Anna Shephard has been elected President of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) for 2026/27. She will use her presidential year to promote greater pride in building engineering, encourage higher standards and attract the next generation of skilled professionals to the sector.
Shephard is Operations Director at OSM Ventilation, an NG Bailey Group company that engineers, manufactures and delivers industrial ventilation and ductwork solutions for the construction industry. She has nearly two decades of experience in construction and building engineering, including roles in health and safety, operations and senior business leadership.
Speaking at the annual BESA President’s Lunch in London, Shephard said building services now account for more than 50% of the value of most construction projects. She highlighted digital infrastructure, healthcare, life sciences and the energy transition among the sector’s fastest-growing areas.
She also cited BESA’s newly published Top 30 M&E Contractors Report, saying the sector’s collective turnover had increased from £4.7 billion (approx. $6.3 billion) to more than £6 billion (approx. $8.0 billion) since the pandemic. She said businesses were adopting automation, artificial intelligence, integration and better use of data to improve quality and make better technical decisions earlier.
Shephard’s priorities also include competence, collaboration and efforts to attract young people into building engineering. Her experience with retentions and other payment practices led her to become more closely involved with BESA, where she chaired the Legal and Commercial Committee for many years.
“We are heavily involved in some of the fastest-growing sectors, including digital infrastructure, healthcare, life sciences and the energy transition. This creates a positive outlook for the future,” said Shephard.
