Graduate profile
Abiola Aderibigbe

Abiola Aderibigbe

"I am excited about deepening my relationship with the University as an alum and participating in opportunities for personal reflection, learning, and connecting with the diverse Surrey community."

Course

Law LLB (Hons)

Graduation year

2013

Abiola is a distinguished corporate executive and global legal practitioner, specialising in Technology, Corporate & Commercial Law, and the Built Environment (Construction, Energy, Infrastructure & Engineering). With a career spanning high-value contract negotiations, risk management, governance, and compliance, he has advised multinational organisations and industry leaders across multiple sectors and jurisdictions.

As Group Head of Legal & Commercial at the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA Group), Abiola provides expert legal services, contract reviews, negotiations, dispute resolution, and regulatory advisory to support BESA members in the UK’s dynamic construction and engineering sector. He is also Global General Counsel at How to Change the World (HTCTW Global Limited), a pioneering technology (Ed-Tech) organisation dedicated to driving global social impact. His practice extends across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and North America, ensuring legal and commercial security in complex cross-border transactions and infrastructure projects.

In addition to his legal practice, Abiola is Director & General Counsel at The Security Institute, where he leads on governance, compliance, and legal strategy, while also serving as Chairman of the Ethics Committee, shaping professional standards in security and risk management.

Beyond his executive roles, Abiola is a respected academic and thought leader, serving as Course Director & Module Leader on the International Construction Law LLM at Liverpool John Moores University (via Informa Connect). His PhD research explores codifying statutory good faith to mitigate adversarialism in the UK construction industry, reinforcing his commitment to policy development and industry reform.

Abiola has been recognised as a 2025 Global Law Experts Awards Nominee for Construction & Engineering Law Expert of the Year (England, UK) and has received industry accolades, including the BESA President’s Award 2024. His thought leadership and industry impact have been widely acknowledged, having been named among Africa’s Top 25 Legal Practitioners in the A.L.L Africa Lex 25 and featured in Lawverse Magazine and Law & Behold’s Wisdom from the Bar.

As a regular speaker at international conferences, a published legal and industry commentator, and a mentor, Abiola continues to shape best practices in law, sustainability, and the built environment, driving change through education, innovation, and advocacy.

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