CIOB inaugurates innovation professor Ghassan Aouad as new President

Professor Ghassan Aouad, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) has been inaugurated as the 111th President of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), succeeding Peter Jacobs. 

The inauguration took place at the CIOB’s AGM in Doha, Qatar. Speaking about his appointment Ghassan said: “It is a privilege to be presiding over an Institute that’s the world’s largest and most influential body for construction management and leadership. I am fortunate to start my tenure as President in Qatar, a country that is very close to my heart that has undergone major development through creative and innovative construction and infrastructure projects in recent years.

“However, we shouldn’t shy away from the well-publicised problems that face construction workers here and throughout the world. And during my Presidency it is my aspiration to help stimulate change and promote a culture of respect for people and professionalism in our industry globally.”

Prior to his role at GUST, Ghassan spent 20 years at the University of Salford holding several roles including Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. During that time he successfully supervised 24 PhD students, authored 3 major research books and published 92 papers in top rated journals. His experience has seen him teach and research subjects related to Information Modelling and Visualisation, nD simulation and process mapping within construction. He has an MSc in Construction and a PhD in Construction IT from Loughborough University and was also President of the University of Wollongong in Dubai.

Ghassan was born and raised in Lebanon where he first studied for a degree in Civil Engineering at Beirut Arab University. He has worked and trained extensively in both the UK and Arab markets and has been recently named as one of the top ten academic leaders shaping education in the Middle East by the Middle East Economic Digest.

Ghassan took over from outgoing President Peter Jacobs on Monday 16 June 2014.