New hires and leadership promotions at ECD Architects

09 Jul 2025

Donald Simpson, Ron Nkomba and Alistair Cameron

ECD Architects has announced two new senior hires and a leadership promotion, as it continues to meet growing demand for energy efficient, Passivhaus certified buildings in the housing, education and public sectors.

Donald Simpson and Ron Nkomba have joined the practice as associate directors, while Alistair Cameron has been promoted to joint managing director, with specific responsibility for Scotland.

 Certified Passivhaus designer, Donald Simpson, has more than 20 years of experience, including several award-winning and complex University developments and refurbishments, as well as the leadership of largescale University campus masterplans.

He joins a team of 16 Certified Passivhaus designers at ECD, which is pioneering the UK adoption of the Passivhaus standard and principles to optimise building energy performance and support sustainability goals.

Ron Nkomba also has extensive education experience, including the delivery of three RIBA award winning schools, as well as experience in the residential and workplace sectors.

In his new role, he’ll draw on his 20 years of experience to support the London team overseeing and managing a variety of their new build and retrofit projects, working with public and private sector clients across the sectors.

Alistair Cameron steps up from director to joint managing director, marking another successful milestone in his career with ECD Architects.

He joined the practice in 2009 and has been instrumental in the delivery of major projects including the £12m BREEAM Excellent, new build Stevenson HIVE facility for the University of Glasgow, the refurbishment and reconfiguration of the historic Royal College, and the development of building decarbonisation plans for the University of Strathclyde, University of Dundee and the University of Edinburgh.

 In his new role, Alistair will work alongside joint managing director James Traynor, who has responsibility for the practice’s delivery in England.

Alistair, said: “It’s a particularly exciting and significant time for the development of energy efficient and environmentally conscious buildings, both here in Scotland and across the UK.

"We’re involved in the Passivhaus Trusts’ industry-wide initiative to promote the review of the Scottish equivalent for the Passivhaus standard, and there’s growing interest in how the Standard’s principles can reduce energy costs and emissions, while also improving wellbeing for building users.

"Our joint managing director structure enhances our capabilities to effectively meet this growing intrigue and demand.”

James Traynor, added: “Factors such as the Government’s school rebuilding programme, education sector goals to improve energy efficiency, reduce building and estate running costs, transition to net zero, and enhance the comfort of learning environments, are all creating curiosity about Passivhaus.

"This is also driving appetite among other public-sector organisations, and we’re developing our team to stay ahead of demand.

 “Highly experienced, knowledgeable architects like Donald and Ron bring a wealth of insights that fit perfectly with our team, and we’re looking forward to further advancing the development of Passivhaus Certified buildings throughout the UK.”

Passivhaus is a technical standard that provides a design and construction process to ensure quality and deliver low energy buildings which can be externally certified.

It adopts a whole-building approach based on clear, measured targets for a building’s energy performance, airtightness and thermal comfort.

For further information please visit: www.ecda.co.uk. 

Latest news

1

Airframe Designs appoints four new senior specialists to drive growth strategy ; Jerrod Hartley, Tom Baynes, Phillip le Mottee, Paul Burrow, Martin Stones and Chris Fleet

Airframe Designs appoints four new senior specialists to drive growth strategy

05 Aug 2025

2

Lancashire’s Fhunded VC programme celebrates over £21m of early-stage investments Rory Southworth and Troy Wood from Fhunded, Angelene Woodland from The British Business Bank

Lancashire’s Fhunded VC programme celebrates over £21m of early-stage investments

05 Aug 2025

3

Beever and Struthers and Menzies LLP merge to form a leading national force in accountancy and business advisory services Maria Hallows, executive partner Beever and Struthers, Simon Massey, managing partner Menzies LLP and Caroline Monk, executive partner Beever and Struthers

Beever and Struthers and Menzies LLP merge to form a leading national force in accountancy and business advisory services

04 Aug 2025

4

Edge Hill University tops the North West for employment after graduation once again Edge Hill University graduates

Edge Hill University tops the North West for employment after graduation once again

31 Jul 2025

5

New hire at Two Stories following raft of digital wins Anthony Rigby

New hire at Two Stories following raft of digital wins

31 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancashire Business Day 2025
241122lbvlancashiredaylhp0647web
Networking
27 Nov 2025

Lancashire Business Day 2025

Burnley FC , Burnley, BB10 4BX

12:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin