Speakers 2024

Lci Speaker Amanda Cahir-O'Donnell

Amanda Cahir-O'Donnell - Managing Director - TIO Consulting

Amanda is a dynamic and highly sought-after Executive & Leadership Team Coach with over thirty years of experience in developing senior leaders and their teams; across diverse industry sectors including construction, financial services, pharmaceutical, software, manufacturing, IT and the public sector. The essence of executive coaching is 'peeling back the layers' of a leader; stretching and challenging their thinking, until they can see themselves and their organisation through a new lens they may not have otherwise seen. We view executive coaching as personalised leadership development to create higher levels of performance:  “Just as the world's best athletes benefit from continual coaching, so will your top leaders.”

Amanda’s proven, evidence-based processes use positive and humanistic psychology; collaborating with leaders and their teams to determine the everyday life and business changes that are needed, to foster a more fulfilling professional and personal life experience. Amanda brings the unique combination of superb development skills, world-class coaching experience with strong pragmatism to Executive Audiences. She is also a published author of three academic books on Learning and Leadership Development and twice winner of Executive Coach of the Year in Ireland (ICF).

Prior to setting up her own business in 2005, Amanda was Head of Learning and Development for AIB Capital Markets in Dublin. In this role, Amanda was responsible for the development of 2,500 employees from Graduates through to the Executive Team. Previously, Amanda was an internal consultant in Hewlett-Packard Ireland Ltd with full responsibility for developing teams at all levels across the organisation.


Presentation Title: The Leadership Imperative: Coaching for Success in the Construction Industry.

Angelyn is a partner in the projects and construction group at Philip Lee LLP. Angelyn is also a Director of Lean Construction Ireland and involved in the LCi Contracts Taskforce.

Angelyn has specialised in the area of projects and construction since 2004 and has extensive experience advising on major infrastructure projects and complex procurement matters. Angelyn advises funders, developers, employers and contractors on all aspects of construction law, including commercial office, residential, healthcare, energy and PPP/PFI projects. She advises on many standard form contracts such as the Public Works Contracts, RIAI, IEI, FIDIC, MF1, NEC4 and others, in addition to drafting and negotiating bespoke construction contracts. She advises on both contentious and non-contentious construction law matters. She advised on Ireland’s first healthcare and social housing PPPs, representing the National Development Finance Agency.

In the area of public procurement law, Angelyn is skilled at advising clients on public procurement processes from inception to appointment, including advising upon the appropriate procurement procedures, pre-qualification and invitation to tender documentation, queries, debriefing obligations, evaluation process and legal challenges.

Angelyn frequently delivers training and talks on public procurement and construction law topics and is a lecturer on the Law Society Construction Law course.


Presentation Topic: Lean in Contractual Processes

Lci Speaker Angelyn Rowan

Angelyn Rowan - Partner - Philip Lee Solicitors

Lci Speaker Bernard Gogarty

Bernard Gogarty - Construction Contracts Adjudication

Mr Bernard Gogarty is a graduate of University College Dublin and qualified as a Solicitor in Ireland in 1979 and Northern Ireland in 1992. He has been a Partner with Smyth and Son solicitors since 1984.  Mr Gogarty has extensive experience in conveyancing, litigation, including Personal Injuries Litigation, construction law and commercial Arbitration. In the area of Construction Law, he has acted as consultant to several Local Authorities and has advised many of the major Construction and Building Companies operating in Ireland. He has extensive experience of all forms of alternative dispute resolution including mediation, conciliation, adjudication, and expert determination.

Mr Gogarty is an experienced commercial litigator having appeared for clients before the Commercial Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.  He has been a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators since 1990 and has served as Chairman of the Irish Branch of the Institute, as an Irish Representative on the Council of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in London and is one of the Irish Representatives to the International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Commission in Paris. He has acted as an Arbitrator both in Ireland and abroad and has frequently represented parties, including advocating, in arbitration hearings.  In addition, he has lectured extensively in this area on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Law Society of Ireland. Mr Gogarty currently lectures on the Post Graduate Diploma Course in Construction Law and Contract Administration in University of Dublin, Trinity College.

Mr Gogarty was appointed to the Construction Contracts Adjudication Panel established pursuant to section 8 of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 in 2015. He was reappointed on 6th March 2021. He was a Member of the Law Society Arbitration Committee for many years and remains involved as a consultant.

He is a member of the following dispute resolution panels:

  •     Irish Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
  •     Incorporated Law Society of Ireland
  •     Joint Panel of the Construction Industry Federation and Incorporated Law Society of Ireland
  •     The International Court of Arbitration (Paris)
  •     Engineers Ireland Dispute Adjudication Board
  •     Engineers Ireland Conciliators Panel
  •     Construction Contracts Adjudication Panel

Presentation Topic: Developing Lean in Construction Contracts

Chris, Lean Consultant, has vast experience in a wide range of industries across a variety of roles in the last 30 years.

His career started in the UK with engineering roles in the Ministry of Defence and then the National Health Service. Since arriving in Ireland in 1995, he has occupied roles in manufacturing with a focus on quality, on time delivery and delivering business results. Chris has a very engaging style in training, facilitating and mentoring, and the Last Planner System.

He provides a high level of energy to engage people in the deployment of Lean and the Last Planner System, resulting in a collaborative, visual approach, with a focus on metrics. Chris was a team member in developing the LCi White Belt programme and is an experienced trainer in the LCi White, Yellow, and Green Belt programmes. Chris is passionate about lifelong learning and development both for himself and for our clients.


Presentation Topic: Exploring Potential: Insights from the LCi Green Belt Programme Pilot

Lci Speaker Chris Dawkins

Chris Dawkins - Lean Consultant - Crystal Lean Solutions

Lci Speaker Christopher Ryan

Christopher Ryan - Continuous Improvement Manager - Architectural and Metal Systems, Cork

My Name is Christopher Ryan, I am the recently appointed Continuous Improvement Manager within Architectural & Metal who are an Irish owned Organisation working in the Aluminium industry for the Architectural & Construction sector. The company employs between 300 & 320 employees.

My Role within the organisation is to embed a lean culture and always seeking opportunities for improvement based of Data driven results. I am passionate about my role, but I am just as passionate about the company that has given me the opportunities to Excel.


Presentation Topic: The Lean & Digitalisation Journey in AMS

Bio to Follow


Presentation Topic: Capability Development Workshop

Lci Speaker 2024 David Collery

David Collery - Lecturer - Atlantic Technological University

Lci Speaker David Egan

David Egan - Managing Director - WiiGroup Ltd

Bio to Follow


Presentation Topic: WiiGroup Lean Construction, Digitalised Lean Production System

Bio to Follow


Presentation Topic: TBA

Lci David Higgins

David Higgins - Planning/Project Manager - Ardmac

Bio to Follow


Presentation Topic: Net Zero 3D volumetric MMC

Lci Speaker Deborah Smyth

Deborah Smyth - Founder & CEO - DME MODULAR IRELAND LTD

Bio to Follow


Presentation Topic: Applying Lean Principles to reduce Scope3 GHG emissions across the supply chain

Lci Speaker Derek Sinnott1 (1)

Derek Sinnott - Lean Construction Ireland

Lci Speaker Dick Clerkin

Dick Clerkin - Managing Director - Clerkin Consulting

With over twenty years of experience, working with many of Irelands and the UK’s leading companies and brands, Dick Clerkin, Managing Director of Clerkin Consulting, is one the leading voices in the Building Products Manufacturing and Offsite Construction industries.

With extensive experience and proven industry credentials in areas including Strategy Deployment, Operational Excellence, New Product Development, Project Management, Leadership Coaching and Organisational change, Clerkin Consulting provides their clients with a broad range of skills and competencies, which are vital when supporting improvement projects, that often encompass a wide range of disciplines.

Allied to his professional credentials, Dick is one of Irelands best known GAA pundits, working with both the Irish independent and Sky Sports GAA, following a 17-year career playing senior intercounty football with Monaghan. Dick was also a member of the GAA Covid Advisory group that helped navigate the association through the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic. Such experiences have developed Dick into an accomplished and trusted communicator with a strong team-centred approach when working within organisations.

As chairperson of MMC Irelands Education and Awareness working group, along with endorsements and partnerships with organisations such as Lean Construction Ireland and CP Skillnet, Dick is very well regarded and respected in the wider built environment community.


Presentation Topic: How Digital Transformation can be the catalyst for driving Operational Excellence in MMC

Bio to Follow


Presentation Topic: Adopting the LCi Project Collaboration Agreement on Public Projects

Lci Speaker Ed Vernon

Ed Vernon - NPHDB

Lci speaker Elaine

Elaine Harrington - Continuous Improvement Manager - MSL Engineering Ltd

I started my career as a contracts control administrator which gave me an insight into the construction process pathway and I learned how fast-paced this environment was.  In 1997 I worked in Johannesburg South Africa and worked my way up to gain knowledge of electrical drawings and estimation upon returning to Ireland my pathway opened into Quantity surveyor with Suir Engineering/Walden Electrical/CET Connect and Stone Developments (John Sisk’s & Sons subsidiary) highlights from these years were the collaboration of different sectors learning from MV/LV projects to building stone facades on Dundrum shopping centre, Kilternan hotel to Kilronan castle to large data centres excelling to manage the entire commercial team, midway the recession in 2009 I was heavily involved in dispute resolutions and claims with liquidators and receivers, this strangely was a highlight in my career as it showed me not to look at big companies and think there are invisible and also the weight on the contractual side of the business.

In 2013 I worked with a data provider who served large data centre clients but by 2018 I became stuck in my career I just couldn’t give anymore, the company was in a growth stage and we had just employed a Lean expert, I became fascinated by processes and elimination of waste.  I lacked knowledge in these fields so I proceeded to go back to college in 2018 while working full time, achieved my Business Management degree and in 2023 my qualifications in Lean Enterprise Excellence and a Lean black belt, this has allowed me then to pursue my current career as the Continuous Improvement Manager for Suir Engineering, to date I have eliminated a paper process that we used in the daily pricing of work activities (Dayworks) this paper was a  highlight in my career and was published in the Lean book of cases 2020 and I am currently leading the Digital transformation and modern methods of the construction projects, which involves all construction activities/ workflows and we have just launched our first data centre client to a fully digital stock management system integration with our ERP Coins system.


Presentation Topic: Lean Leadership & Communication

Bio to Follow


Presentation Topic: Redefining Efficiency: How NTI Diatec & H&MV Transformed Workflows

Lci Speaker Igor Furlan

Igor Furlan - BIM Manager - H&MV Engineering

Lci Speaker 2024 Jason Casey

Jason Casey – Chief Operating Officer - Ardmac

A story of how a journey of Operational Excellence can be improved by focusing on Leadership, Data and communication. Ardmac focus on the delivery of their guiding principles and execution of these values from their leadership team. Using data trends to highlight and improve performance as well as a commitment to keep everyone informed has resulted in exemplar results for the business.


Presentation Topic: TBA

Originally from Sydney Australia where I qualified at University of Technology Sydney with a bachelors degree in Civil / Environmental Engineering. I have over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry working on many large complex projects across all sectors.

Since 2015 I have specialised in digital construction delivery where I was responsible for implementing BIM, digital Tools, CDE systems and field based app processes at an organisational level. I was also fundamental in developing the company’s internal Information Management processes to achieve the PAS1192 certification in 2018 and then being one of the first Irish companies to transition to the ISO19650 certification in 2019, bringing the organisation to the forefront of digital project delivery in the Irish construction industry.
This achievement and the continued drive for improvement in digital project delivery was recognised with JPC winning the excellence in BIM award for the 1-6 SJRQ project in 2019.

In recent years I have focused on innovation and process improvements to enhance digital project delivery around information management, structured data and project analytics.
I am now Working with GagaMuller Group supporting construction clients to develop digital strategies to ensure LEAN structured information management for the delivery of major projects from concept through to operation stages.
With the development of live project data analytics and dashboards to ensure stakeholders can make informed decisions and leverage insights to minimise risk while maximising opportunities.


Presentation Topic: The Power of Data and Real Time Reporting

Lci Speaker Jason Rymer

Jason Rymer - Senior Digital Strategy Project Manager - GagaMuller Group

Lci Speaker Jenna Davis

Jenna Davis - Director - EY

Jenna is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with over 16 years’ international experience in the infrastructure sector and asset management. She specialises in operations and maintenance of complex linear assets with a focus on building sustainability practices into infrastructure organisations and major projects. She has led major renewals in the rail sector utilising LEAN and Modular methods, now commonly referred to as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). This experience is relevant in the Irish context and being applied in her advisory work to other sectors particularly the Housing sector where she is on several advisory panels. Jenna is active in the infrastructure sector through her roles as Chairperson of the Women's Infrastructure Network (WIN) Ireland and committee member of the Leinster Branch of the Institute of Asset Management (IAM).


Presentation Topic: Green procurement challenges, skills requirements, contract options and policy direction from government

John O'Callaghan is the Finance Director at Cygnum Timber Frame, where he plays a key role in driving the company’s financial strategy and supporting its ongoing digital transformation journey. With a background in finance and an interest in continuous improvement & innovation, John has helped implement the digital tools that enhance operational efficiency, drive cost-effectiveness, and support Cygnum’s lean construction principles. The commitment to automation, innovation & digitalisation have helped position Cygnum as a world leader in the timber frame and offsite construction sectors.


Presentation Topic: Digitisation for Offsite Construction

Lci Speaker John O'Callaghan

John O'Callaghan - Finance Director - Cygnum Building Offsite

Lci speaker John O'Connell

John O’Connell - Engineering & Contracts Manager - OCC Construction

John O'Connell is a Chartered Engineer, graduated from University of Galway with both a BEng and ME in Civil Engineering, he currently chairs Engineers Ireland West Region and works as Engineering & Contracts Manager at Galway based OCC Construction, leading the Lean principal's across the design and implementation of MMC (Modern Methods of Construction) to elevate the sustainability, safety & quality of Commercial, Residential and Medtech projects. John is a advocate for pushing the boundaries in building excellence, as a qualified passive house designer, he lead the 1st passive certified multi-unit  housing development in the west region in 2023, followed by the largest Lean construction MMC development in the city in 2024.


Presentation Topic: TBA

As a Chartered Architectural Technologist and Technical Consultant, Jonathan's experience spans BIM Implementation across Architecture, Engineering and Construction firms. He brings a solid background in BIM Management, Building Design, and Site Supervision.

Jonathan holds a master's degree in BIM Management, and a BSc Degree in Architectural Technology, and has been sharing his knowledge and expertise by lecturing at TU Dublin in Architectural Technology, Architecture, and BIM master courses.

We invite you to get in touch with Jonathan to learn more about how he can support your business needs.


Presentation Topic: Redefining Efficiency: How NTI Diatec & H&MV Transformed Workflows

Lci Speaker Jonathan Reinhardt

Jonathan Reinhardt - Consultancy Manager - NTI Diatec

Lci Speaker JP Kelly

JP Kelly - Associate Director - Murphy Geospatial

JP Kelly is the Associate Director and Manufacturing Sector Lead at Murphy Geospatial Group.

Manufacturing facilities are complex assets, where speed to market for new product or minimising production downtime on existing product lines is paramount. Trusted geospatial data is required throughout the project lifecycle, during the design, planning, construction and “in use” phases. JP works with our valued clients around the world to realise the true value of their Geospatial data, so they can make better informed and faster decisions while reducing risk, delays and rework. Working closely with our client's facility, operations and sustainability leaders JP and his experienced Manufacturing team deliver proven efficiency and successful digital twin implementation.


Presentation Topic: Factory Digital Twin delivers leaner operations, maintenance and asset management

Liam has worked in the field of sustainability for nearly twenty years across the public, private and voluntary sectors. He has a strong background in management systems and compliance and has developed and implemented sustainability strategies for a number of leading UK construction firms. Liam holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Management.

He believes that SustainIQ has a mission to help organisations become more data-driven by uncovering the untapped intelligence that sits waiting to be found within any company. The software helps to harness business intelligence from sustainability performance to inform business strategy, helping companies become more transparent and encouraging better business.


Presentation Topic: "Applying Lean Principles to reduce Scope3 GHG emissions across the supply chain" Workshop

Lci Speaker Liam McEvoy

Liam McEvoy - Co-founder - SustainIQ

Lci Speaker Lotta Pick

Lotta Pick - Market Adviser High-Tech Construction - Enterprise Ireland (Germany)

Lotta Pick has 8+ years of experience in internationalisation and growth strategy and is currently based in Düsseldorf with Enterprise Ireland, supporting Irish construction companies on the German and Austrian market. Prior to this, she supported Swedish companies across industries expanding to German-speaking Europe and Southeast Asia. She holds an international business degree from Copenhagen Business School.


Presentation Topic: International Opportunities for Irish High Tech Construction firms

Maria established Crystal Lean Solutions in 2008. Together with her team, she places relentless focus on achieving the vision of “Delivering Excellence Together” by integrating Lean principles into all facets of the business. As an Engineer, MBA and Black belt with over 25 years experience deploying Lean in sectors including Construction, Pharmaceutical, Aerospace, Healthcare, Medical Devices, and general engineering, she has a real understanding of the patience and perseverance required to build sustainable business processes and projects by engaging with the teams, to deliver outstanding business results.

Maria has provided direct Lean support to construction clients, including coaching, training and mentoring support in Lean principles and tools including; Lean for Leadership training, Last Planner® System, 5s on site and in the office and management of employee suggestions for improvement. While demonstrating excellence at a tactical day to day level, she has also supported clients with the development and implementation of Lean strategy, incorporating a Lean Governance team to manage the deployment and project management processes.

She is a passionate advocate of the quality and productivity benefits of Lean in Construction. She presented at LCi events on topics including Change Management, Problem Solving, Human Error Prevention and providing demonstrations on the application of the Last Planner® System. Maria has led two LCi projects; In 2019, she was the project leader for the LCi “Lean Pass Strategic Project”, leading the development of a program to introduce the foundation of Lean Principles. In 2018, she led the Lean Service Provider Lean Capability project, which are available on the LCi website.

Lci Speaker Maria Ryan

Maria Ryan – Managing Director – Crystal Lean Solutions

Lci Speaker Marion Jammet

Marion Jammet - Head of Policy and Advocacy- Irish Green Building Council

Marion is responsible for IGBC’s policy and advocacy campaigns, including #BuildingLife.  As part of this role, she develops IGBC’s policy positions and leads on the engagement process on consultations and draft legislation. Marion represents IGBC on World Green Building Council – Europe policy task force and Renovate Europe Committee. As Biodiversity Lead, she is also responsible for the work of the “Biodiversity & the Built Environment” Community of Practice. Marion’s working background is in policy development, stakeholder engagement, and project management. She previously managed a number of projects in the area of energy renovation, including Build Upon and the development of guidance documents to retrofit traditionally built buildings. Before joining the IGBC, Marion worked in Dublin Chamber, Eurochambres and the European Parliament. Marion holds a MA in European Affairs from Sciences-Po (France) and an MSc in environmental sustainability from University College Dublin.


Presentation Topic: Building a Zero Carbon Built Environment

Mark is a Continuous Improvement Manager with Uisce Éireann. He has practiced and coached lean and six sigma methodologies for almost 20 years, primarily with American multi-nationals before joining Uisce Éireann in 2022. He is passionate about continuous improvement methodologies and culture, and in particular, the adoption of such in the non-manufacturing space.

He is a certified project manager (PMP), a six-sigma black belt (ASQ) and holds an M.Sc. in Business Analytics (University College Dublin) and an M.Sc. in Lean Enterprise (University of Buckingham).

When not trying to improve processes, Mark enjoys driving his children around Cork county to  various sporting activities.


Presentation Topic: Continuous Improvement (CI) in Uisce Éireann (UÉ) : Lean, Six Sigma and the Yellow Belt Program

Lci Speaker Mark Pyne

Mark Pyne - Continuous Improvement Manager - Uisce Éireann Irish Water

Lci Speaker Melvin Loughnane

Melvin Loughnane - Project Director - Cairn Homes

A Chartered Civil Engineer with a Masters in Construction Project Management. Mel is an accomplished Construction Professional with over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry in both the UK and Ireland. Mel has worked for Main Contractors such as John Sisk & Son, Multiplex and, John Pauls before joining Cairn as Project Director in 2021. Mel is passionate about all aspects of Lean Construction with a particular focus on enhanced collaboration between all project stakeholders along with the adoption of Lean thinking practices relating to off-site manufacturing, prefabricated delivery, the Last planner system, and Takt planning. He strategically looks to implement these lean tools on all residential projects that he leads.


Presentation Topic: TBA

Paul is an ISO 18404 RSS (Royal Statistical Society) Certified Lean Expert with almost 30 years’ industry experience in a range of sectors as a tradesperson, site manager, lean coach and researcher in Ireland, UK, USA, Asia, and Middle East. Currently, Paul is a Technical Director at WSP UK and Head of Lean Deployment at National Highway | SMP Alliance who have recently achieved ISO 18404 certification by demonstrating some remarkable results how lean is supporting organisational improvement and strategic goal realisation.

He is writing up his PhD action-research thesis at Nottingham Trent University ‘Integrating a 3600 Risk Management Approach (IRMA 3600) into the Last Planner® System to enhance the practice and theory of make-ready planning’. He has authored six IGLC (International Group for Lean Construction) papers and ‘A Facilitators’ Guide to the Last Planner® System’.

Paul’s lean journey began in 2010 whilst working as a site manager in Dublin. He co-founded the Construction Innovation Lab in the Dublin Institute of Technology in 2013, Lean Construction Ireland in 2014 and chaired IGLC 2019 in Dublin. He is a regular speaker at annual IGLC conferences and other lean conferences sharing both his action-research and SMP Alliance journey to ISO 18404 certification.


Presentation Topic: ISO 18404: A Model for Lean Transformation in an Alliance

Lci Paul Ebbs

Paul Ebbs - Head of Lean Deployment - SMP Alliance

Lci Speaker Richard Bowen

Richard Bowen - Roads Portfolio Manager - Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Richard is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over 30 years experience in both the private and public sectors.  For the past 18 years, Richard has been employed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly the National Roads Authority) involved in the delivery of improvements to the national roads network including significant lengths of the M8 motorway and the recent upgrade to the Dunkettle Interchange in Cork.  Most recently, Richard has been involved in the National and Regional Greenways Programme and the planning and implementation of the National Cycle Network as well as working closely with various stakeholders in coordinating measures for improving sustainable practices in the delivery of infrastructure projects.


Presentation Topic: Dunkettle Interchange Upgrade Scheme – Use of Early Contractor Involvement

Richard is Director for Programme Management and Project Controls with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and a member of the NPHDB Executive with responsibility for delivering the New Children’s Hospital.

He has over 30 years’ programme and project management experience having managed the delivery of major capital infrastructure programmes both in the UK and Ireland.  Prior to joining the NPHDB Richard held a senior position with Dublin City Council, was Project Director for the construction of the University of Ulster’s new campus in Belfast and Managing Partner for a professional services consultancy practice in Ireland.

Richard is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and a Member of the Association for Project Management.

Richard is also Chair of Lean Construction Ireland (LCi), a community of learning and practice that advocates for the transformation of the Irish construction sector through collaboration and the adoption of Lean thinking and practices by the entire sector.

Lci Speaker Richard Fitzpatrick

Richard Fitzpatrick – Chairperson – Lean Construction Ireland

Lci Speaker Ross O'Colmain

Ross O'Colmain - Head of High Tech Construction and Housing - Enterprise Ireland

Ross manages Enterprise Ireland’s activities for the High Tech Construction and Housing sectors. Ross spent ten years as part of Enterprise Ireland’s overseas team, initially working on the Middle East desk in Dublin before going on to manage EI offices in Toronto and New York. He has also spent time with IDA Ireland and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment. A Graduate of TCD and DCU, Ross lives in Dublin and enjoys spending time in the great outdoors and with his two young children.


Presentation Topic: Development & Support in Housing

Shane is a construction professional with over 30 years’ experience in commercial contracting and land development. During his career he has delivered numerous successful projects to the public and private sectors. He has executed contracts under varying contract conditions, for both traditional and design and build projects. With a background in Architecture, he has a keen eye for quality and fully understands design and construction throughout the entire project process. He has worked in design consultancy, as a client and as a main contractor, giving him a unique insight from all stakeholders’ perspectives.


Presentation Topic: Exploring Potential: Insights from the LCi Green Belt Programme Pilot

Lci Shane Mceneaney (1)

Shane Mc Eneaney - Contracts Manager - GEM Group

Lci Speaker Steven Ward

Dr Steven Ward - Managing Director - Lean Construct LTD

Steven has a lifetime of construction experience beginning as an apprentice carpenter, progressing to chartered builder and achieving a doctorate in civil engineering. His research examines critical success factors for the application of lean thinking in the construction sector.

He understands this at a practical level and has utilised this knowledge to help many organisations successfully apply lean thinking to the design, construction and maintenance of the built environment.

Steven began work with lean in 2001 with Bristol based Pearce Group where he was encouraged to pursue his interest in lean thinking. Collaborative Planning Techniques were developed and applied which resulted in project lead time reductions of 30% in the Hotel & Retail sectors. In 2004, he joined the BRE’s Construction Lean Improvement Programme (CLIP) as a master engineer, utilising his ability to practically apply lean thinking to construction. In 2009 Steve began work for the University of Dundee, leading the Scottish Construction Centre’s lean programme and working as the academic supervisor for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with a local construction company, in addition to the wider brief of embedding lean thinking within the Scottish Construction Sector.  The three-year KTP resulted in a five-fold increase in profit against a static turnover, an “outstanding” classification from the Technology Strategy Board and a best of the best finalist.

In 2016, Steven’s knowledge and experience of lean was examined by the Royal Statistical Society and he achieved ISO 18404 certification at the highest level as “Lean Expert” one of the first in the world to meet this standard.

He managed the pilot implementation of ISO 18404 with the first certification in the world being achieved by a Cornish housebuilder. More recently he assisted the largest UK contractor, Balfour Beatty, with their ISO 18404 certification in their Highways Division. In 2022 he was asked to assist the Smart Motorway Alliance with their goal of achieving ISO18404: this led to the achievement of the standard in 2023 together with £71 Mil of audited savings attributed to lean up to October 2024.

Steven first worked in Ireland in 2006 at the Intel site and in 2013 led a successful Lean Pilot on behalf of CIF with seven MEP contractors. His company holds a commendation from Lean Construction Ireland and continues to fully support LCI and the Irish Construction Sector.

A systems thinker, passionate about helping teams and individuals succeed, Steven is leading practitioner of continuous improvement within the construction sector.

ICLC Published Paper

Contact: [email protected]

Tel. +44 (0) 1934 806728

Mob. +44 (0) 7917 104399


Presentation Topic: ISO 18404: A Model for Lean Transformation in an Alliance

Currently Retained at Clancy Construction in Ireland, delivering healthcare projects for the Public & Private sector.


Presentation Topic: Adopting the LCi Project Collaboration Agreement on Public Projects

Lci Speaker Tom O'Malley

Tom O'Malley - Sustainability Lead - Clancy