James Garner, global head of data, insights and analytics, Gleeds

Describe your career to date 

I have been on an interesting journey that could be described as arriving where I first started. I wrote my university dissertation on data and digitalisation in the construction industry, before graduating with a first-class honours degree. My journey began in 2000 as a quantity surveyor, gaining experience in the field and building a strong portfolio. I was accepted as a member by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in 2002. 

In 2012, I was elected as a fellow of the RICS for my writing contributions to technical standards (RICS Black Book). I believe that data and analytics will play an increasingly important role in the future of the RICS, given their ability to drive decisions and inform strategies and that my continued involvement as an influential data leader will be of value.

While working as a quantity surveyor for Gleeds, I became head of the education sector for London, working on many prestigious projects, including buildings for Imperial College and various Oxford University Colleges. 

In 2020, I took on a new challenge at Gleeds, becoming head of insights and analytics. This opportunity allowed me to further my skillset, qualifying as a data analyst in 2022 and helping to launch the company’s data analytics and research capability.