Westminster’s Centre for the Study of the Production of the Built Environment (ProBE) hosted its annual Research Symposium to explore the intersections of sustainability, equity and labour in shaping the built environment. The symposium brought together academics, policymakers, employers and unions to create a more just and inclusive built environment.
On 10 July, ProBE welcomed a range of guests from academia, the construction industry and beyond to the University’s Marylebone Campus for their 2025 Annual Research Symposium. ProBE is a cross-school research centre between Westminster Business School (WBS), the School of Architecture and Cities (A+C) and the School of Social Sciences, with the aim of finding innovative ways to construct a just, inclusive and sustainable society through the social, historical and environmental processes involved in producing the built environment.
The event began with a welcome and introduction from Kate Cheyne, Head of the University’s School of Architecture + Cities, before kicking off with a session on Innovation, Sustainability and Social Relations of Production chaired by Dr Rosa Schiano-Phan, Reader in Architecture and Environmental Design at Westminster at Co-Director of ProBE.
Dr Schiano-Phan and Chris Hinchliff MP
The session started with a keynote speech from Labour MP for North East Hertfordshire Chris Hinchliff, who delivered a presentation on Housing, Planning and Climate Change, discussing his recently proposed amendments to the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Westminster’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Bonfield, who is also a Professor of Engineering and Sustainable Development, then presented on Adapting to Climate Change. The Vice-Chancellor discussed his current work looking at how the built environment copes with the risk to people and property arising from increased flooding due to climate change.
ProBE Co-Directors Emeritus Professor Linda Clarke and Dr Fernando Duran-Palma, Senior Lecturer in Comparative Employment Relations, then presented on Transitioning to Industry 5.0 in the Built Environment. This was followed by talk from Dr Abdullahi Saka, Reader in Sustainable Digital Construction and Enterprise, on Intelligent Production in the Built Environment: The Role and Reach of AI, which explored how AI is driving a shift towards production processes that are faster, safer and more sustainable.
After a networking lunch, attendees joined a second panel session on Women in Construction chaired by Westminster’s Dr Dan Greenwood, Reader in Politics and ProBE Associate Director. This was followed by a series of presentations from speakers examining the experiences, contributions and ongoing challenges faced by women in construction, as well as their efforts to transform the sector.
First, Westminster colleagues Dr Schiano-Phan and Professor Clarke presented on Breaking Barriers and Building Better: Women’s Contributions to Construction Quality and Sustainability, before Professor at the University of California and former union electrician Vivian Price gave a talk on the Voices of Women in Construction. This included excerpts from her documentary film Hammering It Out and others, which highlighted the experience of women in the building trades.
Concluding the talks was Noreen Buckley, Electrician and Co-Founder of Tradeswomen Building Bridgers, the North American representation of tradeswomen on the global stage. Buckley spoke about gamechangers in Tradeswomen Building Bridges, with a focus on how to increase the number of women in the construction trades.
The symposium was wrapped up with announcements and thanks to those involved, before attendees participated in a networking session to discuss how to work together to advance equity and sustainability in the construction industry.
Westminster’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Bonfield
About the symposium Dr Schiano-Phan said: “The ProBE Symposium 2025 was a great success; it was well attended and the audience engaged in lively debate throughout. The highlight of the day was the keynote speaker Chris Hinchliff, MP for North East Hertfordshire, who spoke about the proposed amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in the context of the housing crisis. He highlighted the need for better protection of the natural environment to combat climate change and for creating truly affordable homes, which are led by local authorities and the interest of the community rather than profit driven developers' schemes.
“We were also thrilled to have our VC among the speakers and hear about the important review that he is conducting for the government on a flooding resilience action plan for property and people.”
The symposium directly contributes to several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including 5: Gender Equality, 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
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