WEBINAR: The Future of theConstruction Sector post COVID 19
Monday 29th June 2020, 13:00 – 14:30 GMTThe debate has begun whether an industry that represents up to 13% of global GDP will succumb toa period of accelerated change when the COVID-19 pandemic recedes. A sector that has arguably
been slow to respond to digital or productivity improvement initiatives will potentially be the vehicle
for governments to drive economic stimulus. Will the sector be able to deliver the high social andeconomic expectations of policy makers and governments? Should any such public investments
come with conditionality around, for example carbon or social value performance? Will the clients,designers, contractors and their supply chains be in any fit state to respond to these calls as“lockdown” measures are slowly lifted?
Even before a post-lockdown re-start, plans are afoot for the revival of national construction sectors
worldwide. This will play out differently given local conditions, but this webinar is designed to makea small contribution to stimulate and facilitate international cooperation and information exchange,in these unprecedented times. That it is organised under the auspices of the CIB, established tofacilitate such co-operation in 1953, is appropriate.
Already there are many different models emerging to help plan the post-COVID 19 construction
sector, but for the purposes of this webinar we are accepting a simple phase model of – Restart(increase output, maximise employment and minimise disruption); Reset: drive demand, increase
productivity, strengthen capability in the supply chain; and Reinvent: transform the industry, deliver
better value, collaboration and partnership.
CIB had planned for traditional face-to-face conferences in Copenhagen for June this year. At suchconferences it is usual to receive keynotes or to assemble panels from industry or policy-making, togo along with the academic submissions. This webinar is offered in lieu of that kind of event. There
will be a presentation from the USA sharing the latest CDC (Center for Disease Control) guidance forconstruction workers including healthy business operations. In addition, from the UK a member of
the UK Government’s Construction Leadership Council, will present the newly published roadmap torecovery for construction in the UK. The panel is completed by CIB academic members speaking tothe situations from a Hong Kong/ China and South Africa perspectives.

Who should attend?
The webinar is intended to contribute to a wider CIB response to the COVID-19 crisis – drawing upona range of Working Groups. CIB members, practitioners, policy makers and academics are allencouraged to attend.

Webinar Outcomes?


The webinar will be recorded and shared on-line.
Ideas generated will be captured and shared through CIB.
Practitioners and policy makers will be listened to and their real research needs captured for
the CIB community.

To Register
Register your attendance via Eventbrite: The Future of the Construction Sector Post COVID 19

The Panel
The webinar will be chaired by Peter McDermott, Professor of Construction
Procurement at the University of Salford, UK. Peter is Joint Co-ordinator for CIB
W92 Procurement Systems. Peter is close to practice and policy-making througha range of roles such as – Board Member, Constructing Excellence UK, and activein current major procurement exercises and board management of frameworkagreements.
Profile: Prof Peter McDermott, University of Salford, UK
The Chair:Prof Peter McDermottFirst Panellist:
Elizabeth Garza

Second Panellist:
Prof Steve Rowlinson

Elizabeth Garza will be speaking on COVID-19 and the U.S. Construction
workforce and sharing the latest U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) guidance for construction workers including healthy business operations.
She will speak to the latest science on COVID-19 as far as symptoms,transmission, and how workers can stay protected through the hierarchy ofcontrols. She will also speak to how the U.S. Construction Sector has cometogether through the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) throughthe new COVID-19 Workgroup and the NIOSH National Construction Center
COVID-19 Clearinghouse.
Profile: Elizabeth Garza, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (NIOSH), USA
Professor Steve Rowlinson will be speaking on the COVID-19 and the Hong Kong
construction industry. Steve is Joint Co-ordinator for CIB W92 Procurement
Systems. With construction output expected to contract by 9.2% in 2020 due topolitical unrest and COVID 19, he will consider how under-pressure to close sites,
contractors successfully demonstrated how the management of social distancing
was quite possible on most sites. With strong epidemical controls output
remained high. He will also, look to the near future and consider theimplications of COVID-19 for the shape and operation of the Hong Kong
construction sector.
Profile: Prof Steve Rowlinson, University of Honk Kong
Ann Bentley considers the roadmap to recovery for construction in the UK andasks the question - are we at a cross-roads for construction (or is it another Culde-sac)? She will outline the Restart, Reset, and Reinvent model, consider themedium-term themes for recovery – including - demand and pipeline,
productivity, and professionalism, and longer term reinvention through, digitaland manufacturing transformation, value based procurement models and whole
life performance, and partnerships and integrated delivery models.

Third Panellist:
Ann Bentley

Profile: Ann Bentley, Global Director, Rider Levett Bucknall, UK Construction
Leadership Council
Associate Professor Abimbola Windapo considers the question of how to map asustainable future for the construction sector post COVID-19 in South Africa. Shewill describe the economic and social significance of the South African
Construction Industry and consider the range of challenges encountered inplanning for COVID 19 recovery including the conservative approaches toconstruction procurement, and the state of construction businesses.
Profile: Prof Abimbola Windapo, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Fourth Panellist:
Asc Prof Abimbola Windapo