Mace appoints retrofit lead to create greener, safer places

Mace, the international construction and consultancy company, today announced the appointment of Rachel O’Donnell as Consult Lead for Retrofit. The appointment reflects Mace’s commitment to tackle the climate emergency and the building safety crisis as it supports clients pursue a more sustainable world.

Rachel will lead Mace Consult’s retrofit new business function and direct its growth strategy, working with the business’ sectors and practice groups. 

Rachel joins Mace from AECOM, where she played a significant part in the Environment team as Business Unit Director for the Ground, Energy and Transactions division, comprising half of the UK and Ireland environment business. She has over 17 years’ experience in managing and delivering large programmes across the environmental, nuclear, defence and industrial sectors. 

Mace has updated its retrofit offering in 2022 to support clients address the challenge of keeping their assets, estates and places relevant, fit for purpose and in line with national climate targets and changing building safety legislation, such as the Building Safety Bill 2021. It has designed an end-to-end suite of services to renew the life and increase the value of existing assets. 

Mace has delivered a range of retrofit services for businesses over the last decade. This includes supporting SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) University of London retrofit redundant space within Senate House, delivering decarbonisation measures at pace across Hampshire County Council’s estate, supporting the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through repurposing warehousing to create the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory, designing solutions for low-income households across Devon County Council to improve energy efficiency, improving facilities and behaviours with Northern Trust bank and tackling regional fuel poverty with the Greater South East Energy Hub.

Daniel Easthope, Managing Director for Property, UK and Europe, commented:

“Against the challenges of addressing the climate emergency and looming building safety changes, all industries and businesses need to reimagine their estates to make them fit for the future. These are not future problems – we must all act now. 

“The opportunities of retrofit services to shore our clients against these risks are clear and will be essential in achieving our 2026 Business Strategy targets. Rachel will play a key part in growing our retrofit business and support our clients in being forward looking and delivering positive, sustainable change.”

Rachel O’Donnell, Consult Lead for Retrofit, added: 

“I’m excited to join Mace’s Consult business. As a purpose-led organisation challenging itself and its clients to reduce carbon across built assets and create safer places for local communities, Mace is a rare example of a business able to have a real and significant impact on the built environment. I look forward to working across Mace Consult to deliver lasting change for our clients.”