Our board are diverse and reflect both the military and construction sectors we operate in. Our board monitor the executive activity and contribute to the development strategy of the initiative. They originally comprised of directors from our founders Carillion, Ernst & Young (EY), Lendlease, Morgan Sindall and Wilson James.
Angela Forbes gained a Bovis scholarship in 1997 as an undergraduate Commercial Manager, staying with the Lendlease business for 23 years, more recently as Commercial Director in the London construction business for the last 14 years. Angela is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
Angela created the Lendlease ex-military initiative in 2008 and was a founding partner of BuildForce at its inception in 2011.
In addition, Angela is the Chair of the CITB Nation Council (Construction Industry Training Board). Previously, Angela was a non-executive director of a housing provider and social regeneration charity, East Thames. Angela was also a board director of Be Onsite, a not-for-profit company dedicated to helping disadvantaged people, and a school governor at Chobham Academy in Stratford, East London (a Harris Federation school).
Andy served as a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force (RAF) for 27 years before retiring in 2010. As part of the RAF Infrastructure Branch, Andy was responsible, as a programme and project manager, for overseeing construction projects including new aircraft hangars, the resurfacing of major RAF runways, and the construction of accommodation at UK bases.
He also undertook an M.Sc. in Facilities Management at Leeds Metropolitan University and studied for qualifications through the Association of Project Management. On retiring from the RAF, Andy set about developing his CV with help from the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and in 2010 he became Director of Defence at Morgan Sindall.
Andy has been involved with BuildForce since its inception and was Chair from 2014 – 2017.
Malcolm Bairstow has been involved with BuildForce since its inception and has 37 years’ experience in the infrastructure and built environment sectors as a programme manager (he was MD of Schal International, the programme management subsidiary of Carillion plc), a client, and with EY as a business adviser for the last 16 years. Malcolm retired from EY in 2018 and has since been practising as an independent consultant.
A Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and an affiliate member of the Institute of Accountants, he was the UK Infrastructure sector leader for EY and sat on the global infrastructure leadership team.
He has extensive experience of leading reviews of multi billion capital programmes, business transformation and strategic reviews in client organisations and advising on specific risk, change, transaction and turnaround situations on major construction and infrastructure projects.
After leaving the Armed Forces, Gary formed Wilson James Ltd 26 years ago where he is now Chairman.
Gary was Chairman of Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership and Chair of the Essex Olympic Strategic Board for Legacy for Essex.
Gary also chaired ‘Active Essex’, sport, active lifestyles and health & well-being under one roof. This included 12 District and Borough Councils, The County Council and 2 unitary authorities and the coordination of Governing Bodies.
Gary works with various charities and has been a Global Ambassador for Unicef.
Gary has a Masters degree in Business Administration at Anglia Ruskin University and his Research Degree on ‘Leadership within the Built Environment’.
Gary co-authored ‘Managing Construction Logistics’ published by Wiley-Blackwell and regularly writes for the construction and trades press. Gary was awarded an OBE for his services to regeneration.
Gary is also Colonel (Reserves) in the Engineer and Logistic Staff Corps. He has deployed in Africa, Afghanistan, the Middle East, the USA and more recently the Falkland Islands.
Chris James has been involved with BuildForce since its inception in 2011.
A Member of the Chartered Institute of Building, he has over 30 years’ experience in the construction and built environment.
Chris is an experienced construction professional who has worked in a broad range of sectors including infrastructure, transport, health, secure accommodation and construction training. Chris was an Operations Director, Carillion for 10 years. More recently Chris is working on the Eiffage Kier Ferrovial Bam (EKFB) joint venture of HS2 as senior engagement lead.