CABE Awards Eight Honorary Fellowships

In recognition of CABE’s Centenary Year, we were delighted to award eight Honorary Fellowships at this year’s Presidential Inauguration (May).

This esteemed accolade is awarded to non-members of CABE who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of the construction industry.

The Honorary Fellowship gives us the opportunity to recognise individuals for their dedication to enhancing the built environment, and this year’s winners have all been instrumental in making positive changes to the industry - changes that are making a lasting impact throughout the industry.

Richard Harral, CABE CEO, commented: “Selected by the CABE Board, all of the awardees have one thing in common, they want to make a real difference. Whether this is by improving educational opportunities or enhancing a buildings life safety, their work resonates with our values of professional integrity and our focus on public benefit, and I am incredibly proud to now be able to call them building engineers.”

Our new Honorary Fellows:

Will Arnold Hon FCABE

Will Arnold is a well-known Chartered Structural Engineer and Chartered Environmentalist. He helps to lead IStructE’s Climate Emergency Task Group, and he is an active contributor on a number of cross-industry initiatives. He is passionate about helping the construction sector to maximise its positive impact on all living things and the CABE Board wants to highlight the positive contribution his work has had on decarbonising buildings, and on the UK’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard with the presentation of this accolade.

Prof Luke Bisby Hon FCABE

Luke holds a BEng, MSc and PhD in Civil Engineering and is currently a professor at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering. During his career, Luke has undertaken innovative research on experimental methods for structural fire safety engineering, and his work saw him invited to sit as an expert witness to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Luke continues to undertake research on fire safety engineering, and it is his drive to make buildings safer that is being recognised with this honorary fellowship.

Hywel Davies Hon FCABE

Before joining CABE as Head of Technical Insight, Hywel was Chief Technical Officer at CIBSE. In recent years, his work has focused on building regulations and building safety reform.

Hywel sits on several committees including as Deputy Chair of the CIC Building Safety Committee and as a member of the Building Advisory Committee at the Building Safety Regulator. His dedication and passion to improving safety outcomes and competency within the built environment is unwavering, making him a worthy recipient of the Honorary Fellowship.

Paul Nash Hon FCABE

In a career spanning over 40 years, Paul has worked for some leading construction companies including Cyril Sweett and Turner & Townsend. Paul chairs CIOB’s Quality Implementation Group and sits on the Building Advisory Committee at the Building Safety Regulator. In 2017, he chaired the working group on procurement as part of Dame Judith Hackitt’s review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

Paul is driven to raise awareness of challenges within the building industry and is focused on driving improvements in building safety, and it is this work that is commended by CABE with the awarding of this Honorary Fellowship.

Rebecca Rees Hon FCABE

Rebecca Rees is a leading national expert in public procurement law and is consistently ranked among the world’s leading government contracts lawyers. She is a partner and Head of Public Procurement at Construction law firm Trowers and Hamlins and leads their cross-firm Building a Safer Future team.

CABE has worked with Rebecca for many years, and it is her work advising clients on issues around public procurements strategies and building safety strategies that made her an ideal recipient of this honour.

Eamonn Smyth Hon FCABE

Eamonn was a Senior Advisor in the Building Standards Section at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in Ireland from 2008 until his retirement in 2019. He has been awarded an honorary fellowship in recognition and thanks for the time he has given to the CABE’s Republic of Ireland Regional Committee and to the region's members.

Over the years, Eamonn has presented many CPD presentations on changes to regulation and has always been dedicated to assisting Members with any queries that arose.

Jon Vanstone Hon FCABE

Jon has over two decades of dedicated experience in the built environment sector. He was a member of the Building Regulation Advisory Committee (BRAC) from 2017 until 2022. Jon currently chairs the Industry Competence Committee and the National Home Improvement Council amongst many other high-profile roles.

Jon is a recognised authority on competence and this award represents all that he has achieved in enhancing competency within the construction industry and advocating for responsible industry practices.

Ashley Wheaton Hon FCABE

Ashley Wheaton is Vice-Chancellor at University College of Estate Management (UCEM), having joined as Principal in 2013. Ashley previously sat as a non-executive director at BRE Group and is currently a member of the GuildHE Executive, Vice-Chair and Trustee of JISC and Chair of Building People CIC.

Ashley understands the critical role that technology plays in delivering accessible education, and it is his commitment to this and to the University’s goal to become a Centre of Excellence for Built Environment Education which see him acknowledged by this award.

About the award

The award of CABE Honorary Fellowship is a grade of membership and winners have the privilege of using the post nominals Hon FCABE.

Honorary Fellows will be individuals who, by reason of their position or eminence in the arts, sciences or literature, or their experience in matters relating to the built environment entitles them to the distinction of election as a CABE Honorary Fellow, in the opinion of the nominator and the Association.

For more information, visit our Honorary Fellowship page.