Bon Voyage!
As you will no doubt be aware the thinkBIM, Green Vision and Constructing Excellence Yorkshire and Humber networks are changing. While the networks are still running all their usual events their leader, Claire Bowles, is moving to Australia. Apparently even her impressive juggling skills aren’t up to running these networks from Melbourne!
We couldn’t let this momentous occasion go unmarked and so, with her wide network of friends via a variety of social media outlets we thought that people may want to post comments, leave messages e.t.c. about Claire as a leaving present for her.Any comments can be posted below or you can also tweet using the hashtag #ckeClaire!
CKE team
You will be greatly missed Claire. Great work from you and the team.
I’m still clinging to the hope that it’s all an elaborate ploy to get you properly recognised! And you are not really leaving! #ckeClaire
Comment from Duncan Reed
If you were to ask me ‘when did I first meet Claire’ I’d have to say I’m not sure, she just seems to have been around for several years now. I recently found thinkBIM documents stretching back to 2010 so guess it is probably sometime then. At that time I was turning up as very much a BIM newbie at the twilight seminars in Old Broadcasting House before suddenly finding myself not just attending but sitting on the Steering group, organising events, chairing events and now rapidly approaching running the thinkBIM network. In all that time Claire has been a force of nature where all the traditional excuses given by an industry that in all honesty isn’t great at change have been swept aside. Twitter, blogging, live streaming, live linked events (well nearly) and international speakers are the things thinkBIM just does and they have all come about from her drive and tenacity to make things happen.
Her drive and passion for better, sustainable and technologically advanced improvements to the built environment are unquestionable. As well as thinkBIM, part of the Leeds Beckett University Centre for Knowledge Exchange http://ckegroup.org/ she has also created, nurtured and established Green Vision raised the profile of Constructing Excellence in Yorkshire and Humberside not to mention sitting on the BIM Academic Forum, advising Yorhub, working with the UK BIM Task Group and I’m sure lots of other organisations that I’ve forgotten about!
These networks will not be the same without her, but somehow I’m sure we won’t have heard the last from Claire via Social Media; our ‘boss’, colleague and friend will be watching from across the globe, of that I have no doubt.
All those high caffeine meetings with kitkats, sometimes a good glass of wine
Squeezed in between everything else
One hour and we could generate pages of ideas and projects, 90% of which we still need to work on including our mindfulness & construction (ref A Parker)
Some are now in orbit, Brian Duffy from Leeds College of Bulding, saying what we need is Green Vision !
The birth of ThinkBIM came out of a meeting in the cellars in Northern Terrace
It isn’t the end of an era, you’re simply going to tweet from a different location
When you find a good cafe in Melbourne, let me know, it will be worth the bus ticket !
Thanks a million Claire.
I think our introduction might have been at a meeting at LEDA office where you were working with a local contractor as part of a knowledge exchange programme (lucky contractor). Then we went through AECB, CKE, Green Vision to Living Building Challenge. All of these based around your ability to bring together the widest section of the construction industry with high quality speakers, events and materials. And always the freshness and enthusiasm to bring in new ideas and people. It is very hard to imagine the Leeds/ Yorkshire construction scene without you. Australia benefits while we hopefully build on the legacy.
Good luck in Aus Claire!
Personally I’d just like to say thanks for bringing me into the CKE team. It’s been a great two years, I’ve personally learnt alot & really feel like as a group we’ve achieved a lot in a short space of time. You’ve always supported my development professionally and personally and I’m very grateful for that.
It’s going to be strange not to have you around to keep us on our toes… 😉 But hope you stay in touch. We’ll save you a place on our table (dancefloor) at the awards!!
Travel well, Claire – and take with you the knowledge that you’ve made such a difference. Professionally and personally, you’ve shown what’s possible. And convinced me that Twitter isn’t all cute kittens!
So sorry I won’t be up in Leeds to see you go next week, but I know that you’re just at the other end of the Internet…
Loads of brilliant people down in Oz just waiting for you to help them kick ass!
Clare,
It’s been a pleasure to work with you and observe the fantastic work you have done with ThinkBIM. I hope you have a wonderful time in Australia. Wishing you heath, wealth and happiness in all your future endevours.
Best Wishes,
Ben
Claire, we have loved working with you and hope that this can continue through our CE Australia and CE New Zealand alliance partners. Congratulations for all you have achieved and thanks for all your support . Do well ! Don
All the very, very best Claire – you’ll be a big miss.
The ThinkBIM conferences have easily been the best set of BIM conferences over the last few years. A great mix of expert speakers, engagement and technology. Happy memories.
I’ve popped a linkedin recommendation in for you. We’ll miss you when you go 🙁
For some memories from the conferences – there are one or two on my blog – search for “thinkbim”:
http://constructioncode.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=thinkbim
Stephen, NBS
#superclaire
Don’t know what to say will miss you and your brilliance
I would like to say a BIG thanks to Claire for giving me the opportunity to join the CKE team and to work in events which is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve learnt so much from Claire and the team in just under a year since I joined. Claire is very passionate about the 3 networks and I can imagine it is going to be really hard to let go! BUT what a fantastic opportunity that most of us could only dream of! I wish you the best of luck in what is going to be an amazing time for you and your family. Take care 🙂
Hi Claire – Bon Voyage and all the very best on your new adventures in Oz. Hope the transition and move goes smoothly. Tanya
First of all I want to say I’ll miss you honey!!! I love your enthusiasm, energy and ability to make it all happen, even when it looks impossible. From the first time I met you, I knew you were a ‘girl who got things done’ and boy have you done a lot in the last 5 years. I’m sure, looking at all the comments made on here, Australia will make good use of your skills. Just remember to take a well-earned break first and be mindful of your own needs. Have fun, be happy and enjoy this next adventure………….and don’t forget to stay in touch xxxx
It has been a great pleasure knowing you and working for you. I envy your move to Australia. Plz advise if there is an opportunity for me. If I was the captain of USS Enterprise having to pick three people to go on an away mission then I would pick Nikki Pierce, you and also Andrew platen to keep an eye on you two. I am sure this is not the end, so please keep in touch.
Claire, I hold you responsible for getting me involved with think BIM, Green Vision, dragging me on to the steering group, getting me to present and twisting my arm until I did a pecha kucha. I’d also like to thank you for doing all of that as I have met some fantastic people, developed some long lasting relationships, won some work along the way and been inspired on a regular basis. Your hard work made all of that possible and I’m sure your infectious enthusiasm will be truly valued in your new role.
Thank you
Jason