FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) has added exceptional experience to its Management Committee as it continues to lead the Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) sector towards a more sustainable future. The committee brings together professionals with diverse expertise, strategic insight, and technical excellence to drive progress across the industry.
In a strong year for Management Committee nominations, Andy Thorn, Managing Director at Synapsys Solutions and Oli Barker, Engineering Director at Lloret, join the committee, while Graeme Rees, Global EcoXpert Leader – Building Automation & Security at Schneider Electric, has been re-elected for a further three-year term.
Thorn joins the committee with more than 30 years in the BEMS industry, having held roles at Trend, Honeywell, and now Synapsys, where he became Managing Director in 2023. A long-time BCIA member, he values the association’s role in bringing competitors together to share knowledge and best practice.
Thorn said: “This collaborative environment is vital to our industry’s continued growth, by joining the committee I want to help the BCIA keep training young people, lobbying for better legislation, and raising awareness of the important work our sector does. To help close the skills gap in our sector, I want to raise the profile of what the industry does and get both parents and young people engaged and interested early.”
Barker, brings 18 years of experience in the controls industry to the committee. At Lloret, he leads the engineering department and has expanded BMS delivery with new MSI and ICT divisions to offer fully integrated solutions. He is dedicated to improving building performance through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable outcomes.
Barker said: “I am thrilled to be joining the committee. I want to strengthen the BCIA’s position as the leading voice in system integration and digital practice while helping to develop skills pathways for new engineers. I really can’t wait to get going!”
Rees commented on his re-election: “I’m deeply grateful to the membership for trusting me with their vote to serve another term. It’s been an honour to contribute to the BCIA leadership team and help strengthen its foundation and professionalism. Looking ahead, I’m committed to driving greater recognition for our industry, showcasing its vital role in energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and smarter buildings.”
Committee Members take up their roles from 1 January 2026 for a term of three years.
This year will also see changes to the Presidential leadership team with Jen Vickers of Crown House Technologies succeeding as President and Ron Purcell of Siemens appointed as Vice President. Stacey Lucas completes her term as President and will move to Immediate Past President. All of the Presidential leadership terms commence on 1 March.
Wednesday 14 January at 11:00am
Building Management Systems (BMS) have long been used to control the heart of a building – monitoring and controlling its essential systems such as lighting, ventilation, heating and air conditioning. Facilities Managers want the best visibility to help detect and deal with concerns before they become issues.
This webinar brings together the experts from energy network provider, E.ON along with FM thought leaders to discuss moving from a reactive service to a proactive service. By identifying energy issues early and automatically, instead of occupants reporting issues, then potential faults can be identified early and remedied. The BMS does this before the problem occurs by using smart alerting and EMC support services.
Panel:
- Sara Bean: Editor FMJ (Facilities Management Journal)
- Nick Westlake: Energy and Service Delivery Manager at E.ON Control Solutions
- Sunil Shah, the author of IWFM’s Energy Management Good Practice Guide and MD of Acclaro Advisory
- David Cermak, Regional Facilities Manager for David Lloyd Clubs
To register for the webinar which will be taking place on 14 January 2026 at 11:00am click here.
