CIOB announces ARU professor as next president
Sustainable construction expert takes key role at Chartered Institute of Building
Professor Saul Humphrey
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) sustainable construction expert Professor Saul Humphrey has been announced as the new President of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).
The CIOB is the world’s largest professional body for construction management and leadership. Established in 1834, it now has 48,000 members across 100 countries.
As CIOB President for 2026-27, Professor Humphrey plans to champion sustainability and climate literacy across the built environment profession.
He believes construction professionals have an important role to play in responding to the growing climate pressures facing the industry, and he is encouraging construction professionals to place these issues at the heart of their decision making.
“If we are serious about responding to the challenges facing society, then professionalism is how we do it.
“We need to understand carbon, resilience, materials and impact, not as abstract ideas, but as part of everyday decision making. In short, climate literacy needs to become a core part of what it means to be a professional in the built environment.
“Through CIOB, through our learning, through our CPD and through the Academy, we have the opportunity to make climate literacy and resilience part of the baseline of professional knowledge across our industry. If we can do that, then we will not just talk about change – we will deliver it.”
Saul Humphrey, Professor of Sustainable Construction Management at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)Professor Humphrey is part of ARU’s School of Engineering and the Built Environment. ARU offers fully accredited BSc degree courses in Construction Management at its Chelmsford campus and at ARU Peterborough.
Throughout his career he has been a strong advocate for professionalism, sustainability and raising standards across the built environment sector. Alongside his work at ARU and his own sustainable development consultancy practice, a B Corp called Saul D Humphrey LLP, he holds a range of trustee, ambassador, chair and non-executive roles.
“I am delighted to welcome Saul into the role of CIOB President. Saul’s experience as a hugely respected practitioner and academic will help us continue strengthening links between industry and academia. His vast experience and commitment to sustainability will help to elevate CIOB’s environmental sustainability strategy further.
“I’m looking forward to working with the next president to seize opportunities to support the industry in its transition to a global green economy and continued professionalisation to speed up the uptake of retrofit and accelerate sustainable construction at scale.”
Dr Victoria Hills, CEO at CIOB