Strategic Leaders Forum

Steph Welch is a seasoned Workplace and Facilities Management (WFM) leader with over a decade of experience shaping and delivering integrated WFM strategies across Arup’s UK offices. As London Office Leader and Head of WFM, she drives innovation in workplace design, operational excellence, and strategic planning, ensuring spaces are not only efficient but also adaptable to evolving business and social needs.

Steph is deeply committed to ethical and sustainable practices, with a particular focus on the circular economy and smart technologies. Her work champions intelligent data solutions, such as sensor-driven plant lifecycle management, and supports smarter pathways to achieving Carbon Net Zero. She is a vocal advocate for creating inclusive, high-performing environments that foster collaboration, wellbeing, and productivity.

As Chair of the IWFM Strategic Leaders Forum, Steph plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the profession. She is passionate about mentoring and team development and was honoured with the IWFM ‘Manager of the Year’ Award in 2020 and recognised as a Top Workplace Leader in 2024.

CIWFM and NEBOSH certified Facilities Management professional with over 16 years of experience in delivering full oversight Real Estate & Facilities related services. This has included instituting improved service delivery, Real Estate Portfolio optimisation and driving sustainability across different contracts and services.

I am currently Director of Global Workplace Management at Ramboll, responsible for a global property portfolio of 230 buildings covering in excess of 270,000 square metres and supporting over 18,000 staff. Ramboll is a global consulting group with revenues in excess of $2billion per annum.

As Deputy Chair of the IWFM Strategic Leaders Forum, Tim works connecting with UK and global leaders within the industry, setting industry standards and best practice direction. 

As Managing Director of Assurity Consulting since January 2025, Keith leads a team of specialist consultants delivering independent, evidence-based advice in health, safety, and environmental compliance. Keith joined the business in 1996 and brings nearly 30 years of experience across key disciplines including water management, indoor air quality (IAQ), asbestos management, health and safety (H&S), and indoor environmental quality (IEQ).

NEBOSH-qualified and an ISO 45001 Lead Auditor, Keith has worked with a broad range of clients to develop tailored, practical compliance solutions that protect people, enhance workplaces, and support sustainable operations. Keith’s approach combines technical knowledge with a clear understanding of business needs—ensuring advice is not only accurate but proportionate and actionable.

Now in a strategic leadership role, Kieth focuses on driving innovation, upholding the values of integrity and quality, and ensuring Assurity Consulting clients receive the assurance they need in an ever-evolving regulatory landscape. Keith is passionate about developing people and maintaining the collaborative, high-performing culture that sets Assurity Consulting apart.

Anna is an experienced built environment professional, facilities management educator and certified practitioner with a career spanning FM practice, higher education and professional body governance. As Academic Course Lead for the FM degree apprenticeship at the University of Gloucestershire, she brings the real world of FM directly into the learning environment helping practitioners connect theory to the challenges they face every day on the ground.

Anna holds certified status with IWFM and serves as a Deputy Chair of IWFM's Members' Council as well as being a committee member of the Sustainability SiG and Strategic Leaders Forum. She is passionate about raising the profile of FM as a profession and believes that great education is one of the most powerful tools we have to do that. As a consultant she also works with organisations navigating the strategic and operational pressures of a rapidly changing built environment.

For IWFM Academy she supports as a tutor for those studying at Level 4 and facilitates delivery of Level 6 programmes.

Her teaching reflects her conviction that FM sits at the heart of organisational resilience. She has a particular interest in climate adaptation and biophilic design, exploring how the spaces we manage can support human wellbeing, ecological health and long-term sustainability. She brings these themes into her practice with curiosity and a firm belief that the best FM professionals are also the best critical thinkers.

Areas of Expertise

Facilities and workplace management strategy · FM degree apprenticeships and higher education · Climate adaptation in the built environment · Biophilic design principles for FM practitioners · Sustainability and ESG in FM supply chains · Professional body governance and higher apprenticeships · Chartered practitioner development and mentorship · Organisational resilience

Jake was appointed as Deputy Government Head of Property Profession in April 2024, having spent the previous six years working across various senior Property roles in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), primarily in the Facilities Management (FM) arena.  During his time in MoJ, Jake led the transition of Prisons FM into the MoJ Property Directorate, to ensure alignment with the wider HMPPS Probation and HQ estate.

Prior to joining the MoJ, Jake was the Estates and Facilities Manager for Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust, where he began his career in Property in 2008.  Since leaving the Trust as an employee, Jake has sat on the Board of Directors, where he currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board and also Chairs the Finance, Audit, Risk and Resources Committee.

Jake also serves as Deputy Chair of the Board and Non-Executive Director at IWFM.

Steve is an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM). 

In 2005 he received the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) recognition award for global contribution to FM because of his position as Chair of the Facilities Management Association, Australia and as a founding member and subsequent Chair of Global FM – an international federation of National member-based FM Associations.

More recently in 2020, he was recognized in the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) Excellence Awards for his contribution to the industry and profession.  The following year he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in the national PFM Awards.

In 2013, following 4 years as Lead Judge, Steve was appointed Chair of the IWFM Industry Excellence Awards and held this position for 6 years.  He was also the Chair of the IWFM International Special Interest Group.

He is the Director of Nodus Solutions Limited, a privately owned Facility Management company based in the UK providing FM and Consultancy advice to a broad range of clients ranging from large multi-national listed entities to public sector bodies.  In this role Steve and his team have consulted to organisations including Jaguar Land Rover, Adidas, Sony, Sainsburys, The Royal Household and a multiple Universities and educational establishments across UK and Ireland.

He is also a Course Trainer for the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) Academy and has developed and delivered training for the Institute for over 15 years.

He has lectured at Liverpool John Moore’s University, Sheffield Hallam University, Sydney University, Hong Kong Polytechnic and most recently over the past two years has lectured at University of Greater Manchester on their Level 6 BSc FM Degree Apprenticeship program.

Steve is a Building Services Engineer by background and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of New South Wales (Australian Graduate School of Management).  

Tony has worked in the facilities management industry for almost 15 years, following a fulfilling career in the British Army, and board-level roles in an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport.

Initially working with Johnson Controls (GWS) in account and global technical roles for 4 years, he relocated to Penang, Malaysia with JLL, to lead a global semiconductor manufacturing client account in APAC.

After holding regional and global engineering leadership roles in JLL Work Dynamics, he returned to the UK and after 2 years with Mitie, is now working with CBRE as a Global Technical Excellence Lead.

A member of the IWFM Strategic Leaders Forum Committee, Tony is dedicated to advancing the industry at all levels and fostering the development of future talent, especially at the interface of operations, data, technology and sustainability.

Tony is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a Fellow of IWFM.

Key Areas of expertise:

• Outsourced Workplace and Facilities Operations
• Engineering Strategy and Leadership
• Human-Centered Design Facilitation
• Continuous Improvement/Business Excellence Methodologies

Sean Gibbons is a strategic FM and real estate consultant with over 30 years of international experience, advising global corporations on how to optimize their FM and real estate strategies to drive efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability and long-term value.

As former Global Head of Facility Management & Real Estate for a leading life sciences company, Sean spearheaded innovative workplace, real estate, and facility management strategies. He managed a global portfolio across 100+ countries and achieved a landmark industry first: securing ISO 41001 certification - the first for a global function in any industry and the first in the pharmaceutical sector.

Prior to that, as Head of Facilities Management and Lead Consultant for the largest multi-disciplinary consultancy in the Middle East, Sean delivered high-impact strategic projects for government entities in the region, alongside multinational corporations across Europe, North and Latin America, and Asia.

Sean holds an MSc in Facilities Management, serves on the British Standards Institute’s technical committee for ISO FM standards, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management and the Chartered Management Institute.

Ella Gladwin is a Chartered Management Degree Apprentice at Thermatic Technical FM, building her career in facilities management while studying for a Chartered Business Management degree, where she is currently projected to achieve a first. Her work spans customer and stakeholder engagement, operational projects and business development. A nationally recognised early‑career professional, Ella is the Winner of the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers Future Young Leader Award 2026 and an IWFM Newcomer of the Year Award finalist. She is involved with the IWFM Education SIG, championing early‑career development and promoting FM as a career of choice.

A certified member of IWFM, with a Level 6 Extended Diploma in Facilities Management, I have over twenty years experience in FM. 

After success in a number of challenging roles with both service provider and client organisations, including public and private sector positions in varied challenging environments, I am now Head of Facilities for Thames Valley Police, managing the delivery of support services to a diverse justice sector estate.  My expertise includes manufacturing industries and diverse high security environments, including justice sector and regulated nuclear industries.

I am also a committed volunteer for IWFM, which I have supported for well over a decade.  I am proud to have led a project which culminated in the launch of the NEC4 Facilities Management Contract in 2021.  I have served as a Committee Member of the International Special Interest Group since 2016 and in November 2022, I was delighted to be elected by my peers as Chair of the ISIG.  Having stepped down as Chair due to pressures of work, I remained a Committee Member and now support ISIG’s successor, the Strategic Leaders Forum in the same role.

I am a judge for the prestigious IWFM Impact Awards 2025.  In previous roles I also shared my FM knowledge and experience with manufacturing industries, as a member of Make UK’s Regional Advisory Board for the Midlands.  I am also an Associate Member of RICS.

Aderemi Makinde CIWFM is a strategic facilities and workplace leader with extensive experience managing multi-site portfolios across corporate, commercial, and residential environments in the UK and internationally. He has a strong track record in establishing FM functions, embedding statutory compliance and governance, and creating high-performing workplace environments that enable business performance.

His expertise spans management of hard and soft services, health and safety, sustainability initiatives, energy management, and the development of FM strategies aligned with organisational goals. He has delivered measurable improvements in operational efficiency, cost optimisation, service quality, and customer satisfaction, including substantial budget savings, enhanced compliance, and large-scale process improvements.

He has held senior roles across the financial services, e-commerce, academia, and real estate industries, leading multidisciplinary teams, major projects, and strategic FM transformation programmes.

Alongside his FM leadership roles, Aderemi is committed to developing the profession. He has served as an associate lecturer on the MSc Facilities Management programme at the University of Lagos and currently serves as a Professional Tutor and Assessor with the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM), helping to shape the next generation of FM leaders. He also holds a UK Level 3 Award in Education and Training.

Aderemi holds an MSc in Facilities Management from Heriot-Watt University (UK) and is a Certified Member of IWFM. He holds the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety and is a member of both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), reflecting his multidisciplinary strength across facilities, safety, procurement, and operational management.

INVIDA is an estates and facilities software platform, designed for the owners and operators of property portfolios of all type, size and complexity.

WPS combines deep sector expertise, local knowledge and a family-owned, purpose-driven approach to act as a strategic partner for whole-property solutions. From repairs and maintenance, plus heating & compliance to facilities management – we provide a one-stop-shop for property services optimisation and energy transition.