Notting Hill Genesis chief and former Building editor also awarded gongs

Alun Griffiths is among a host of construction names recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The founder of the Welsh civil engineering contractor of the same name, which was bought by Tarmac in 2019, has been handed a CBE for services to the construction industry and to the community in Wales.

Katherine Davies, chief executive of housing association Notting Hill Genesis, has also been given a CBE for services to housing. Notting Hill Genesis builds around 1,500 homes a year and is one of the G15 group of London’s largest housing associations.

Platinum Jubilee

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This year’s birthday honours were announced two weeks early to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

The birthday honours have been announced two weeks early this year to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a four-day celebration which took place over the weekend to mark the monarch’s 70 years on the throne.

Other names on the list include former Building editor Denise Chevin, who has been awarded an MBE for services to the built environment.

Chevin was the editor of Building between 2004 and 2010, following two years as editor of Building’s sister title Housing Today between 2002 and 2004. 

Since 2011, she has worked as a policy adviser to the Construction Industry Council and other industry groups, writing reports on a range of issues including skills, competence and the green agenda.

Infrastructure Client Group (ICG) head of programmes Melissa Zanocco has also been given an OBE for services to the built environment. Zanocco is part of an ICG team working with the Construction Leadership Council to help the industry rebound from the covid-19 pandemic.

Architect Nicholas Groves-Raines, director of Edinburgh-based Groves-Raines Architects, is another industry name awarded an MBE. Groves-Raines, a heritage specialist who has worked on restorations of some of Scotland’s most historic buildings, has been recognised for services to architecture, heritage and conservation.

Alistair McAuley, founder of materials distributor TradeKart, has also been given an OBE for services to business, the construction industry and to charity.

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