2026 Speakers
Tall Buildings North Conference, Manchester
Ben Morley
Managing Director - True Student
Dan Podesta
Associate Director - Civic
Associate Structural Engineer acting as Lead Project Engineer on a variety of projects ranging in value from £50k to £150m across different sectors. Responsible for managing inter discipline teams (Structural, Urban Infrastructure and Transport Engineering) with particular focus on Structural Engineering. Experienced in the design of new build office and residential buildings up to 40 storeys and the refurbishment of historic and Listed buildings using a range of materials.
Darren Paine
Principal - DeSimone Consulting Engineering UK
Darren is a Chartered Engineer with over 38 years of experience and is the structural engineering lead for DeSimone in the North of England, heading up their office in Hebden Bridge. Darren is focused on the design process and how refined structural design can drive economic, efficient, and more sustainable solutions. His portfolio includes award-winning residential high-rise buildings, commercial buildings, educational facilities, bridges, and world-class art installations. Currently, Darren is the project director for Parkside, a 41-story residential tower, Contour, two residential towers that are part of the Great Jackson Masterplan, and Crown Street Phase 3, a 4-tower residential development with a unique staggered façade to increase views across the city, all in Manchester, England.
Gavin Currie
Chief Operating Officer - Legacie
Gavin joined Legacie in 2021 with over 30 years’ experience in construction and development, including senior roles across Tier 1 and SME businesses. A Chartered Director, he oversees governance and operations across all Legacie interests. He has driven strategic growth, expansion into social housing, and strengthened systems and leadership structures. Gavin co‑established the Legacie Foundation and has helped shape a people‑focused, high‑performance culture. He also serves on the Liverpool City IoD Committee, supporting regional development.
Ian Emmerson
Director - Carey Jones Chapman Tolcher
A dynamic and passionate Project Architect, with over 10 years of multidisciplinary experience throughout the industry which has seen Ian take a number of schemes through planning and site delivery. Ian studied at Liverpool University, and after completing his Part 3 worked for a small dynamic studio working on a variety of projects across the North of England and Wales. Ian had been brought on board as a Senior Architect for CJCT’s growing Leeds studio, and has since been promoted to an Associate, Studio Director, and now Director. Prior to this move, he has been employed for the past 11 years in London and has contributed to a number of significant projects throughout the UK and Europe, across a variety of sectors including commercial, residential, conservation and education.
Ian Simpson
Founding Partner - SimpsonHaugh Architects
Since co‑founding SimpsonHaugh in 1987, Ian has played an integral role in building its reputation as a leading urban and civic architectural practice. A passionate advocate of revitalising cities, he champions tall, mixed-use, high-density developments that are sustainable and viable propositions. Alongside Co‑founding Partner Rachel Haugh, Ian leads concept and design development across all projects, delivering high‑quality schemes that foster community and civic pride.
Jay Squier
Managing Director - Henley Investment Management
Jay has over 20 years’ experience leading major mixed use projects and at Henley, is responsible for the planning and delivery of 8,000 homes between Salford, Birmingham, London and Kent. Prior to Henley, he was a Board Member at Native Land, and for 10 years led their Bankside Yards project, the largest active site in central London with a GDV of £2.5bn which included 50-storey Opus and the multiple award-winning Arbor office building. Before that he led their Burlington Gate, Mayfair project. Starting his career at Grosvenor his track record also includes multiple schemes in Mayfair and Belgravia including The Peninsula London, alongside international joint ventures. He has spent significant time working in the Asia Pacific region developing corporate relationships with Joint Venture Partners. He is Chartered Surveyor with an MA (Oxon) in History & Economics from the University of Oxford and an MSc in Real Estate Investment & Finance from the University of Reading.
Josh Paulin
Operational Policy Advisor - Building Safety Regulator
Josh Paulin has worked for the Building Safety Regulator since 2024 in multiple operational policy teams. Initial he specialised in resident engagement policy and is now in the building control team. Prior to BSR he has worked in operational delivery within the NHS, and in public policy for the New Zealand Government.
Dr Melanie Robinson
Associate - Okana
Melanie is an Associate at Okana, leading Strategy and Intelligence with expertise in BIM, ISO 19650 information management, Digital Twins and the golden thread. An award-winning digital-construction specialist, she delivers strategic advisory projects across the UK and internationally, shaping digital frameworks for major clients. She contributes to industry groups including Women in BIM, the Building Safety Alliance and BIM4Water. Melanie holds a PhD from Edinburgh Napier University, with research focused on effective BIM adoption and capability across the construction sector.
Nicholas Tansella
Associate - Hawkins\Brown
Nicholas is an Architect and Associate at Hawkins\Brown’s Manchester studio. He has over 10 years of experience in the design and delivery of large‑scale residential developments across Manchester and beyond, spanning PRS, BTR, Co‑Living, and PBSA sub‑sectors. Most notably, he has led the Victoria Riverside project from its inception, delivering 630 new homes for Far East Consortium within the ambitious Victoria North masterplan.
Simone Miriana
Director, AKTII Envelopes - AKT II
Simone is an Architectural Engineer with experience spanning architectural design, construction, project management, fluid dynamics and façade engineering. His multidisciplinary background — including teaching, sustainability consultancy and specialist façade work — underpins his holistic approach to building design. Simone’s expertise includes sustainable design, LEED consultancy, advanced façade solutions, building physics, daylight and artificial-light modelling, as well as CFD and natural-ventilation studies. He applies technical rigour and cross-sector insight to deliver efficient, innovative and environmentally responsible built-environment projects.
Simon Smith
Associate Director - AKT II
Simon is an Associate Director leading the AKT II Manchester Studio, he brings over 16 years of experience of working in the north west region and beyond. His journey began at the University of Bath before moving to Manchester to hone his skills and passion for structural engineering.
Throughout Simons career, hes had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects, from residential and commercial developments to educational, leisure and heritage schemes. This broad spectrum of experience allows him to bring the best design solutions to the unique needs of every project.
Learned Experience Panel for Navigating Gateway 2
Alan Robson - Panel Chair
Chairman - Project Four Building Safety Experts
Alan is Chairman of Project Four Building Safety Experts (P4), leading a 50-strong multidisciplinary team recognised for raising standards and challenging conventional, box-ticking safety practice. With over 23 years’ experience across CDM and the Building Safety Act, I support clients on complex and high-rise projects, embedding pragmatic, value-adding safety leadership. I focus on strategic planning, innovation and industry improvement, championing collaborative working, transparent processes and a positive legacy for future building safety.
Chris Acton
CEO - Clancy
Chris is a Chartered Structural Engineer (MIStructE) with over 10 years’ consultancy experience delivering technically complex projects from feasibility through to construction. I bring strong technical competence, leadership and a collaborative approach, managing multidisciplinary teams and guiding projects across Europe and the Middle East. Now responsible for developing our business in the region, I combine problem-solving skills with clear communication and a comprehensive understanding of the full construction process, building trusted relationships with clients and project partners.
Darren Brennan
Specification Director - Siderise Insulation
Darren Brennan is the Specification Director at Siderise Insulation Limited.
Siderise specialise in passive fire solutions for the external envelope of buildings. Darren has over 25 years’ experience in the construction industry and holds IFE Level 3 qualification in Passive Fire Protection and has been involved in many high-profile projects throughout the UK & Ireland. He’s responsible for the ongoing development and implementation of the company’s Specification Strategy in the UK & Ireland.
Emma Evans
regulatory Partner - Bexley Beaumont
Emma is an experienced Regulatory Lawyer and recognised ‘Next Generation Partner’ at award-winning Bexley Beaumont (‘UK Business of the Year’ at International Brilliance Awards 2025, and ‘Law Firm of the Year’ at the Modern Law Firm Awards 2024).
She has over 14-years’ experience advising on Health and Safety law and regularly acts for clients (from SMEs through to large corporates and PLCs) across a range of sectors and high-hazard industries including: construction, real estate, housing, manufacturing, amongst others.
Victoria Milward
Director - Paddock Johnson
Victoria Millward is an Architect and Director at Wirral-based practice, Paddock Johnson, with over 15 years’ experience across multiple sectors. Specialising in residential architecture, Victoria has also led significant projects at renowned firms, Purcell and Austin-Smith: Lord. Victoria is registrant on the RIBA’s Principal Designer Register (HRB) and plays a key role in shaping policies and procedures within practice in addition to undertaking the building regulations PD role on High-Risk Building projects.