Thursday 25 September 2025
Building Safety Act:
Kneejerk or Catalyst?
Speakers:
Damini Sharma
Alasdair Mealey
Venue: Society Building Fitzrovia, 55 Whitfield St, London W1T 4AH
Time: 7.45 - 10.15am
The Building Safety Act has begun to reshape the construction landscape – but is it the catalyst for meaningful, long-term change, or a kneejerk response that risks creating new barriers for the industry?
At this session, we will discuss the real-world impact the legislation is starting to have and whether it goes far enough to improve safety, or too far in ways that hinder delivery. We will also consider further change that may still be ahead, and what more the industry could be doing to prevent another Grenfell.
This session will explore:
• A summary of the Building Safety Act
• The impact it is having on the industry
• How much more change is likely to come
• What else the industry could be doing to reduce the risk of another Grenfell
Speakers
Damini Sharma
The OM Group
Damini is a qualified SHEQ and CDM Consultant with a strong focus on providing accessible and practical guidance across safety, health, environmental and quality management. With extensive experience supporting companies in the development and implementation of Integrated Management Systems, Damini brings a clear and pragmatic approach to navigating regulatory frameworks and construction compliance.
Alasdair Mealey
Laing O'Rourke
Alastair Woodbridge is Technical Leader for Building Safety at Laing O’Rourke, one of the UK’s leading construction and engineering firms. A Senior Architect with 20 years of experience across sectors including residential, infrastructure, commercial, and masterplanning, Alastair has worked on projects both in the UK and internationally. He has extensive expertise across all RIBA work stages and is particularly focused on the integration of DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) to improve safety and efficiency in construction. Formerly Associate Director at a major global architecture and design practice, he brings deep insight into technical design leadership, project coordination, and regulatory compliance.