NextGen Mentoring Programme

Atepheh is an Associate Director in AECOM Interior Design & Strategy team with specific interest in user requirements-centred design focusing on how built environment can function to support their occupants' needs. She has a strong background in understanding and developing initial analytical data and business objectives, into creative solutions that provide effective long-lasting design. She is recognised as a trusted advisor by her clients and a visible team lead who dedicates time to the driving of client-focused design, innovation, lessons learnt and mentoring colleagues with a strong emphasis on future-proof design, sustainability, inclusivity, value-for-money, safety, wellbeing, and award-winning quality. 

I have worked in the commercial office sector for 15 years across the public and private sectors. My career started in design, then following the 2008 crash I transferred to move management and workplace strategy. I have a BSc in Industrial Product Design and a MSc in Construction Project Management. I am a geek at heart, and love data as well as the latest tech and apps to help us work smarter. 

I can empathise with the unique challenges (and opportunities!) of working in Scotland. The includes working in large busy corporate environments as well as occasionally being the only team member in Scotland and working remotely with teams across the globe. 

Elliot is Property Director for HFD Group, a developer who specialise in delivering best in class projects, predominantly within the office sector. Elliot has a well-rounded experience within the property industry, working for both large corporate real estate advisers and client-side managers.

Prior to joining HFD, he spent 8 years working in London, most notably for CBRE IM managing a number of UK pension fund mandates. Previous roles have involved valuation, agency and transactional teams but his main area of interest has been projects involving repositioning and refurbishing office buildings. Through his career, Elliot has been active within intern/graduate programmes and always welcomes the opportunity to help those starting out in the industry.

Jenny started her professional career as a Chartered Building Surveyor before specialising in Construction Project Management. With a strong interest in workplace design and relationships between place, people and technology she established Workplace Scotland in 2021 to provide bespoke consultancy services to support organisations in creating excellent physical and virtual workplace environments.

Prior to this she had worked for both large construction consultancies and has client side teams. Having experience on both sides gives her valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that organisations have in construction and workplace projects.

Gary is the Construction Director and Head of the Glasgow Office for MPACT Group, a specialist Fit Out and Refurbishment Contractor.  Gary comes from a Project Management background specialising in the delivery of complex Office Refurbishment Projects for UK Plc’s.

A former BCO NextGen Chair Gary started in the industry with a Basic CSCS Card and some borrowed PPE.  He has progressed to a Board Level Position through investing in himself and others around him.  Gary credits his progression and growth in the industry to his self-development, network and mentors.  Gary is keen to develop the future talent in the industry.

Gillian has over 40 years experience working initially in interiors, specialsing in workplace and strategic Consultancy, across a wide range of business sectors. She joined MLA in 2015, as a Director in the Glasgow office, after working for a number of other practices, most notably BDG architecture + design, haa design, BDP and DEGW. While at DEGW Gillian was introduced to Workplace and Building consultancy in which she developed a keen interest and specialism.

She believes that buildings and interiors should be designed around people, and as designers we should engage with a variety of people throughout the design process. This way we will achieve beautiful and meaningful buildings which delight, inspire and endure.

Simon joined Cooper Cromar in 1998, having started his career at practices in Manchester and Singapore. Positive, enthusiastic and patient, he balances a creative eye and skill for design with a wealth of technical expertise.

Simon is recognised in the business for his work ethic and determination to solve any problem that comes his way. As a natural people person, he is equally comfortable collaborating with Clients as he is talking to other industry consultants, which, when combined with an unflappable nature, makes him the perfect man to lead multi-disciplinary design teams on complex projects.

Popular with Clients and a mentor for the next generation of young architects, he’s even brushing up in his leisure time on his drawing and painting skills, which some might say is just showing off.

Allan is a Technical Director currently in his 24^th year with Hulley & Kirkwood Consulting Engineers, having started as a Mechanical Engineer in 1997 in their Glasgow office. Allan left behind a prior 10-year career in heavy engineering on the Clyde, having been ‘seduced’ by the ‘glamour’ of Building Services Engineering, construction and consultancy. His experience in building engineering services design is extremely broad and diverse in all respects e.g. sector, value, complexity and duration. Whilst he has contributed to projects of all sizes, he has more recently led the MEP design on some landmark developments in Scotland i.e. City of Glasgow Colleges and Aberdeen Arena and Exhibition Centre (P&J Live).

Whilst relatively new to the BCO, having joined in 2019, he has enjoyed delivering a number of successful commercial office commissions around the country with some notable examples in Glasgow’s IFSD (AQ5 Capella and 55 Douglas Street).

Allan is in his fourth year as an External Examiner for the ‘BEng (Hons) Building Services’ Degree at Glasgow Caledonian University. As an alumnus and where he gained his first degree, he finds it particularly gratifying to play a small part in the development of the future crop of Building Services engineers and their higher education. He is a member of CIBSE and gained chartered status in 2014.

With over 40 years experience Andy leads the team responsible for office design, workplace experience and  the cultural change support for hybrid working for all NatWest locations and colleagues. Andy is a member of the leadership team in Natwest Property Services and drives change, innovation and improvements across all aspects of the colleague workplace experience.

Andy is a member of the Board of Management of the BCO, Chair of the BCO Occupier Committee, a former member of the BCO Scotland committee where he took responsibility to set up Nextgen in Scotland and continues to be a strong supporter of BCO activities across Scotland.

Andy’s passionate about place making and the role of the office in supporting a great work place experience.