CECA South West is gearing up for an exciting new chapter with the appointment of Hannah Jones as Regional Director from 1 June 2026. Hannah will succeed Paul Santer who is retiring after more than nine years of dedicated service.
Hannah joins with an impressive track record of delivering complex, high impact projects at Exeter University, where she has been instrumental in shaping and driving strategic developments from concept through to completion. A chartered civil engineer and ICE Fellow, she brings over 25 years of experience in championing contractors across the region through senior leadership roles, infrastructure delivery and industry-wide engagement.
Her career spans hands on engineering with Balfour Beatty, quickly progressing from site engineer to senior site management, as well as leading contractor teams at South West Highways. Hannah’s blend of technical expertise, strategic insight and deep regional knowledge positions her perfectly to lead CECA South West into its next phase of growth.
Hannah is full of energy and ambition for the role, saying: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining CECA South West at such a pivotal moment. My vision is to build an even stronger, more connected community of contractors, one that shapes regional policy, drives innovation and proudly champions the South West as a leader in UK civil engineering. I’m excited to work closely with our members to understand their priorities and to create opportunities that help the whole region to thrive.”
Outgoing Director Paul Santer offered his full support for the transition: “This is an exciting moment for CECA in the South West. Hannah will build on the progress we’ve made, strengthening member support, attracting new members, hosting innovative events and championing contractors at every opportunity. She’s the ideal person to take CECA to the next level and I look forward to seeing the organisation flourish under her leadership.”
With Hannah’s appointment, CECA South West signals its commitment to driving fresh thinking, deeper collaboration and an even stronger voice for the region’s civil engineering contractors.