John founded EFAS in 2024 after an 11-year tenure with Lendlease as Global Head of
Façades. Through EFAS he offers strategic façade advice to businesses, government agencies and trade bodies across the globe. He has 40 years’ experience in the façade industry and has had the privilege to be involved in many prestigious facade projects around the world.
John particularly likes volunteering some of his time to the CWCT, SFE and some guest lecturing on the MSc Façade Engineering course.
Q1 – How did your journey in Façade Engineering begin and what initially sparked your interest in the field?
In 1988, Ireland was in the depths of recession, and as a young engineer, I moved to Melbourne to get some valuable experience in general construction and engineering. I was quickly drawn to high rise construction and became heavily involved in the project management of façades. As a curious young engineer, I was intrigued and fascinated with unitized façades on high rise buildings. This was the start of my involvement with the façade industry.
Q2 – From founding companies to leading global façade packages, what key leadership lessons have you learned throughout your career?
I employ the KIS method – keep it simple! I like to be direct, communicate simple messages, be fair and respectful, listen well, be true to my core values, show true leadership which always means putting your head above the parapet and being prepared to fight for what you believe in. The façade industry is a tough business and does require you to stand your ground on principles and values that you believe in.
I truly believe in mentoring and encouraging the next generation of engineers and I try my best to make myself approachable in this regard.
A very wise ex-military construction veteran once told me that lessons can be ‘identified’ but they are not ‘lessons learnt’ until a process has resulted to mitigate that risk. If the same risk keeps occurring, then the lesson hasn’t been ‘learnt’….. wise words that I will never forget.
Q3 – Can you share an example where you challenged conventional thinking to achieve a positive outcome in façade engineering, particularly in health, safety, or sustainability?
A defining moment and time for sustainability in façades was the CWCT AGM in October 2020. I had asked David Metcalfe (Director of the CWCT) for some time to speak about Sustainability at the AGM. I effectively challenged the industry in terms of ‘are we doing enough?’ and ‘are we there yet?’ considering the UK 2019 legislation to be Net Zero by 2050. I really feel that this was a turning point for our industry, where there was a real positive response to my challenge. We set up a sustainability committee within the CWCT and many talented and brilliant people from our industry put their shoulders to the wheel and some excellent guidance and publications have been produced as a result. I would like to use this platform to thank all those involved (past and present) in making a positive and significant shift in how our industry is approaching sustainability. Without a collective effort we would not have achieved what we have done to date.
Q4 – How has the conversation around sustainable façades evolved in recent decades, and what are, in your view, the most pressing future challenges and opportunities?
The conversation around sustainability in façades has progressed immeasurably over the last few years. There is a real willingness to do better, and I try to see the positive in all that is happening across our industry.
There are several future challenges but also opportunities - time is against us in the race for net zero, however the willingness from the people within our industry is beyond exemplary. A significant challenge is that there is no comprehensive regulation in place so the environment of trying to do the right thing is competing with the commercial pressures of the marketplace - this makes progression very difficult at times.
Education is another challenge and opportunity whereby as an industry we need to raise the collective knowledge base to a level where we all understand the complexities of the sustainability landscape and are speaking the same language in terms of consolidating and implementing our future plans – this is where the CWCT and SFE can be most effective.
We particularly need a strong cohort of young façade engineers and practitioners coming through the ranks that are empowered to drive the standards higher, to not take no for an answer and start making a push to resolving what a net zero carbon roadmap looks like for the façade industry.
Q5 – Given your long-standing involvement with CWCT, how important is industry collaboration in driving progress in health, safety, and sustainability within the façade sector?
Collaboration is the only way to achieve success in terms of health, safety and sustainability. Having coordinated groups of like-minded people from across our industry working together is key to successful outcomes. We have achieved so many good outcomes, both in the CWCT and the SFE, through collaboration and my wish is that this continues. It does mean that leaders need to be brave and put themselves forward for volunteering in these spaces. The senior leaders in our industry must continue to encourage our younger façade practitioners to become involved in volunteering in the various forums and continue to collaborate.
Q6 – What is one piece of advice you would offer aspiring façade engineers entering the field today?
I haven’t one but a few pieces of advice. Always be curious and challenge the status quo. Be respectful, professional, have integrity, and hold yourself to account with the core values that you believe in. Find yourself a mentor(s) in the areas of the façade industry that you want to develop a skillset. Join the SFE and see if your employer can give you access to contribute in some way to the CWCT. Investigate the MSc in Façade Engineering and consider completing it – I would encourage everyone (young and old) in the façade industry to consider this – you are never too old to learn something new.
Q7 – What are your interests outside of work?
I am a keen open water swimmer (paddler these days) and have completed some particularly nice marathon swims in the past including Lake Zurich (28km swim) in 2010. I had a failed attempt at the English Channel in 2011 but still feel immensely proud to have given it a go. These days I like to paddle in the sea and continue to swim through the winter period in the Irish Sea – you know you are alive when you jump into 6-degree sea water and have a paddle. Some would call it madness, but I call it great fun and a great way to get your vitamin ‘sea’.