Mr Farmer has over 30 years of experience in construction and real estate and is a recognised international commentator on a variety of industry and policy-related issues.

He also authored the Farmer Review, an influential 2016 independent government review of the UK’s construction labour model entitled ‘Modernise or Die’. From 2019 until 2023, he was appointed as the government’s Champion for Modern Methods of Construction in Housebuilding.

In 2023, Mr Farmer was appointed by the Department for Education to lead the Arms Length Body (ALB) review of the Construction & Engineering Construction Industry Training Boards, which was published in January 2025.

Scottish Construction Now editor Kieran Findlay said: “We are delighted to be able to announce that Mark Farmer will headline this year’s Scottish Construction Summit. He is uniquely placed to analyse and comment on the multiple challenges and opportunities currently facing the construction industry.”

Mr Farmer is a founder and board member of Cast,  the highly-respected construction consultancy providing solutions for developers, investors, policymakers and the supply chain.

He is an honorary professor at The University of Salford’s School of Built Environment and holds honorary doctorates from the University College of Estate Management and the University of Wolverhampton. In 2021 was the recipient of the CIOB President’s Award in recognition of his work driving long-term change into the construction industry.

The Scottish Construction Summit is supported by headline sponsor SPI Piling alongside McLaughlin & Harvey, ValoremFirst, t.i. dynamic facades and CITB. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.