2026 is go: Mairead Morgan of Grimshaw

As I look ahead to 2026, I’m conscious of how fortunate I’ve been to learn from the people and projects around me. Being invited to act as a judge for awards such as the Digital Construction Awards 2026 and RIBA East Awards has given me a valuable opportunity to step outside my own work and gain perspective on how practice, technology and ideas are evolving across the industry. Reading submissions and hearing directly from teams and founders continues to inform and challenge my own thinking.

I’m also looking forward to continuing my role as a regional lead for Women in BIM, taking part in panels, events and mentoring conversations that support greater inclusion and knowledge-sharing across the digital built environment. Connecting with women who are shaping change in different ways remains and continues to be an important and motivating part of my professional life.

At Grimshaw, I value the chance to contribute to complex projects such as the Paddington Over Station Development, Athens International Airport Expansion Programme, Heathrow Expansion Programme, Eden Morecambe and various international projects, working alongside a thoughtful and talented design technology team.

As my career has gradually shifted towards broader leadership and advocacy, I’m keen to spend more time writing articles and white papers that create space for reflection and shared learning, something I’ve aspired to for a long time and hope to develop further in 2026.

In my opinion, the industry needs to focus more on trust, alignment and genuine collaboration across all stakeholders, and less on the reactive firefighting that often surrounds digital delivery. Earlier, more considered planning – particularly at briefing stage – is critical to clarify digital scope, ensure cleaner and more useful data throughout the project lifecycle, and establish realistic, shared expectations of what digital approaches can deliver.

I also believe the AEC industry must do more to educate and guide clients on their digital outcomes: what information/data they actually need, how it will be used, and the long-term value of the data being generated. As data becomes central to smart cities, digital twins and operations, advising clients from day one is essential to ensure they realise the full value of their digital assets. Without this early focus, even the most advanced tools and platforms can fail to deliver meaningful impact.

This year is shaping up to be about finding stability in work and home life while focusing on health and fitness. I’m planning to take on four organised 10km trail running events and spend as much time as possible swimming in open water. A friend recently recommended the podcast The Wellness Scoop, which I’m looking forward to exploring in more.

I’m also an avid reader and currently loving Kristin Hannah’s books: I’m currently reading The Nightingale, and I loved The Women. I’m also a fan of Daisy Jones & The Six, both the book and the series: worth reading or watching if you haven’t heard of it. On the music front, I recently discovered an incredible contemporary classical Irish artist Jamie Duffy and highly recommend his latest album.

As a family, we’re excited to attend several festivals in 2026, including Green Man in the Brecon Beacons. We’re also planning to visit the First Light Festival in Lowestoft, a free, kid-friendly festival right on the beach: worth checking out if you are based in the east. 

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