PROPERTY CARE ASSOCIATION - Key Persons
Adrian Dawson Company: Olympic Construction With over 40 years of experience in the building, preservation and waterproofing industry, Adrian has a deep understanding of the challenges and concerns associated with members in these fields. His passion for preserving buildings started in the 80s where he continually gained knowledge and expertise. As a Fellow Chartered Building Engineer and RICS member with various other accreditations, he has shared his knowledge and passion with many PCA members (including his own family) helping many become a qualified. He remains very passionate and committed to the growth of our industry alongside the PCA and will do whatever it takes to help the PCA and the preservation industry succeed.
Job Titles:
- Technical Specialist for Ebsford Environmental Ltd
Alex is the invasive species technical specialist for Ebsford Environmental Ltd. He is an ecologist with over twenty years' experience, having previously been a research scientist at the University of Reading and CAB International where he was the project manager for the first release in Europe of a classical biological control agent against Japanese knotweed.
Amber joined the team in April 2018 as our apprentice. Following successful completion of her apprenticeship and achieving a Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Business Administration, Amber accepted a full-time position within the training team. After many years of commitment and growth, Amber has taken on further responsibility and is now the Training Manager ensuring the training function is running smoothly and efficiently, as well as running our apprenticeship programmes and external training function.
Starting out his career as a mechanical engineer, Andrew later refocused his engineering knowledge to become a structural engineer. However, now classes himself as a building engineer considering all elements of the building structure and environment.
Over the last ten years, Andrew worked within the insurance sector of the construction industry and is always looking for ways to improve designs and methodly of construction. Andrew is now supporting PCA members particularly within the structural waterproofing sector.
Andy joined the team in November 2018 after working as a marketing and communications specialist within the industry for the last 12 years.
After studying and graduating in marketing, and later being awarded MCIM status through the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Andy went on to work for General Electric (GE) and then the ‘University of Paisley' within sales and marketing-oriented roles before settling into the property care industry where he has helped shape and grow multiple large brands.
Andy is passionate about marketing and in his own words a self-confessed ‘geek' when it comes to technology. In his new role, he is here to manage and ultimately improve all marketing and communications from both a traditional and digital perspective to ultimately help grow the PCA brand.
Ben Hickman has been in the damp and timber industry since 2010 having previously been a contractor member and then an independent surveyor. Ben is now the technical director of CLW and consults on structural waterproofing including defect diagnosis, expert witness and waterproofing design development.
He has a Masters from the University of Cambridge. His research, which was partly funded by the PCA Bursary, included topics such as waterproofing additives for basement concrete and podium deck waterproofing. Ben sat on the British Standards committee revising BS 8102 and has contributed to best practice guidance with NHBC, Premier Guarantee and CIRIA.
Cormac Rooney Company: MJ Rooney Construction Cormac qualified as a Building Surveyor in 1998 and has since worked as Construction Manager on a wide variety of projects but specialises in Basements, Temporary Works and Structural Waterproofing. Cormac holds the CSSW qualification, is listed on the Waterproofing Design Specialist Register and is a director of the family business of MJ Rooney Construction.
Daniel joined the PCA team in 2022 with a wealth of practical experience and knowledge, gained by working within the invasive weeds sector as a remediation professional. Daniel has been part of a variety of remediation projects from large scale infrastructure to small domestic properties, where he undertook surveys, herbicide treatments and excavations for a variety of invasive species. Daniel has gained several key qualifications including: CSJK for surveying, SSSTS for excavations and PA1, PA2 and PA6W for herbicide treatments. Daniel is an advocate for safe practices within the industry, especially around the use of herbicides, the growing concern of how they affect users, the environment and biodiversity.
Emily joined the PCA team in April 2023 as our Marketing Executive, providing much needed support to the marketing team across weekly newsletter, social media and much more. Emily will also lend a helping hand to the training team, delivering monthly training comms to PCA members and non-members.
Emily Walker Company: GCP Applied Technologies Ltd As a ‘self confessed waterproofing geek', Emily has many years of experience within the waterproofing sector and currently works for GCP Applied Technologies Ltd. Emily also draws on experience from working with Mining Engineers in the heavy civils industry. Her philosophy has always been that ‘every day is a school day' and she is committed to the continuous development of skills and knowledge.
Hannah has been a part of the PCA team since 2007 and has experience across all areas of the Association. Hannah is currently the Head of Membership including recruitment, membership applications and the member audit process. As well as overseeing the membership process, Hannah is also conducting research into the possibility of the Association adopting a new CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system approach as the Association continues to grow in numbers and complexity.
Job Titles:
- Online Training Administrator
Harry joined the team in November 2021 as our newest administration apprentice. After completing his apprenticeship in 2023 and achieving the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Business Administration, Harry accepted a permanent position within the training team. Harry is now responsible for the day-to-day running of our online training function, including ensuring courses are ready for new intakes, starting live online calls and sending CPD certificates to candidates who have completed training with us.
Jade joined the PCA as our apprentice in January 2014 and following the completion of her Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Business Administration and City and Guilds Book Keeping and Accountancy, became a fully-fledged administrator. After successfully achieving the CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership qualification as part of her professional development with the PCA, Jade has also taken on the responsibility for the management of the Training and Certification function.
Job Titles:
- Deputy CEO
- Technical Manager
James joined the PCA team as Technical Manager in 2016 and later became Head of the Technical Department. He is a graduate of the University of Plymouth, where he achieved a BSc (Hons) in Applied Geology but some of his earliest work experience is in the world of preservation, and has held various roles within an industry he now feels proud to represent. James is the lead on the Residential Ventilation Group sector of the PCA and is hugely enthusiastic about the need for improving standards for dampness and ventilation within existing buildings.
In 2023 he joined the senior management team following his promotion to Deputy Chief Executive and is thrilled to begin this next chapter and help drive the association forward into 2024 and beyond.
PLEASE NOTE: James is NOT an elected board member. James' role within the elected board is to serve the direction and requested actions of the board.
Job Titles:
- Senior Training and Certification Administrator
Jo joined the PCA team in 2015 to help support the growing training function. Since then Jo has become a fundamental part of the training operations and is now the Senior Training and Certification Administrator. Jo is responsible for the day-to-day running of all face-to-face events (training and exams) held at our offices in Huntingdon, which include; facilitating course bookings, liaising with course lecturers and delegates, organising course materials, invigilating examinations and maintaining the exam registers and issuing certificates.
Lisa joined the Association's Marketing team in September 2017. Lisa has held marketing & event roles within the travel, manufacturing and print industries for over 20 years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the PCA. In her new position as Events Manager, Lisa will continue to develop and deliver the ever-expanding programme of PCA events, which includes our three annual conferences, Best Practice Awards and numerous member-specific meetings.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Chairman and Director at Timberwise
Mark is Chairman and Director at Timberwise, a preservation and waterproofing contractor member of the PCA that operates throughout England and Wales. He has been a director in a number of different companies in a variety of industries over the last 30 years giving him wide business experience and knowledge. He has served as a director and chairman of the Property Care Association in the past and by returning to the Board he will bring new ideas, good leadership and sound guidance to the executive team. He is looking forward to making a difference and to helping the Association achieve its objectives.
Having progressed from a time served trade background to a well established independent preservation surveyors for the last 35 years, Neil has achieved various vocational qualifications including HND and NVQ (level 5) in Business Management, as well as various PCA Qualification's.
In his current roles as a PCA RSO, PCA Trainer, Independent Surveyor/Consultant and Expert Witness all provide Neil with a unique insight into the diversity within our industry and what is needed to drive it forward, to meet the challenges it faces, in an ever-changing world.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chairman
- Environmental Consultant
Richard has been an environmental consultant for over twenty years. He started as a contamination specialist and then developed as an environmental manager. Richard co-founded Phlorum in 2003, which became a key player in the knotweed control industry.
Richard's invasive species experience includes providing specialist advice and services to treat a range of non-native invasive species, including expert witness services for several legal cases. Richard has contributed to the working groups that produced the knotweed guidance for the RICS and numerous documents for the PCA. He also assists with the marking of examination papers for the PCA Japanese knotweed courses.
Robert Tiffin is a Director of Eco Tiffin, an expert building solutions company. Robert started his career in the industry 50 years ago as a quantity surveyor, working for large national companies such as McAlpine and Try Group, focusing on housing projects and modular system buildings before joining the family business. He has been on the London Board of the Federation of Master Builders for a number of years and is currently Vice President. An influential figure in the building world, Robert was part of the expert working group set up by the Bonfield Review for the research into Retrofit Standards in 2017. In 2019 he was invited to join the panel of experts on the Exhibition show Grand Designs and in 2020, he was asked to join two other industry experts for a Q&A consultation to the All Party Environmental Select Committee for oral evidence focusing on energy efficiency.
Sarah joined the PCA in November 2023 after spending 20 years working with membership and trade associations; including for construction trade bodies and in the international medical sector.
Prior to PCA, Sarah led the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) where she was Company Secretary and responsible for the day-to-day management of all of its activities including delivering the annual strategy, operational and staff management. She led the delivery of the multi-award winning World Congress of Soil Science 2022, and was a trustee of the company set up to manage the delivery of the event.
In previous roles, Sarah was active in the construction industry's response to the issue of competence following the Grenfell Towers tragedy and represented construction as a member of the Department for Education's On Site Construction T Level Panel, the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Card Management Committee and the Greater London Authority (GLA) Construction Skills Group.
Sarah has a keen interest in skills, training and policy and led the development of a Soil Science apprenticeship and has worked with organisations to engage policymakers and provide evidence, which support decision making. Whilst with BSSS, this included registering BSSS as a Non-Governmental Organisation with the UN and actively participating in UNFCCC COP Summits.
Prior to PCA, Sarah led the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) where she was Company Secretary and responsible for the day-to-day management of all of its activities including delivering the annual strategy, operational and staff management. She led the delivery of the multi-award winning World Congress of Soil Science 2022, and was a trustee of the company set up to manage the delivery of the event.
PLEASE NOTE: Sarah is NOT an elected board member. As CEO of the PCA, Sarah's role within the elected board is to serve the direction and requested actions of the board.