The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has announced the appointments of a new chair and deputy chair to the Building Advisory Committee (BAC).
Dr Barbara Lane joins the committee as the first independent chair, and Dr Hywel Davies OBE as deputy chair.
Lane is a Fellow of Arup and chartered senior engineering executive with 30 years’ experience operating across a wide variety of sectors within the build environment. She served as an expert witness for the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 from 2017 to 2024.
Davies has served on the BAC since its inception and is currently head of technical insight at the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE). Additionally, he serves on several distinguished industry groups and chaired BAC’s predecessor body, the Building Regulations Advisory Committee, from 2020 to 2023.
According to the BSR, the appointment of Lane and Davies to these senior roles represents the start of an important transition for the committee.
The BAC is committed to strengthening its role as a key source of advice and support to the Regulator, alongside the Industry Competence Committee (ICC), chaired by Jon Vanstone and the Statutory Residents’ Panel, which is currently in the process of recruiting its own independent chair.
Lane said: “Taking on this independent role is part of my ongoing commitment to create a safe and equitable built environment, one that works for everyone. I believe that the committee can be a powerful force for good across the sector, building on the harsh lessons learnt from the Grenfell fire.
“My aim is to try and remedy the shortcomings exposed in our building standards to protect and improve the lives of millions throughout the country.”
Davies said: “I am pleased to be appointed deputy chair, supporting Dr Lane in her new role. The committee has a critical role to play supporting BSR in its work to improve the building safety regime, identify risks to building users, and provide consistent and timely standards and guidance that can meet the complex challenges we face today.”
Charlie Pugsley, acting chief executive of BSR, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to welcome both Dr Lane and Dr Davies to their new roles on the Building Advisory Committee.
“Together they bring a wealth of expertise garnered from successful careers working in the built environment and will make a real difference to the positive impact of BSR, the committee and regimes under the Building Safety Act.
“Their combined knowledge and skills will be invaluable to informing and supporting our mission to ensure safer homes and buildings for all.”
Main image: Dr Barbara Lane, chair, Building Advisory Committee. Credit: Paul Carstairs/Arup
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