Steve Brown, Steve Brown Associates and Richard Crowe, President ACEI 


The opening presentation within a sub-theme of Communication and Regulation was provided by ACEI’s President, Richard Crowe, CEO Nicholas O’Dwyer who outlined the strengths of the sector and the importance of continuing engagement with clients and communities.  

Steve Brown from Steve Brown Associates spoke about adjudication in the UK and how careful preparation and communication is crucial.  



Gina London, Fuzion


Gina London, Fuzion, Emmy award winning former CNN correspondent continued the communication theme, explaining the importance of this issue for consulting engineering firms in particular, relating her talk to communication with clients, colleagues and professional partners.  

The second session of the day focussed on Innovation and Development, beginning with ACEI’s Secretary General, Dr Sarah Ingle who spoke about the need for consulting engineering practices to actively address and reward innovation in their firms in order to address future sectoral challenges. 

Maria Gavin from Enterprise Ireland outlined the benefits of firms applying for the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programme which generated a lot of interest. 

                                                        Dr Sarah Ingle, Secretary General ACEI and Maria Gavin, Enterprise Ireland


The final speaker was global futurist and CEO of Fast Future, Rohit Talwar, who succinctly addressed the forces shaping tomorrow and how consulting engineers could and should respond.

Richard Crowe, President ACEI,  Rohit Talwar, CEO of Fast Future and Dr Sarah Ingle, Secretary General, ACEI

In the final segment, Directions in Technology, ACEI was honoured to welcome Enrico Vink, Managing Director of FIDIC (The International Federation of Consulting Engineers), who spoke about the technology and tools needed by firms to improve their businesses. 




                                                              Enrico Vink, Managing Director of FIDIC and Richard Crowe, President ACEI


Seán Giblin from Cylon Controls outlined one such new, inspirational technology; an automated, mobile enabled, building management system.  

Completing the session and the day, were two speakers from ACEI member firm, Arup, Zita Langenbach and Robert Ryan, who explained their experience of working on challenges and solutions within construction projects using Building Information Modelling (BIM).

Wrapping up the discussions, Philip Boucher-Hayes also thanked corporate sponsor Griffiths & Armour and conference sponsor Beale & Company for their continuing support of ACEI and its activities.

Claire Ault, Griffiths and Armour, Tony Horan, incoming President ACEI, Graeme Tinney, Griffiths and Armour, Dr Sarah Ingle, Secretary General, ACEI



Michael Moriarity, J O'Connor and Associates, Gina London, Fuzion, Steve Brown, Steve Brown and Associates, Richard Crowe, ACEI President, Tara Cosgrove, Beale and Company