Lord Deighton to give opening keynote address at ACE annual conference.

Infrastructure minister Lord Deighton is to deliver the keynote address at the ACE Annual Conference in May and set the agenda for a day that will address opportunities facing the industry as it tackles some of the biggest infrastructure challenges in generations.

Antony Oliver
13 March 2014

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Deighton has been instrumental in raising the profile of infrastructure within government and has pledged to drive forward the next phase of major projects, Thames Tideway, High Speed 2 and new nuclear generation at Hinkley Point C as central to delivering the UK’s National Infrastructure Plan.

Book your place at the ACE annual conference now - 21 May. Every ACE member firms has two free places. 

With discussion of all three of these major projects featuring in the conference, Deighton’s delivery will be critical in setting the scene for the day. Not least as he joins the conference fresh from his work with the HS2 Task Force to establish the wider regional benefits from this £50bn project, bringing an expert view on the macro economic impact of infrastructure einvestment.

Deighton’s presence at the conference along with former minister Lord Michael Heseltine who will close the event, underlines the key role that infrastructure investment continues to play in driving growth in the economy and, one year from the General Election, will give a clear indication of the government’s priorities across the next 12 months.

ACE’s 2014 Annual Conference – ‘Integrating infrastructure, building our future” takes place on Wednesday 21 May at the Marriott Grosvenor Square in London. With the battle over the importance of infrastructure won, the conference will examine how investment must link people with jobs, training, and resources if the UK is to succeed.  

Alongside Lord Michael Hseltine, other speakers already confirmed include: Alison Munro, chief executive HS2; Graham Dalton, chief executive, Highways Agency; Mike Putnam, co-chair, Green Construction Board; Professor David Mosey, Kings College London and Sir Neville Simms of Thames Tideway.

For further information and to register to attend the ACE Annual Conference please click here.

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ACE 2014 ‘Integrating Infrastructure, Shaping Our Future’ Conference

The conference programme.

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8.15am - Networking breakfast and registration

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9.15 - Welcome

Dr Nelson Ogunshakin OBE, Chief Executive, ACE
John Turzynski, Director, Arup, and ACE vice-chair

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9.30 - Keynote Address

Rt Hon The Lord Deighton KBE, Commercial Secretary to the Treasury

Why attend? As the government minister responsible for infrastructure delivery across the UK, Lord Deighton will be well placed to set out and discuss the on-going challenges and opportunities facing public and private sector clients as they continue to deliver the ambitious National Infrastructure Plan. In particular Lord Deighton will be able to draw on the output from his recent High Speed 2 Task Force and explain how the nation can maximise the benefit from its investment in this and other nationally important projects. Delegates will gain a comprehensive insight into government’s priorities and delievery strategy and hear first hand from, and directly pitch questions to, the man responsible for delivering that strategy. 

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10.20 - Economic regeneration and the role of integrated transport

Connecting regional cities, towns, and communities has been identified as a key driver of economic activity, facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services to educational opportunities, jobs, and markets. The fundamental questions for the future development of the UK are how we develop these transport links best, and attract the finance and funding to build and run them. This panel discussion will explore how the road, rail and air transport networks of the future can be better planned for greater integration and maximisation of economic opportunities.

• Alison Munro, HS2 Ltd

• Graham Dalton, Highways Agency

• John Morris, Birmingham Airport

• Andrew Boagey, Systra

Chaired by David Tarrant, Mott MacDonald

Why attend? This session will build on the keynote delivery from Lord Deighton and draw the findings and conclusions from his recent HS2 Taskforce report into driving regional benefits from investment in major infrastructure project such as HS2. Delegates will also hear first hand from major highways, rail and airport clients and gain an understanding of how they are approaching the future technical and social challenges of integrating transport systems across the UK. In particular the session will also be a key opportunity, no matter where delegagtes sit in the supply chain, to understand how the new Highways Agency structure will work with it s supply chains in future and hear a progress update on the HS2 project as it moves towards reality.

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11.10 - Networking break for tea and coffee

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11.25 - Sustainability – more than just a luxury

Future cities and communities cannot afford to ignore sustainability of growth, resource, jobs, and skills, if they are to succeed and grow. Developments (including homes, social resources like schools and hospitals, places of business, and transport connections) will have to adhere to ever-stricter regulations around resource use and management. Here our panel of experts will debate the challenges facing the construction industry, and how it can best adapt before the opportunity is lost.

• Mike Putnam, Skanska and Green Construction Board

• Lewis Sidnick, NHBC 

• Jon Kirkpatrick, Lend Lease 

• Dr Priti Parikh, University College London

Chaired by Ashley Bateson, Chair ACE Sustainability Sector Interest Group

Why attend? This session will underpin delegates’ understanding of public and private sector challenges in delivering low carbon and sustainable construction and give insight in how others are embracing the opportunity to develop real business opportunity. In particular there will be an opportunity for smaller firms from across the built environment to engage with and understand the work of the Government’s Green Construction Board and to hear first hand examples of success from big and small practitioners from across the supply chain. 

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12.15 - Devolved nations and the regions 

With the trend for devolved nations and local authorities, including Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs),  to combine resources to focus on holistic regeneration and growth, and as new funding pots becoming available, 2014 will be a year with new challenges and opportunities for the construction industry. These will also have big implications for procurement and industry capacity in terms of labour and materials at the regional and Devolved Nations level. These issues, and others, will be the focus of our panel, as they discuss what the regions will be looking for how the industry can adapt.

• Kevin Rowan, TUC 

• Robert Hough, Merseyside Partnership 

• Professor David Mosey, Kings College London 

• Michael Batheram, WSP 

Chaired by Mike Barber

Why attend? This session will present delegates from firms across the size and breadth of the supply chain with a clear understanding of the changing future role, project funding potential and business opportunity of both the devolved nations adminstrations, local authorities and the increasingly influential Local Enterprise Partnerships. Whether you work for a major firm or an SME, understanding this emerging market and business opportunity is critical.

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13.05 - Lunch break and networking opportunity

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14.00 - Afternoon Address

Rt Hon Lord Andrew Adonis, Shadow Minister of State for Infrastructure (invited)

Why attend? In response to the morning keynote, Lord Adonis will present the opposition’s plans, aspirations and manifesto pledges for infrastructure investment under a potential Labour-led administration post General Election. This will provide delegates with a clear understanding of the likely political landscapae and priorities post May 2015 and, in particular, a make clear how the recent work by Sir John Armitt around the need for an National Infrastructure Commission might manifest itself under a Labour government.

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14.45 - Utilities: how will the bare necessities be provided

Affordable provision of the fundamentals of life has flown back to the top of the agenda in recent years, with an unprecedented energy gap looming over the UK, climate change posing a threat to water availability and supply, and better communications playing an ever-increasing role in our economy. Ensuring the communities of the future have plentiful supplies of each is a challenge for both government and industry, the success of which will determine the UK’s place in the future global economy. Here our panel will discuss ways that the construction sector can work with Whitehall to ensure the nation keeps its place in the sun.

• EDF 

• Sir Neville Simms, Thames Tunnel

• Broadband UK 

• Ian Gardner, Arup 

Chaired by Andrew Cowell, ACE Utilities Group Chair, Engineering Directory, MWH

Why attend? This is a key session for all delegates with a business interest in the delivery of and supply chain for the government’s critical priority projects. The conference will hear first hand from the key people driving the Thames Tunnel project, new nuclear and superfast telecommunications for the nation. Wherever you are in the supply chain this sesson will give you vital insight into how you plan your bisineses to capitiase on these multi-billion opportunities.

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15.35 - Interview with Lord Michael Heseltine

Infrastructure Intelligence editor Antony Oliver puts the questions and leads the Q and A. With government set to enact many recommendations from his report, No stone unturned, Lord Heseltine will join us for an informal questions and answers session on his views on everything from localism, the future of the city, encouraging regeneration and development,  and devolving the responsibility and the means for rebalancing the economy away from the South East.

Why attend? Lord Heseltine’s passion for and knowledge of infrastructure delivery is ased on a career in government at the highest level. This session will unpack his insight and help delegates from across the supply chain and from across UK to understand the thinking of current and furture administrations in particular around the way in which central funding might in future find its way in the regions They will also have an opportunity to ask questions and to learn from his experience of enabling HS1 to move from aspiraton to reality.

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16.20 - Closing Remarks

Dr Nelson Ogunshakin OBE, Chief Executive, ACE

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Post event networking will continue ahead of the ACE Engineering Excellence Awards