John Roberts works as an independent consultant, collaborating with or leading the technical teams of clients, contractors and consultants. In collaboration with Priestland Consulting Ltd he has supported construction start-ups including Alice Technologies, SAALG, Morta and Matrak, and also advises the UK's leading construction materials suppliers. He is part of Expedition Engineering's team advising HS2 on best practice in future phases and is supporting Atkins with constructibility advice on the NEOM project..

As Chief Engineer in McGee's Construction Engineering Team he has provided strategy, direction and assurance for complex temporary works around London including major "RetroFirst" modifications and deep excavations. Key projects include 90 Long Acre in Covent Garden and 30 South Colonnade in Canary Wharf, both of which have been shortlisted in the BCI awards.

John is the Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor of Digital Technology and Net-Zero Design and Construction in the Built Environment at the University of Hertfordshire.

John was an early pioneer of this role during Early Contractor Involvement on three major projects: Edinburgh St James (£470m), Brent Cross Shopping Centre Redevelopment Phase 1B (£700m), and Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station (circa £2.5b package). He was the technical point of contact for the client, contractor, design teams, and all stakeholders, leading and integrating a ‘one team’ solution. He was responsible for the definition of the chosen design and the DfMA and Digital Engineering required.

Coordinated the Technical Function’s bid support for strategic opportunities and ensured an effective hand-over to the delivery teams. He defined strategic technical direction and advised on design procurement and assurance, reporting to the Group Technical Director.

John was initially the Director of a structural team in the UK. He then moved to Bangalore for two years and grew the multidisciplinary building design offshoring team from ten to 170. In Hong Kong he led structural design teams for railway projects, notably the C903 South Island Line. In 2011 John returned to the UK as onsite Design Director for the construction of a Class 1 nuclear project at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

John also led strategic design initiatives across Atkins globally. He was Network Chair guiding Atkins' structural development and played a central role launching the company-wide BIM strategy. He was author of the Atkins Design Principles that set the framework for design management and assurance across.

While based in London, John led structural design teams on international projects, including the Berlin Reichstag, Canary Wharf Jubilee Line Station and Plantation Place in London. For three years he led projects in Los Angeles, including the scheme design of the Hollywood Bowl and the design and delivery of the retractable roof of Miller Park, Milwaukee, with its complex 180m-span, 13,000 tonne steel frame.