McCormack takes up Presidency

Donal McCormack

The British Constructional Steelwork Association elected its first Irish President at its AGM in July. Donal McCormack, Managing Director of the Terence McCormack Group, studied civil engineering at the University of Ulster and worked for consulting engineer Dr I G Doran & Partners before joining his father’s firm in 1976. He will preside over the launch of the BCSA’s Sustainability Charter and the association’s centenary next year. He has identified improving co-operation and the flow of information within the construction industry as a key issue to be addressed.

Richard Barrett, Managing Director of Barrett Steel Buildings, was elected Deputy President.

Speaking at the association’s annual lunch immediately afterwards, outgoing President Tom Goldberg  said: “Recognition of the benefits of steel in construction is spreading among designers and architects.”

Principal guest Desmond Scott, Chairman of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering,  said teamwork and collaboration was growing in the construction industry. “Increasingly, I believe, stakeholders in our industry are coming to realise that working together is the best way to achieve success.”

At last year’s BCSA awards, Mr Scott’s predecessor as ACE chairman David Upton had proposed a joint initiative to bring consultants and steelwork contractors together to look at the communication of information between the design and construction stages of a project. Mr Scott said that the two organisations were now working together on a project “to identify design activity and information exchange requirements on steel construction contracts and to develop good practice guidance”. The Institution of  Structural Engineers and the Construction Confederation were also involved, and the aim was to report by June 2006.

“Teamwork and collaboration is key to moving our industry forward and key to achieving successful outcomes for our clients and our businesses,” he said. Click here to see Donal McCormack’s profile.