'ConTech is…' A Tripod

The built environment does not have a technology problem. It has a three-groups-do-not-agree problem. Industry, startups and government all say they want it to work better. They rarely want it in the same order, on the same timescale, or for the same reasons. That misalignment, not the technology, is what slows everything down. Take a leg away and the tripod falls over. So we are putting three of them on the same stage. Vincenzo Reale of Arup, Anthony Buckley-Thorp of Prolo, and Arushan Mahendrakumar, of Connected Places Catapult and now Procore. Eight minutes each, on the subject rather than their own work. Just the view from where each of them stands. Kindly hosted by Arup, who are giving us their auditorium and covering the refreshments. Which means this one is completely free. No ticket price, nothing to pay on the door, drinks and food on them. How the evening works This is not a talk and listen evening. The speakers give you something to think with, then you get a say in an industry conversation you would not normally be part of. ✋ A yes or no question to the room, and a show of hands. 🎤 Three speakers, eight minutes each: the industry lens, the tech lens and the government lens. 🔁 The same question again, to see whether anyone moved. 💬 Small groups, and everyone gets a say. The speakers 🏗️ Vincenzo Reale, Arup · LinkedIn A structural engineer specialising in geometrically complex structures and the AI Strategy Programme Manager for the Arup Oasys LS-Dyna group, overseeing the application of AI and digital technologies for physical simulation. He speaks for the large practice: professional risk, long timelines, and clients who need certainty before anyone moves. The industry leg. 🚀 Anthony Buckley-Thorp, Prolo · LinkedIn Head of Product at Prolo, a London built environment technology startup. He started at Arup before crossing to the other side of the table, which makes him the before and the after in one career, and unusually good at understanding why promising tools stall between the demo and the site. The startup leg. 🏛️ Arushan Mahendrakumar, Connected Places Catapult and now Procore · LinkedIn He advised governments internationally on digital construction adoption, translating BIM and ISO 19650 into national policy, one of few product leaders who has also sat on the government side of the table. Procurement as the lever, the mandate as the template, and what happens when that template meets an industry that isn't ready for it. The government leg, joining us on video. Your facilitator 🎯 Paul Woodley, Spatial Clarity · LinkedIn Paul founded 'ConTech is…' and runs the 'Tech is… Creating Conversations' series, curating the speakers and topics with each evening's organising team of subject matter experts. A product strategy and discovery consultant, nineteen years across thirty-five-plus companies in construction tech, proptech and fintech. Getting people who disagree to a shared, evidence-backed answer is the job he is hired to do. ⚡ Only a handful of places on this one, so grab one early. About these evenings Part of 'Tech is… Creating Conversations'. Short talks, then the room takes over. It is a conversation, not a lecture, and there is no Q&A because the second half is the questions.