that Charles has been appointed as President of the CIOB”, said Chris Soffe, the CIOB’s outgoing President and vice-chairman of Gleeds Americas.

Professor Egbu has commented that: “The CIOB are leaders in driving change, and I see this leadership operationalised in five key ways. Professionalism, respect, integrity, development, equality. These are the key principles by which we can seek to make lasting and positive change and you will note that the first letters of each of those spells PRIDE. Pride is central to everything we’re trying to do.”

Professor Egbu’s career has focused on construction management and education. His first degree was in Quantity Surveying from Leeds Metropolitan University, and he worked briefly as a site Quantity Surveyor for a large construction company. His Doctorate was obtained from the University of Salford, in Construction Management. He is a Fellow of the CIOB (FCIOB), a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS), a Fellow of the Association for Project Management (FAPM), a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (FRSA), and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). He has previously also served as Vice Chair of the CIOB Policy Board.