ARCOM

Chair
Professor Craig Thomson, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
It is my privilege to serve as Chair of ARCOM for 2024-26 and during this period I will seek to build on the strong foundations which have been established over the last 40 years. Establishing a set of contemporary research themes which we can explore through our various platforms (conference, seminars and workshops) is important to help ARCOM maintain its role as a vehicle for discourse, in helping shape the construction management field, and also showcase our community's wider contribution to built environment research. I attended my first ARCOM conference in 2004 as a PhD student and since then it has played a key role in my development as an academic researcher. I became a Committee Member in 2014, served as Committee Secretary from 2020 to 2022 and Vice Chair from 2022 to 2024, prior to becoming Chair at the AGM in 2024. During my time with ARCOM I have sought to promote conversations around how our research responds to the grand challenges associated with climate change, sustainable development and the need to promote a fairer society. This can be seen in the Theme for the 41st ARCOM Conference: Regenerative Cities which will be held in Dundee in 2025.

Immediate Past Chair
Dr Apollo Tutesigensi, University of Leeds, UK
It has been my privilege to serve on the Committee of ARCOM since 2013. I am proud of what ARCOM has achieved over the last few years and what I have contributed as Treasurer, Vice Chair and Chair. The highlight of this achievement is the new Constitution of ARCOM which we approved on 5 September 2023 and came into effect on 1 May 2024. In the new role of Immediate Past Chair, I will seek to contribute towards facilitating ARCOM to continue to grow as an association of members from all over the world which is organised and run well.

Vice-Chair
Dr Vivien Chow, Loughborough University
I am Senior Lecturer in Construction and Project Management at Loughborough University. I am passionate about supporting our doctoral and early career researcher communities. My research interests include public engagement on projects, employee health and wellbeing, and the social aspect of sustainability. Since attending my first ARCOM conference in 2011, I have had the privilege to connect with the wider CM research community through ARCOM and this has enriched my academic journey tremendously. I have been serving on the ARCOM Committee since 2017 and I served as Treasurer from 2020 to 2024. As Vice-Chair, my personal goal is to enhance the way ARCOM engages with the wider research community and with industry; to ensure the Committee is welcoming, inclusive, and diverse; and to drive and facilitate excellence in academic research through ARCOM’s many activities.

Treasurer
Professor Daniel Gilmour, Abertay University, UK
I am Professor of Sustainability Assessment and Enhancement at Abertay University in Dundee. I am also the Programme Leader of the MSc Construction Management in the Division Engineering and Food Science. My research interests are in the fields of sustainability assessment, decision support and public participation in decision making, in particular, on the enhancement of sustainability in the built and natural environment. I have been heavily engaged in research over the last 15 years in the field of sustainable decision making on a range of projects within local government. As a member of ARCOM, I have regularly contributed papers to the annual conference since 2010. I have served on the Scientific Committee since 2015 and acted as an invited panel member for subject network workshops and research training programmes.

Secretary
Dr Nicola McPhail, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
Dr Nicola McPhail is a Senior Lecturer in Construction Project Management at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU). She has a BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying, a PhD relating to the delivery of energy efficient homes and has contributed to the leadership of a variety of postgraduate programmes in the UK, Asia and the Middle East. Her academic vision includes; the reduction of carbon emissions, energy efficient decision making, and the non-energy benefits associated with building design. Her work on the health and wellbeing of an ageing population relates to how the Built Environment can improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society which aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Her contribution to this research area hopes to improve economic and social value efficiencies within social housing providers, drawing together the housing, energy and health sectors by creating a more joined-up approach to housing improvements.

Membership Officer
Dr John Spillane, University of Limerick, Ireland
Since first being introduced to ARCOM in 2011 during my doctoral studies, it has subsequently formed my development as an active, industry orientated construction management researcher. After joining the Committee in 2017, I was nominated to the role of ARCOM Membership Secretary in 2019, where I continue to develop our membership base, both individual and institutional membership. In addition to this, I have continued to engage with ARCOM and its community, in its continued evolution over the coming years, contributing where and whenever I can. As an Associate Professor at University of Limerick, I lead construction management research, while also course director for the BSc (Hons) in Construction Management and Engineering programme within the School of Engineering. My research spans the discipline and is primarily industry focused, working with numerous partners throughout the UK and Ireland.

Outreach and Communications Officer
Dr Léon olde Scholtenhuis, University of Twente, The Netherlands
As Associate Professor at the University of Twente (NL) I study how digitalisation supports coordination in urban underground space transitions. I use ethnographic and Design Science Research to develop and evaluate technology-in-practice. I publish in CM-journal (CM&E, J-CEM and AutoCOM) about my interventions with construction practice and how this leads to evolving relationships between practitioners, routines and implemented technology. Since joining ARCOM in 2010, I enjoy participating in the conference, reviewing submissions and organising seminars. As I re-apply for Committee, I hope to continue delivering my views on practice-engagement and to make ARCOMs conferences, seminars and workshops more inclusive to international researchers.

Researcher Development Officer
Dr Emmanuel Aboagye-Nimo, Birmingham City University, UK
I am currently a Senior Lecturer at Birmingham City University and also a Chartered Construction Manager (MCIOB). I first got involved with ARCOM through a workshop entitled ‘Culture in Construction’ hosted at Loughborough University and chaired by Prof David Boyd and special guest Prof Geert Hofstede in 2011. I was later privileged to work as the conference secretary for two Annual ARCOM Conferences (2014 and 2015). Today, as the Researcher Development Officer, I organise workshops and seminars for up-and-coming researchers with support from other experienced academics. My passion is to usher new researchers into the wonderful community that is ARCOM.

Committee Member
Dr Mohamed Abadi, University of Manchester, UK
I am a lecturer in the ‘Management of Projects’ and the MoP/MSc programme director at the University of Manchester (UoM). Previously, I worked at different academic institutions in the Middle East. I have conducted research and developed knowledge and a track record of publications about different pathways to sustainability in construction, including circularity of solid materials. I regularly engage, and encourage my PhD students, to engage in ARCOM conferences to disseminate their research outputs and extend their academic network. Moreover, I received the 'APM Project Management Educator of the Year Award 2023' due to delivering research-informed teaching at UoM.

Committee Member
Dr Philippa Boyd, University College of Estate Management, UK
As a Chartered Engineer and proud member of the CIOB and FHEA, I span both Academia and Industry. My last year in industry has developed my understanding of the funding landscape for the Built Environment. Returning to Academia, I am focused on developing research into Sustainable Innovation in the Built Environment. Serving the ARCOM Committee for the last two years, I hope to continue contributing to the work of the committee and serving the wider aims of ARCOM. I am keen to continue bringing the alliance between Industry and Academia closer and increasing accessibility of the community.

Committee Member
Professor Paul W Chan, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
As an active member of ARCOM since 2001, I joined the committee in 2006, serving as Secretary (until 2014), Vice-Chair (2014-2016) and Chair (2016-2018). I have contributed to the diversification of the doctoral workshops, and chaired various ARCOM debates. I actively contribute to the Prize Selection and Journal Publications Working Groups. I will continue to connect construction management research with debates from wider organisational and management studies. To this end, I introduced thematic tracks to the ARCOM Conference format in 2016. I will continue to add value through my cross-disciplinary research experience and networks, and passion for researcher development.

Committee Member
Dr Mustafa Selçuk Çıdık, University College London, UK
I am an Associate Professor in Construction and Project Management at UCL, where I lead B.Sc. Project Management for Construction programme. After graduating as a civil engineer, I worked in the construction industry for six years before I joined academia in 2012 as a Ph.D. student. Since then, I have held academic positions related to construction and project management at several universities in the UK. My research explores the conditions and processes of value creation and capturing in construction projects with a focus on digital innovation, systems integration, and social value. I have been involved with ARCOM since I was a Ph.D. student, and I very much value the ARCOM community and its contribution to our field. During my time on the committee, my priority will be strengthening ARCOM’s engagement with industry and policy to enhance its impact on societal challenges.

Committee Member
Dr Barry Gledson, Northumbria University, UK
I am an Associate Professor of Construction Project Management (CPM) and Head of the CPM Subject group at Northumbria University, with much industry and academic experience. My socio-technical research revolves around construction innovations, their diffusion, and their potential for improving project delivery and practice. I have attended ARCOM since 2014 because of its collegial network, the quality of research arising from it, and because ARCOM has been essential for my own academic journey. As a continuing committee member, I will ensure ARCOM continues aiding the development of early-career researchers, whilst augmenting CM knowledge via quality research.

Committee Member
Dr Henning Grosse
ARCOM is, for me, a community of encouraging colleagues. Over the past eight years, I enjoyed presenting at conferences. Running and researching my own construction business autoethnographically, I can offer first-hand industry experience and unique insights and lessons for practice. I use insights from research to run my business and teach students. Against that backdrop, I aim to promote qualitative and ethnographic research in the engineering field. I am one of the few German researchers at ARCOM. Therefore, I can add a German perspective and widen ARCOM’s reach into Germany. Besides, as a runner, I will support the ARCOM run.

Committee Member
Dr Cara Hatcher, Northumbria University, UK
I am a Real Estate Chartered Surveyor with 18 years of experience in the industry. I have been an Assistant Professor since 2011. I was co contributor to a paper presented to ARCOM conference in 2021 and would enjoy attending further conferences in person to present my work around older people housing and EDI. My practice and academic knowledge across various housing, commercial real estate and construction sector would be of benefit to the ARCOM committee. I am currently EDI/Athena Swan chair for our department. As a member disability steering group for Northumbria I deal more specifically with building use.

Committee Member (Co-opted)
Dr Dimosthenis Kifokeris, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
I am Associate Professor in Construction Production and Management of Construction Projects. My research and teaching areas include production management, construction informatics, regeneration and sustainability, and labour processes. My goal is to integrate my perspectives into theorising the political economy of Swedish construction to analyse contemporary and future phenomena and challenges. I have been part of the ARCOM community since 2018, and as a committee member I aim to advance the international collaboration of construction management researchers, promote ARCOM’s contribution in the establishment of early-career academics, and propel the knowledge developed within ARCOM towards addressing key sectoral and societal needs.

Committee Member
Professor Patrick Manu, University of the West of England, UK
I am a Professor of Innovative Construction and Project Management at the University of the West of England. My involvement with ARCOM dates to 2009 when I attended and presented a paper at my first ARCOM doctoral workshop. Subsequently, I have served on the ARCOM committee, scientific committee, chaired conference sessions, led a conference track, and organised an ARCOM early career researchers (ECRs) development workshop. I would like to see the ARCOM community grow and so my intention is to help promote ARCOM through contributing to the capacity building of ECRs, and enhancing ARCOM’s visibility among key stakeholders.

Committee Member (Co-opted)
Dr Florence Phua, University of Reading, UK
As an active contributor to and participant in ARCOM throughout my academic career, I continue to see it as the only germane forum for bringing together the CM research community in areas of scholarship, networking and collaborations. My research leadership within and beyond the CM discipline derives from having a coherent research agenda and outputs which focus on the complex relationships that individual-level organizational behaviour/ psychology constructs have on construction and project performance. As a ARCOM committee member, I would like to encourage and develop this individual-level approach in CM research and discourse.

Committee Member
Dr Serik Tokbolat, University of Nottingham, UK
I am a passionate educator and researcher who teaches sustainability. I act as the Sustainability Champion and as a team member for mapping and planning of Construction Management and Sustainability learning objectives for accreditation. Previously, I worked as a Senior Lecturer in Construction Management at Nottingham Trent University where I taught various modules in construction management. I am well placed at the intersection of Sustainability and Construction Management disciplines in terms of my expertise and research experience. I would like to bring this mix of knowledge and practice into ARCOM committee’s work where I can help with promoting sustainability principles and practices.

Committee Member
Dr Dilek Ulutas Duman, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
I am nominating myself for committee membership to further ARCOM’s mission of advancing knowledge and promoting excellence in research, knowledge exchange, and dissemination within the built environment. With over a decade of experience and a robust international network, I am aligned with ARCOM’s vision of creating a dynamic hub for construction management researchers. I look forward to contributing my experience and ideas to enhance ARCOM’s impact on shaping the construction management knowledge area and exploring how our research can evolve to answer continuously changing technology and societal needs.

Committee Member
Dr Sam Zulu, Leeds Beckett University, UK
Sam is a Professor of Construction and Project Management and Postgraduate Research Cordinator at Leeds Beckett University. He is an active researcher addressing issues related to the management of projects and organisations in the construction industry. His current research focuses on the implications of the interlinked challenges of digitalisation and sustainability on people, organisations and the delivery of projects in construction. He has been a non-executive Member of Committee of ARCOM for the last two years. He is keen to continue serving on the committee as a platform to actively engage in supporting early career and doctoral researchers.