Northumbria Construct founder recognised for combining professional engagement, student leadership and industry collaboration to create development opportunities for emerging construction professionals.
CIOB Tomorrow’s Leaders representative Kufre Usen Antia has been named the Association for Project Management North East Student of the Year 2026, recognising his contribution to student leadership, professional development and collaboration between academia and the construction industry.
Antia recently completed an MSc in Construction Project Management with BIM at Northumbria University. Alongside his studies, he represented emerging professionals through CIOB Tomorrow’s Leaders and established Northumbria Construct, an initiative designed to connect students and early-career professionals with employers, professional institutions and industry practice.
Northumbria Construct supports the transition from academic study into professional practice through technical seminars, webinars, industry discussions, site visits and networking activities. It encourages students to engage with the construction profession before graduation and develop the practical awareness, confidence and professional networks needed to progress within the sector.
Helping emerging professionals
Antia serves as the initiative’s founder and training and development lead, working with industry practitioners and professional bodies to create opportunities that complement university-based learning.
He said: “Professional institutions have had a significant influence on my own development, but their greatest value is the opportunity they provide to create pathways for others.
“Northumbria Construct was founded on the belief that students should not have to wait until graduation before becoming active participants in the construction profession. By connecting academic learning with industry engagement, we can help emerging professionals become more confident, informed and prepared for the realities of practice.”
Antia has also translated his professional engagement into opportunities for others. In July 2026, he led a team from Northumbria University to the Eastern Green Link 1 project, where attendees gained insight into the delivery of complex infrastructure works, project coordination and the practical challenges associated with construction in a live project environment.
The visit provided an opportunity to engage directly with experienced industry professionals and examine how technical knowledge, project management and collaborative working are applied in practice.
Creating opportunities
The APM award reflects a wider portfolio of activity spanning academic achievement, project leadership, professional-body participation and the creation of development opportunities for others.
Antia said the recognition had strengthened his commitment to supporting emerging professionals and building closer relationships between universities and the construction sector.
“The award is an important personal milestone, but it also reinforces the responsibility to continue creating opportunities that benefit others,” he said.
“My next priority is to expand collaboration with employers and professional institutions, increase access to technical learning and live-project exposure, and support more students and early-career professionals as they develop their place within the industry.”
Through his work with CIOB Tomorrow’s Leaders and Northumbria Construct, Antia hopes to demonstrate how professional engagement can extend beyond individual career development and contribute to a stronger, better-connected construction talent pipeline.
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