Paloma Hermoso

Paloma Hermoso is a dynamic voice in the world of sustainable construction, known for blending deep technical expertise with a fresh, forward-thinking approach to shaping the built environment.

She has over 25 years of experience working for various national and international companies in industries including higher education, highways, local authority, telecoms, and pharmaceutical.

A Chartered Project Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, Paloma holds a portfolio of accreditations that reflect her dedication to low-carbon, high-performance buildings, including LCA Practitioner, Retrofit Coordinator, Passivhaus Consultant, and Space Psychologist.

She is currently the Head of Sustainability at Ward Williams where she helps steer major projects with a focus on collaboration, transparency, and impact.

Paloma brings a global perspective and a fierce commitment to innovation, net-zero design, and circular economy.

Contact Great British Speakers today to book Paloma Hermoso to speak at or host your next event.

Type Of Speaker

Business & Finance Diversity Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Event Hosts Female Speakers Moderators & Facilitators Property & Interior Design Speaker Sustainability

More About Paloma Hermoso

Paloma Hermoso is also a proud member of the Design Review Panel, and plays an active leadership role across groups such as UKGBC and Constructing Excellence.

Whether she’s advising on policy, guiding clients through complex retrofits, or mentoring the next generation of construction professionals, Paloma’s energy is contagious and her insights deeply grounded in real-world experience.

From boardrooms to classrooms, she is passionate about championing change and inspiring others to build better.

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SPEAKING TOPICS

Sustainability and the Future of Construction

– Making Buildings More Sustainable (Housing, Real Estate, Commercial)

– Reducing Carbon in Design and Delivery

– Rethinking Waste and Materials

– Balancing Environmental Goals With Budgets

– Bringing New Ideas Into Traditional Construction

– From Net Zero and Sustainable Strategies to Tangible Results

– Building Healthiness

– Building For Menopause

– Building For Neurodiversity

– Building Biology

– Building Standards (BREEAM, Passivhaus, PAS2035/38, LEED)

Retrofit and Low Energy Building

– What Retrofit Means and Why It Matters

– Making Older Buildings Energy Efficient

– Getting the Most From Passivhaus Principles

– Challenges and Solutions in Low Carbon Upgrades

– Saving Buildings From Waste

Leadership and Project Management

– Leading Projects With Purpose

– Making Decisions That Support Sustainability

– Managing Change in Complex Environments

– What Good Leadership Looks Like in Construction

– Working Better Across Teams and Supply Chains

– Managing Risk

– Value Versus Money in Construction

People, Policy, and Community

– Putting People at the Centre of Building Projects

– Making Sense of Policy and Funding

– How to Get Communities Involved

– Why Design Quality Matters For Everyone

– Female Leadership in Construction

Careers, Skills, and Growth

– Career Journeys and Changing Paths

– What Makes Skills Transferable

– Supporting Others Through Mentoring

– Building Confidence and Leadership in the Sector

– Creating Space for New Voices in Construction

KEY TAKEAWAYS

– Fresh, real-world, industry and project insights into how sustainability can be practically delivered across the built environment

– Clarity on complex topics like net-zero, circular economy, Passivhaus, Carbon and retrofit standards translated into plain, actionable language

– Inspiration to lead change, Paloma empowers audiences to challenge “business as usual” and lead with purpose, not just process

– Tangible strategies for embedding sustainability into project planning, procurement and delivery

– Examples from lived experience, drawing on over 20 years of global project management and leadership roles in the built environment

– Balanced thinking that connects environmental goals with commercial realities, helping teams align around common purpose

– Human-centred perspective on construction, community engagement and social value

– Encouragement for cross-sector collaboration and fresh thinking across traditional silos

– Mentorship mindset, Paloma’s talks often leave professionals feeling seen, supported and more confident in their career journeys

– Leadership coaching moments woven into her delivery, offering reflections on resilience, influence and values-led decision making

– A warm, relatable presence that connects with both technical professionals and wider audiences

– Actionable ideas that teams can take away and apply immediately, whether on site, in the office, or in board-level discussions

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PAST EVENTS

RIBA Introduction to Passivhaus (2025): Contributed to a six-part online course designed to introduce professionals to Passivhaus principles. She co-delivered sessions on project procurement and delivery.

Festival of Sustainable Business (2025): Took part in the session ‘Beyond New Builds: Retrofitting for a Resilient and Reimagined Built Environment’, were she talked about how retrofit can unlock sustainability at scale across the built environment.

Green Skills Advisory Panel Summit (2025): A headline speaker and facilitator addressing practical solutions for upskilling the workforce to deliver on green ambitions. Her focus was on cost-effective retrofit delivery and unlocking opportunities for young talent.

Regional Sustainable Construction Conference (2025): As a keynote speaker, she set the scene with a powerful overview of the national retrofit landscape and the urgent need for scalable, low-carbon solutions across regions.

Further Education Week: Building a Future-Ready Workforce for Net Zero (2024): Paloma joined an online session amongst leaders in green skills development to explore how further education providers can help shape a net-zero-ready workforce. Her talk focussed on integrating retrofit training into mainstream education.

Commercial Retrofit: Playful Solutions, Serious Results (2024): In this interactive event, Paloma shared insights from the frontlines of commercial retrofit, alongside industry figures like Amanda Williams, Chris Hines, and Julie Hirigoyen. Her contribution focussed on making serious sustainability fun, effective, and accessible.

Constructing Excellence South West Summit – Retrofit and MMC Panel (2024): Paloma served as a panellist and facilitator, leading discussions on how Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can be effectively aligned with retrofit goals.

CIOB International Members Forum (2024): As part of a global roundtable in Cape Town, South Africa, Paloma discussed international challenges and strategies for turning climate and social commitments into practical construction outcomes, representing UK expertise on a global stage.

Retrofit in Heritage Buildings – CESW Conference (2023): Paloma spoke about innovative approaches to upgrading the energy performance of heritage buildings while preserving their cultural value, drawing from recent project experience.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book built environment expert Paloma Hermoso to speak at or host your next live event worldwide.

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Testimonials

Paloma is a passionate speaker with extensive knowledge on her subject drawn from her vast experience in the construction industry.
Robyn Chatterton, Events Manager/PA to the Board, CESW

I have had the pleasure of working alongside Paloma, whose professionalism and adaptability consistently stand out. Paloma is currently leading the development of the curriculum, content and resources for our highly anticipated Level 5 Retrofit Coordinator course, an initiative set to make a significant impact in the industry. With Paloma’s depth of knowledge and strong communication skills, they are exceptionally well-placed to deliver the Level 5 Retrofit course to industry professionals in the near future.

In addition to Paloma’s expertise in course development and educational delivery, Paloma is a confident and engaging speaker, having delivered insightful sessions as a guest speaker at both Green Skills Advisory Panel (GSAP) and Building Greater Exeter events. One standout example of Paloma’s capability was during a recent relaunch event for Building Greater Exeter, where Paloma stepped in at the last minute to deliver a 20-minute presentation to key stakeholders from across the built environment sector. With little time to prepare, Paloma delivered a confident, clear and compelling presentation and contributed during a panel discussion, demonstrating not only deep subject knowledge but also the calm and competence to thrive under pressure.
Luke Moss, Skills and Employer Project Manager, Exeter College

Paloma Hermoso provided an engaging guest lecture on the retrofit and a sustainability workshop for my green innovation in construction module for our final year undergraduate students. It was very appreciative that we worked closely prior to the event to ensure Paloma’s guest lecture sat well with the multi-level perspective of system innovation framework underpinning this module. In other words, the successful retrofit requires the interaction between the policy, the construction sector and the client system, and the new technology levels.

The use of ‘Lego’ for students to build a non-residential building with sustainability in mind was particularly innovative and provoked much debate! In her session, students delivered the project brief, worked as a team and presented their retrofitted buildings. I know that my students really enjoyed her session and are more confident to deliver their visions on retrofit for a future fit. I would certainly invite her to come back next academic year.
Dr Shu-Ling Lu, Associate Professor of Construction and Project Management, School of the Built Environment, University of Reading

Paloma recently joined us as a guest speaker at the SGS GREEN Employer Partnership Board, where she delivered a presentation focused on climate change, net zero goals, retrofit technologies, and the value of community investment. Her session was well-informed, engaging, and thought-provoking, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the sustainability and retrofit sectors.

Attendees appreciated the clarity and relevance of her content, which contributed meaningfully to the discussions throughout the event. We thank Paloma for her contribution and the perspective she brought to the board and look forward to welcoming her back at some stage to enlighten us further.
Sarah Stephens-Lewis, Assistant Principal for Apprenticeships, Adult and Employer Engagement, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

It was a true honour to experience Paloma Hermoso’s innovative and engaging session at the Domestic Retrofit Skills Awareness Retreat on February 11, 2025, at City of Bristol College. Her creative approach, using LEGO to design sustainable homes, captivated everyone and turned complex retrofit concepts into accessible, hands-on learning. Paloma’s deep knowledge of PAS 2035/2038 and her passion for sustainability inspired both seasoned professionals and emerging talent.

Her empathy, energy, and ability to foster collaboration created a dynamic environment that made the event both insightful and memorable. She truly embodies the spirit of innovation needed to tackle the challenges and opportunities in domestic retrofitting. Thank you, Paloma, for such a transformative and thought-provoking contribution to our shared learning journey.
Adegbenga Ashiru (MAPM, MCIOB), Programme Manager, City of Bristol