MPA takes on a century of experience
Five new appointments bring 100 years of industry experience to Mineral Products Association
FIVE professionals from the across the construction, concrete, and industrial minerals sectors have taken up new roles at the Mineral Products Association (MPA).
Jon Flitney, Michael Conroy, Liam Forde, Steve Callow, and Mike Haynes bring 100 years of industry experience between them into their new roles at the MPA. They are the Association’s latest recruits following a series of appointments earlier in the year, including new MPA chief executive Jon Prichard.
Jon Flitney has joined MPA Cement as energy and climate change manager and will be working with the MPA Cement Climate Change and CO2 Reduction Group, providing support to sector decarbonization and associated policies. He joins from the British Ceramic Confederation (BCC) where he worked across energy, environment, climate change, and decarbonization policy areas for more than six years. He also previously worked on air quality and environmental protection for local authorities and the Environment Agency covering a variety of manufacturing industries.
Michael Conroy has joined as manager of environment, safety and regulatory affairs for MPA Cement. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the mineral products industry and since 2016 this has been focused on environmental management, compliance, permitting, and regulation across various sectors within the industry. His first role in the industry was operating a long-reach excavator extracting sand and gravel and loading it on to a field conveyor system. He has a degree in environment and economics and is currently studying a Master of Law (LLM) in environmental law and practice.
Mr Conroy’s role at MPA will involve working closely with members in the cement sector and liaising with the environmental regulators and relevant government departments on behalf of the members to ensure the sector is recognized in a positive and beneficial way. He is secretariat for the Cement Regulatory Interface Group (RIG), which meets regularly to discuss environmental regulatory matters that affect and impact the UK cement sector.
Liam Forde has joined BRMCA/MPA Ready-mixed Concrete as construction manager. His main responsibilities will be working with members, The Concrete Centre, and UK Concrete to promote safety, best practice, and ready-mixed concrete as the best solution for sustainable and resilient construction. A chartered civil engineer, he joins from BAM Nuttall having had a background in both design and site environments. His appointment will further strengthen the MPA Concrete team.
Mr Forde studied civil engineering at the University of Nottingham, mixing studies with a part-time role at an architectural services company where he produced planning application and building regulation drawings for small-scale developments. After graduating, he worked as part of the structures team for BAM Nuttall on the Network Rail CP5 framework, delivering many projects including the installation of Haywards Heath Station footbridge and the refurbishment of Mitre Bridge in London.
As part of his development and progress towards chartership, Mr Forde undertook a secondment to Peter Brett Associates (now part of Stantec) as a designer within their bridges team. There he gained experience in designing concrete highways structures, including a two-span integral bridge over a watercourse in North Whiteley. In the last few years, he has worked as a design manager, both at Dyer & Butler within their aviation team and back at BAM Nuttall working on the Network Rail CP6 Framework earthworks portfolio.
Steve Callow has joined the MPA as manager of masonry and concrete products. Previously specifications manager with Marshalls, his first task is to get involved in MPA Masonry and work with NHBC on the ‘Building for Tomorrow’ event series.
Mr Callow has been involved in construction for most of his life, having worked as a labourer and machine driver during his holidays while studying for a mathematics degree at the University of Wales, in Cardiff, helping to complete several interesting schemes, notably the Rhoose Point Redevelopment and the A43 Silverstone Bypass. After graduating he returned to the construction industry in a more commercial role, working in procurement for familiar names such as Carillion, Mowlem, and Morgan Sindall. In 2006 he moved into sales of precast and pre-stressed concrete products with companies such as Milbury Systems, Eleco, CPM Group, FP McCann, and Marshalls. Throughout his time in sales, Mr Callow has been a strong proponent of precast products.
Last but not least, Mike Haynes has joined the MPA as British Lime Association director. He joins the Association after 18 years in the lime industry working in sales and customer services teams responsible for construction and civil engineering markets and progressing to customer services team manager. Prior to this he worked as an engineer and project manager for contractors and consultants in those same markets, including time spent underground constructing tunnels and above ground constructing and repairing buildings and structures. He began his working life in the North Sea oil industry on semi-submersible exploration drilling rigs.
Jon Prichard, chief executive of the Mineral Products Association, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome this group of highly experienced professionals as they join our existing team of industry experts. Between them Jon, Michael, Liam, Steve, and Mike have a wealth of relevant experience that will strengthen and complement our ability to represent member interests, and to promote the essential role that mineral products play in our everyday lives.’
