Ola Obadara named CIOB Vice President

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has appointed Ola Obadara FCIOB as its Vice President for 2025/26, marking the first time in the institute’s 191-year history that a black woman has held the position.

Ola, a CIOB Client Champion and Fellow since 2021, currently serves as group director for property projects at the City of London Corporation. She has been a CIOB member since 2003 and is also a committee member at the British Standards Institution, where she is contributing to the development of inclusive PPE.

Announcing her appointment, Ola said she was “grateful for the privilege” of serving as global Vice President, adding:

“As the first Black woman to assume this role in the institute’s 191-year history, I recognise the responsibility that comes with this office and I look forward to serving the institute that has been instrumental in my career development, with dedication and pride.”

Ola has identified research, innovation and technology as her three priorities for the role, stressing that the sector cannot rely solely on recruitment to address the skills shortage. She called for faster adoption of technological solutions, including AI, to help deliver projects more efficiently.

“Innovation and technology will empower us to deliver better and faster, and we must lead the way in embedding these advancements throughout the design and construction lifecycle,” she said.

Ola will succeed current president Paul Gandy FCIOB and will take up the presidency herself in 2027, following Saul Humphrey FCIOB.

With over 50,000 members worldwide, CIOB is the largest professional body for construction management and leadership.