About the author

Frances Forward BA (Hons) Dip Arch MSc (Const Law) RIBA FCIArb is a practising architect, adjudicator, expert witness and lecturer with extensive experience in design, management and consulting roles within the construction industry, both in the UK and in Germany. Frances’ Master’s research in the early 1990s into a potential European standard form construction contract led her to explore the genesis of the fledging NEC contract and she went on to pioneer the use of the NEC on complex lottery-funded arts projects.

Frances set up her own architectural practice in 1999 and the NEC became her contract of choice, for both professional services and construction. In 2000, Frances was invited to assist the NEC Panel in drafting the NEC Partnering Option X12, and she subsequently became the architect member of the Panel during the drafting of the third edition, NEC3.

Frances expanded her architectural practice in 2005 to offer an additional role of management contractor to allow clients to procure both the design and the off-site fabrication/on-site construction of sustainable buildings from a single company. Her company model has matured into a specialist Passivhaus standard partnering supply chain, including both English and German specialist subconsultants and subcontractors, using NEC as the common form of contract.

Frances has contributed to several publications and conferences regarding the NEC and she lectures on the NEC at various University Schools of Architecture as part of their Professional Practice programmes.