What happens when you bring thousands of people from across the built environment together and give them two days to step away from the everyday, challenge their thinking and learn from each other? For Matthew Jackson, that’s exactly where the value of BIM World Copenhagen lies. Matthew is Director of Global Product Marketing at RIB Software and co-founder of ZERO Construct.
With a background in architecture and more than 15 years of experience working with BIM, construction technology and sustainability, he has been part of BIM World Copenhagen since the very beginning – back when the launch event gathered just 200 people.
On 16–17 September 2026, he returns to BIM World Copenhagen at K.B. Hallen, this time to take the moderator’s seat and guide the conversations on the Main Stage.
We caught up with Matthew ahead of the event to talk about his journey into construction technology, why he keeps coming back to Copenhagen, and why the industry’s attention shouldn’t be captured by AI alone.
Can you start by introducing yourself and telling us a bit about your background?
Construction has always fascinated me, so I went to university to become an architect. I graduated in 2008 at exactly the wrong time! I worked in the field, but by fate I ended up in construction technology. I never returned to design but found my niche driving change through the industry by getting involved in BIM back in 2010.
Sustainability was always a thread I wanted to pull. My 2007 thesis aimed to understand how construction supply chains naturally make construction carbon-heavy. I bring this thread into my day job at RIB Software and also into driving ZERO Construct, where we enable and educate people to make real changes on real projects.
I wouldn’t work in any other industry!
What made you say yes to taking on the moderator role at BIM World Copenhagen this year, and what are you most looking forward to?
I really do enjoy geeking out at these sorts of events. We work in a huge industry, and yet our work feels niche, despite having a huge impact on the world around us.
I love hearing about how different people and companies are solving problems successfully, but also learning from failures. It is an opportunity to see old faces and meet new ones while learning where we are heading. It is a great opportunity to learn something new.
You’ve attended BIM World Copenhagen since the launch event with only 200 people. What keeps bringing you back?
The people and the network. These events are catalysts to get people away from their desks to learn from each other about what’s new, what’s working and what’s happening next. We really needed this sort of event in Scandinavia, and I’m so happy we have one.
What makes BIM World Copenhagen valuable for professionals in the built environment industry?
The ability to step away from the noise and learn what is happening around us. Construction is a very busy industry, moving from one project to the next with little time for introspection. An event like this gives you time to look over the wall and see what’s happening. Are you ahead or behind? Who else has the same challenges as you? Is there a common approach to fixing them? Is there a technology or a method you missed?
Which topics or conversations do you believe the industry needs to focus on right now?
There is, of course, a lot of noise around AI, and in some ways understandably. But this doesn’t change the fact that other topics need to remain in the lens of our industry: sustainability and data. We still have the same challenges we’ve had for many years around time, cost and resources, with carbon as an added dimension. AI will help, but it is not the silver bullet for all our problems, just as other trends have passed through construction.
For me, I think Scandinavia still has sustainability in its sights, but this is not the same globally. It would be great to see what the trend is this year and if it is similar to other major global events I have been to – data, data, and more data!
Join the conversation.
From AI and data to sustainability, technology and the future of construction, there will be plenty to unpack when the industry comes together in Copenhagen. Meet Matthew Jackson at BIM World Copenhagen on 16–17 September 2026 at KB Hallen, where he’ll be moderating the Main Stage and helping turn two days of ideas, experiences and different perspectives into conversations that move the industry forward.
Join Matthew and the rest of the industry at BIM World Copenhagen 2026. Get your ticket and be part of the conversation.
