Team

Valentina is a research engineer in building physics with a background in thermo-mechanical engineering. Her main research focuses on moisture transfer within internally insulated solid walls. She worked on the research and development of an internal wall insulation system, using laboratory experiments and in-situ measurements.

Her EngD project, sponsored by Natural Building Technologies, aims at developing a framework for the probabilistic moisture risk assessment of internal wall insulation. A tool based on the framework could help designers making informed decisions about insulation strategies during retrofit projects.

Colin is the Director of BRE, as well as BRE’s lead officer on historic structures, existing housing and building solutions pre- and post-refurbishment. He is also a well-known expert in moisture in buildings, and sits on a number of standards committees and policy bodies in this regard including BS5250, PAS 2030 and PAS2035 and e BSi Retrofit Taskforce. He is currently involved in the latest review of Part C of the Building Regulations for England. Colin is the commercial director of the UKCMB and works particularly on standards, policy work, training and commercial projects and opportunities.

Dr Yasemin D Aktas is a Lecturer at the Department of Civil, Environment and Geomatic Engineering (CEGE). Yasemin has extensive research experience in the impact of flooding, wind driven rain and other climate-induced and atmospheric hazards on built environment, heritage structures, indoor mould testing, hygrothermal characterisation via environmental monitoring, and sustainable building and urban design. She is currently teaching on the MEng Engineering and Architectural Design, a joint programme between UCL CEGE, UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering and The Bartlett School of Architecture.