A construction manager from Herefordshire has won a new top national award in recognition of her contribution to improving sustainability in the industry.

Caron Johnson, who lives in the Wye Valley, was named the winner of the sustainability category at this year’s Chartered Institute of Building’s prestigious CIOB Awards. This was the first year there has been a sustainability category at the event.

Caron is the sustainable construction project lead for the Ministry of Justice, supporting its work to create 18,000 new prison places. She sets the sustainability benchmarks and communicates expectations across the programme team and supply chain. She uses her specialist knowledge to drive sustainability decision-making into the design, construction and operation of new-build prisons.

She was presented with her award at the CIOB awards ceremony in London on September 28. Caron has previously worked as sustainable construction project Lead at the Eden Project in Cornwall.