Hot Topics in Building Conservation: Online CPD Lunchtime Lectures

1 - 2pm, Wednesday lunchtimes throughout March 2026

Meet your CPD requirements and improve your understanding of building conservation and repair by joining our lunch-hour online sessions focusing on 'Hot Topics in Building Conservation'.

We'll be putting some of the most pressing issues affecting the sector under the spotlight. Changing weather patterns, rising energy prices and evolving regulatory requirements are just some of the challenges facing traditional buildings and those who care for them. These lectures will offer valuable insights into how we can tackle these hot topics and safeguard our built heritage for the future.

Paul Mallion (Chartered Building Surveyor and Director, Conker Conservation) will speak about ventilation and air tightness in traditional buildings with a focus on improving energy efficiency.

Steve Emery (Heritage Fire Consultant) will give an update on fire protection in traditional buildings in light of the new Fire Safety Act.

Richard Jordan (Historic Roofing Specialist, SPAB Fellow) will focus on climate resilience in traditional buildings and look at how vernacular roofing methods and materials can be applied to manage water effectively.

Katie Steele (Building Information Modeling Specialist and Founder, Cheribim) will talk about assessing and managing thermal performance in traditional buildings.

Held via Zoom each talk will include a live Q&A session with the speakers. The recordings will also be available to those attending to watch for one month after the events.

Who is this series for?

Ideal for buildings professionals and students, as well as those with wider interest in conservation and repair of our built heritage.

Price and package booking discounts

Please note: If you choose to book the full lecture package you'll be given access to recordings of lectures that have already taken place.  These will be available to watch for 30 days after each event.

These online CPD sessions are £20 each (£15 concessions*) and can be booked individually or as a package of four at the discounted price of £65 (£48 concessions*).

* These concessionary prices are available for students and people who are unwaged or on low income. There are no eligibility criteria, these discounts are available for anyone who needs them. This is a trust-based system and we do not require proof or even an explanation of the rate you choose.

Lectures

Wednesday 4 March 20265, 1pm – 2pm 
Paul Mallion, Conker Conservation Ltd - Traditional Buildings: Ventilation and Air Tightness

Wednesday 11 March 2026, 1pm – 2pm
Steve Emery, Heritage Fire Consultancy Ltd - Update on Fire Protection in Traditional Buildings Post-Grenfell

Wednesday 18 March 2026, 1pm – 2pm
Richard Jordan, W J Conservation - Climate Resilience in Traditional Buildings: Managing Water on Roofs

Wednesday 25 March 2026, 1pm – 2pm 
Katie Steele, Cheribim - Assessing & Managing Thermal Performance in Traditional Buildings 

About the speakers

Paul Mallion is a chartered building surveyor and certified passivhaus designer. He established Conker Conservation in 1999, specialising in sustainable building design and Passivhaus. Paul has been working with SPAB since 2007 on insulation and energy efficiency and has presented at various SPAB and Old House Eco events, as well as being involved in the Old House Project.

Steve Emery became a Fire Consultant specialising in heritage buildings in 2022 after six years as the fire officer for the University of Oxford. He was National Fire Adviser for English Heritage and Historic England from 2001-2016 following a 30-year career with Avon Fire and Rescue Service.  He chairs the Institution of Fire Engineers Special Interest Group for Heritage Buildings and has undertaken research and fire testing, leading to the writing of fire safety guidance documents for small historic churches, historic town centres, thatched buildings and a guide to upgrading historic timber panel doors. Heritage Fire Consultancy's clients include the Palace of Westminster, National Trust, Landmark Trust, and Norwich Castle. He has surveyed all the National Trust Wales treasure houses and castles and is overseeing the remedial work through all the RIBA stages to completion.

Richard Jordan began his career in the heritage sector in 1986, working as a trainee slater and tiler alongside his father Bill. Over the last four decades, he has worked on a wide range of traditional buildings around the country including The Tower of London, Lincoln Castle, and St. Pancras Station. Having been awarded several industry accolades and qualifications including the William Morris Craft Fellowship, he has established himself as a leader in conserving and restoring the UK’s built environment. Whilst much of Richard’s expertise lies in roofing and slating, he has experience working across all aspects of traditional building skills and materials. At WJ Conservation, he provides training to industry professionals and future craftspeople, consultancy work to both homeowners and public sector organisations, and manages the company’s building contracts.

Katie Steele founded Cheribim in 2022 after six years in Church Support and Advisory Committee roles. With expertise in information management and environmental monitoring services, Katie's work focuses on making technology accessible for historic building custodians. Katie is also a visiting tutor at Birmingham City University's Conservation courses where she leads projects exploring AI applications in heritage contexts.

Assessment / Accreditation 

A CPD certificate can be issued upon request. 

Accessibility

•    We will enable live transcriptions in Zoom.  To find out more about this feature, please visit the Zoom website: Using call live transcription

Anything we can do to make this event more accessible for you? Please email education@spab.org.uk

We may take photos or videos at this event to be used in future promotion, including in print and online.

All bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions. 

Photo credits: Orleton Manor © SPAB; Clandon Park © Colin Smith, via Wikimedia Commons; Air Tightness Testing at St Andrew's Chapel © SPAB; Cheribim Monitoring © Katie Steele