The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) has appointed architect and sustainability leader Ste Garlick as Chief Executive Officer and business leader Chris Iredale as Chief Operating Officer, introducing a dual fractional leadership model designed to ensure both leaders remain actively engaged in professional practice while leading the organisation.
Both will continue in their existing professional roles while leading the AECB, ensuring the organisation benefits from leaders who remain actively involved in the day-to-day challenges and opportunities facing the built environment.
The appointments follow a highly competitive recruitment process and mark the next phase in the AECB's development as it continues to support the UK and Ireland construction sector's transition to a low-carbon built environment.
Image: Ste Garlick (left) and Chris Iredale
Garlick joins the AECB from multidisciplinary design practice BDP (Building Design Partnership), where he is the strategic and advisory lead for decarbonisation and retrofit. An experienced architect and sustainability leader, he combines technical expertise with collaborative leadership to help organisations navigate complex sustainability challenges, adapt their buildings and estates, and build organisational resilience. At the AECB, his focus will be on strengthening collaboration across a growing membership, building on the organisation's evidence-based approach to building performance, and broadening its influence across the wider built environment.
Iredale brings more than 25 years' experience founding, scaling and exiting businesses across manufacturing, retail, construction and professional services. His career includes co-founding, growing and exiting a leading manufacturing business to more than £9 million turnover, delivering 38% direct sales growth for a construction group and, most recently, operating at group level across multiple businesses within The Five Rise Group. He continues to run Thriven, his fractional growth partner practice supporting founder-led and private-equity backed businesses, alongside his role at the AECB, where he will lead operational development, governance and organisational growth.
Chris Herring, former Chair of the AECB and co-founder of the Passivhaus Trust, said: “Having been involved with the AECB and the Passivhaus Trust for many years, I’ve seen first-hand the value of bringing together people who are committed to improving building performance through collaboration, knowledge sharing and evidence-based practice. I believe our role has never been more important.”
“Ste and Chris bring complementary strengths across technical expertise, strategy and operations. The Board is confident they will build on the AECB’s remarkable legacy, foster practical collaboration, and ensure the AECB continues to provide independent leadership for practitioners across the built environment.
Commenting on his appointment, Ste Garlick said: “The transition to a sustainable and climate-resilient built environment is an opportunity to create healthier, more adaptable, and more equitable buildings and places. For more than 35 years, the AECB has been at the forefront of this mission. I'm looking forward to working with our members and partners to build on that legacy, strengthen collaboration across professions and sectors, and raise standards across the built environment.”
Chris Iredale added: “I’ve spent my career helping ambitious, founder-led businesses build the operational backbone to match their ambition. What struck me about the AECB is that same potential - a genuinely purposeful organisation with a strong community behind it, ready for the same kind of disciplined growth. I’m looking forward to bringing that experience to supporting the AECB’s members and staff as we build on what’s already been achieved.”
Founded in 1989, the AECB is an independent, not-for-profit network that has played a leading role in advancing sustainable building across the UK and Ireland, including helping to introduce Passivhaus to the UK and developing the CarbonLite certification. Today, it brings together more than 2,000 individual and corporate members from across the construction and design sectors, connecting research with practical application through technical guidance, training, certification, and a strong culture of collaboration.
Garlick and Iredale will work closely with the AECB Board of Trustees and partner organisations, including the Passivhaus Trust, to support members and help shape the future of sustainable construction.
The AECB's annual conference takes place on 25 September 2026 at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, bringing together practitioners, suppliers, contractors, contractors, local authorities, and policymakers to explore the latest developments in sustainable building and retrofit. Further information and tickets are available at https://aecb.net/aecb-2026-annual-conference/
