Alison Watson MBE is a former land surveyor and Founder and Chief Executive of Class Of Your Own (COYO), an award-winning education consultancy and social enterprise she established in 2009.

She created the accredited “Design Engineer Construct!” programme for secondary schools, supported by leading companies, professional bodies and universities through COYO’s Adopt A School scheme.

The programme is delivered across the UK and internationally, linking education with industry and career pathways.

Alison is expanding Class Of Your Own in Australia, supporting engagement with Brisbane 2032 and inspiring young people to join the construction and built environment sector.

A passionate advocate for geospatial surveying, she served as President of CICES from 2024 to 2025. She holds CICES, CIAT and RIBA honorary fellowships and UEL and Heriot Watt honorary doctorates in education and engineering and was awarded an MBE in 2018 for services to education.