Academic becomes youngest CIOB East Midlands chair

Dr Mukesh Kashyap, a construction management academic at Nottingham Trent University, has been elected the youngest-ever chair of the East Midlands branch of the Chartered Institute of Building.

The appointment coincides with the launch of Novus by CIOB East Midlands – a forum aimed at construction students and young professionals giving them a voice within the CIOB and providing them with a programme of relevant and topical events.

Kashyap who lectures in the university’s School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, has 15 years’ construction experience in building and civil engineering projects in India, Nigeria and the UK.

He will help drive up CIOB membership and be responsible for organising regional seminars, conferences and continuing professional development events for members.

Kashyap said: "This position has provided me with an excellent opportunity to be able to do something for young professionals, and particularly students on construction-related courses.

"In the current downturn it is vital for the industry, professional bodies, and educational institutions to continue to work together to provide youngsters with the right skills, training and professional learning, as we all have a responsibility for developing the professionals for the future."

Kashyap moved to the UK to study construction management at both postgraduate and PhD level.

His doctorate focused on developing a safety-integrated process model, which led to the development of a decision support system to avoid structural collapses in refurbishment schemes.