On 25 June 2025, the Concrete Society’s flagship technical conference, Evolving Concrete, made a much-anticipated return to the Building Centre in London—its first edition since 2019. The event was a resounding success, drawing over 100 delegates for a dynamic day of learning, discussion, and networking, supported by 19 expert speakers and five generous sponsors.
The day began with a warm welcome from Society President Mike Amodeo, who unveiled the Society’s refreshed branding, featuring a modern colour palette and a new logo. He also announced the upcoming launch of the Society’s redesigned website, set to go live the following week.
Session One: Fresh Concrete
Chaired by Society CEO Claire Ackerman, the first session focused on innovations in fresh concrete. Helen Frape (GCP/Saint-Gobain) and George McArthur (Balfour Beatty VINCI) explored the digital monitoring of fresh concrete, building on the Society’s recently published Good Concrete Guide. A lively panel discussion followed, delving into lower carbon and innovative concretes, with insights from John Reddy (Ecocem), Jordan Smith (Master Builders Solutions), and Jon Knights (JKMC). The session concluded with a compelling case study presentation by Adam Green (Byrne Brothers), showcasing real-world applications of modern concrete.
Session Two: Structural Concrete
The second session spotlighted structural concrete and emerging research. Imogen Ridley (University of Leeds) presented her work on external edge restraint in reinforced concrete walls, while Karla Khangara (University of Manchester) discussed the potential of kaolinite nano-clay. Session Chair Owen Brooker (Structronix) then joined Suren Nadarajah (Praeter Engineering) to introduce the third edition of the Society’s Technical Report 43 on post-tensioned concrete floors. The session wrapped up with updates on the upcoming Eurocode 2, presented by Tony Jones (The Concrete Centre), Professor Robert Vollum (Imperial College), and Owen Brooker.
Session Three: Reuse of Concrete
The final session, chaired by Enda McKenna (McFarland Consulting), focused on extending whole life and reuse. Enda also discussed best practices in assessment and repair, whilst Niall McGettigan (Queen’s University Belfast), winner of the Northern Ireland Sustainability Challenge, shared strategies for achieving net zero carbon through design and disassembly. The session concluded with Craig Hannam (Fosroc) on extending asset life through repair, and Elaine Toogood (The Concrete Centre) on upcycling demolition waste.
The day concluded with a relaxed Drinks Reception, generously sponsored by UK Concrete Show, offering attendees a chance to connect and reflect on the day’s insights.
Feedback from delegates has been overwhelmingly positive, with 100% of attendees stating they would recommend the event to colleagues or peers—a fantastic endorsement as planning begins for the 2026 edition.
The Concrete Society extends heartfelt thanks to this year’s sponsors—Fosroc, Ecocem, Master Builders Solutions, The Concrete Centre, and UK Concrete Show—for their invaluable support.
We look forward to welcoming you to Evolving Concrete 2026!
