Alison Watson

She created the innovative “Design Engineer Construct!” (DEC) accredited learning programme for secondary school students, supported by world-leading companies, professional bodies and universities through the groundbreaking ‘Adopt A School’ scheme. DEC is delivered in schools throughout the UK and internationally and is embedded in social value strategies that lead to a wide range of technical and professional career opportunities for young people.

Having established Class Of Your Own in Australia, and with Brisbane 2032 on the horizon, Alison is working with inspirational educators to encourage children and young people to join ‘Team Construction’, leveraging once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to work alongside industry professionals while they’re still in school.

Still hugely passionate about the geospatial profession, Alison was President of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors’ (CICES) from 2024-2025. She was nominated CICES Honorary Fellow in 2019 and presented with the CICES Richard Carter Prize in 2014. She received The Survey Association’s President’s Award in 2013.

Also in 2025, Alison was awarded Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and in 2019, was recognised by Heriot-Watt University with an Honorary Degree in Engineering.

Alison was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in Her Majesty The Queen’s 2018 New Year Honours for services to education.

Alison represented Youth and Learning on the 2015/7 Construction Industry Training Board.

Council and led the ‘BIM4Education’ research project which focused on improving technical teaching in the education sector.