Dr Hywel Davies awarded OBE for services to building safety

Dr Hywel Davies, Head of Technical Insight at the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE), has been awarded an OBE in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026, recognising more than four decades of outstanding service to building safety and standards.

An independent authority on building safety regulation and performance, Dr Davies has played a pivotal role in shaping the UK’s building safety landscape. His work has spanned building regulations, safety reform, construction product testing and certification, ventilation and health risks in buildings, and the transition to net-zero.

Since joining CABE part-time in August 2024, Dr Davies has continued to influence policy and practice at the highest level. He is a member of the Building Advisory Committee, advising the Building Safety Regulator, and chairs the Construction and Built Environment Strategy Committee at the British Standards Institution.

Dr Davies has led and contributed to several landmark initiatives, including chairing the expert group review of the Approved Documents that fed into Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review of building regulations and fire safety. He also led the working group behind the Construction Leadership Council’s guidance on the Golden Thread and contributed to the Morrell–Day review of construction product testing. His latest work includes authoring the new PAS 2000 Code of Practice on bringing safe construction products to market, due for publication next month.

He also co-chairs the Engineering Group of the Industry Competence Steering Committee.

CABE congratulates Dr Davies on this well-deserved honour and celebrates the expertise and leadership he brings to the profession at a critical time for building safety reform.