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Tsigereda Lovegrove and I have just returned to Australia following the long-haul, 24-hour journey to and from London. We were there for a compact but intensive seven-day working visit, during which the International Building Quality Centre (IBQC) convened three formal in-person meetings with senior counterparts from Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

These engagements discussed international workstreams in building regulation, liability systems, and dispute resolution. The meetings were marked by thoughtful technical exchange, collegiality, and the reaffirmation of shared regulatory goals between European and Southern Hemisphere collaborators.

1. Lincoln’s Inn Meeting – Building Regulation & Dispute Resolution Dialogue

The first of the three meetings took place in the majestic Great Hall at Lincoln’s Inn and centred on alternative dispute resolution and comparative building regulatory frameworks.

Attendees:

• Adjunct Professor Kim Lovegrove, FRSN, MSE, RML – Chair, IBQC
• Tsigereda Lovegrove – Secretary, IBQC Dispute Resolution Committee
• Martin Burns – Head of ADR Research and Development, RICS
• Gary Strong, BSc(Hons), FRICS, FCIArb, C.BuildE, FCABE, FCILA – Global Building Standards Director, RICS
• Gemma Beasley – Dispute Resolution Services Operations Manager, RICS

Key Themes:

• Martin Burns emphasised the value of early-stage intervention in dispute resolution to avoid protracted litigation.
• Tsigereda Lovegrove and Gemma Beasley shared insights on improving dispute frameworks across jurisdictions.
• Tsigereda Lovegrove acknowledged Martin Burns for his key contributions to the development of the IBQC Dispute Resolution Guidelines for Emerging Economies, aimed at improving access to justice in low-resource jurisdictions.
• Adjunct Professor Lovegrove and Gary Strong exchanged updates on regulatory reforms in the UK and Australia, reinforcing shared values around public interest and compliance.

2. University College London (UCL) Meeting – Expanding Global Influence

The second meeting, hosted by Professor José Torero at University College London (UCL), featured high-level academic, legal, and regulatory input from across hemispheres.

Attendees:

• Professor José Torero – UCL
• Professor Robert Hertle – Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Stephanie Barwise KC
• Dame Judith Hackitt – IBQC Board Member
• Adjunct Professor Kim Lovegrove, FRSN, MSE, RML – Chair, IBQC
• Tsigereda Lovegrove – Secretary, IBQC Dispute Resolution Committee

Key Themes:

• Reflections on the IBQC’s evolution from an online initiative to a globally respected thought leadership platform
• Professor Torero was acknowledged for bringing UCL into the IBQC coalition
• Professor Hertle and Stephanie Barwise KC were thanked for their deep and ongoing contributions
• Discussions centred on regulatory systems across Europe and the Southern Hemisphere
• A lighter moment saw Professor Torero introduce Kim Lovegrove to Jeremy Bentham’s preserved figure — a symbolic meeting for a former philosophy student

3. The Savoy Meeting – IBQC & CEBC Liability System Collaboration

The third meeting took place at The Savoy and marked the first in-person collaboration between IBQC and the Consortium of European Building Control (CEBC).

Attendees:

• Adjunct Professor Kim Lovegrove, FRSN, MSE, RML – Chair, IBQC
• Dame Judith Hackitt – IBQC Board Member
• Tsigereda Lovegrove – Secretary, IBQC Dispute Resolution Committee
• Mr Marcin Cudak – Secretary-General, CEBC (Poland)
• Mr Wim Hoppenbrouwers – CEBC (Netherlands)
• Mr Kevin Dawson – UK Building Control Advisor

Key Themes:

• Agreement was reached on final definitions for the Good Practice Liability System Options for the Building Industry
• The next stage will see CEBC draft core questions for Southern Hemisphere review
• Poland’s national inspection regime was highlighted as international good practice
• The meeting consolidated momentum between IBQC and CEBC on proportionate liability reform and regulatory strengthening

Conclusion: A Global Centre in Action

These three London meetings demonstrated the IBQC’s growing strength as a multinational convenor of legal and regulatory expertise. The Centre continues to unite leading institutions and professionals dedicated to the advancement of construction quality and safety through law and policy reform.

Dame Judith Hackitt was warmly thanked for helping facilitate introductions and engagements with senior British government officials, supporting the broader strategic objectives of the Centre.

As new guidelines near completion and cross-continental collaborations mature, the IBQC moves into the second half of 2025 with reinforced alignment, purpose, and reach.