Dr Bola Abisogun

At PeopleDem property we believe in celebrating our community by spotlighting black excellence in property. Today we are celebrating Dr Bola Abisogun.

Dr Abisogun is the Founder and CEO of AI-QS and the Digital Twin Skills Academy, organisations created not only to advance technology in construction but also to challenge the norms of an industry often slow to change. Over nearly three decades he has helped procure and deliver more than £8 billion in capital projects across the UK, establishing a strong reputation as an Independent Management Consultant, Chartered Construction Manager and Chartered Quantity Surveyor. As a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Dr Abisogun’s professional credentials are significant, but his influence extends well beyond titles and qualifications.

For Dr Abisogun, the built environment has always been about people as much as infrastructure. Early in his career he recognised the lack of representation within the construction sector and the missed opportunities this created. In response, he founded UrbanIS in 2003, a construction and project management company built on the principle that inclusive solutions must involve the communities most often excluded from decision-making. Through UrbanIS, Dr Abisogun focused on engaging “hard-to-reach” groups across inner-city London boroughs, opening pathways into an industry that many had never previously considered accessible.

His commitment to creating opportunities for others continued to shape his work. In 2005 Dr Abisogun founded DiverseCity Surveyors, an organisation dedicated to connecting and supporting professionals from non-traditional backgrounds within the global surveying community. What began as a network supporting BAME surveyors has since evolved into a respected platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and professional development. Its mission remains clear: to grow the BAME talent pool within the surveying profession and help ensure that future industry leadership reflects the diversity of the society it serves.

Dr Abisogun has long believed that meaningful progress requires both advocacy and structural change. Through initiatives such as the Black Training and Enterprise Group’s Ethnic Minority Role Model Programme and his leadership role with the London Advisory Board’s Moving on Up initiative, he has helped create sustainable employment pathways for young Black men into higher-earning industries. He has also been a consistent voice in national conversations on diversity and inclusion, regularly speaking on issues such as ethnicity pay gap legislation and the wider challenge of unlocking under-utilised professional talent.

Innovation has also played a central role in Dr Abisogun’s vision for the future of construction. In 2020, when the University of Cambridge approached him to contribute to a global business case for digital twins, the collaboration led to the creation of the Digital Twin Skills Academy. The academy was developed in response to systemic challenges within the built environment sector, including lessons learned following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Its work aims to help organisations in both the public and private sectors understand their responsibilities under the Building Safety Act while also building the skills needed for a more digitally enabled industry.

At its core, the Digital Twin Skills Academy is focused on preparing the next generation for a rapidly evolving construction landscape. Many of its programmes are designed for young people aged 16 to 25, who often have limited exposure to careers within the built environment. At the same time, the academy also provides opportunities for those aged 50 and over, reflecting Dr Abisogun’s belief that transformation should be inclusive at every stage of life. Developed in partnership with global industry specialists and delivered alongside Primus Consulting Services CIC, the initiative aims to engage, inform and inspire digital natives while introducing them to career paths they may never have previously considered.

Dr Abisogun frequently describes the Digital Twin Skills Academy as a vehicle for positive social change, built on the principle that equity, diversity and inclusion must sit at the centre of technological progress. His passion for youth engagement has been shaped by decades of mentoring and community outreach. Whether speaking in schools, visiting prisons or collaborating with educators, Dr Abisogun consistently promotes the idea that the built environment can be as creative and exciting as the digital worlds young people explore through games such as Minecraft.

Alongside his entrepreneurial work, Dr Abisogun continues to contribute to the strategic direction of the wider industry. He serves as Digital Director at BIM Academy and holds positions on several influential boards, including the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. His involvement with the City of London Corporation’s Sustainable Taskforce places him at the centre of one of the capital’s most ambitious environmental goals: the decarbonisation of every commercial office building across central London by 2040. This work reflects a broader commitment to green skills, sustainability and the long-term future of the built environment.

Dr Abisogun’s leadership has been recognised through numerous honours and accolades. In the 2019 New Year Honours he was awarded an OBE for services to diversity and to young people in the construction industry, recognising decades of advocacy, mentorship and industry leadership. In 2023 he reached another historic milestone, becoming the first Black man in the United Kingdom to receive an Honorary Doctor of the University from London South Bank University for distinction in the surveying profession. He was also awarded an Honorary MBA from the University College of Estate Management in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the built environment.

Despite these achievements, those who work with Dr Abisogun often speak less about the honours and more about the passion and energy he brings to his work. His career has been driven by a clear purpose: to challenge outdated systems, unlock opportunities for under-represented communities and build a more inclusive, forward-thinking construction industry.

Perhaps the most powerful measure of Dr Abisogun’s impact lies in the people he has inspired along the way. Across boardrooms, classrooms and community spaces, he has demonstrated that leadership in the built environment is about more than buildings. It is about creating pathways, amplifying voices and ensuring that the next generation sees possibilities where previous generations encountered barriers.