Okana was created in 2024 to build on the success of Ryder Alliance, and BIM Academy – an internationally respected digital consultancy founded by Ryder.
This marks a pivotal moment in BIM Academy and Ryder Alliance’s evolution as it brings together its global expertise from different specialisms, sectors and locations to offer unparalleled support and services for its clients.
Harnessing its team of strategists, designers, researchers and technologists, alongside a global network of partners, Okana is set to build on the hugely successful foundations of BIM Academy and will continue to help shape the built environment globally.
Established in 2010, BIM Academy was born from a partnership between Northumbria University and Ryder. Over the past decade it has grown to be one of the world’s leading strategic consultants within the global digital built environment, working in over 40 countries and delivering almost 1100 projects, to a construction value of over $10 billion (US Dollars).
With a consistent focus on using innovative smart processes and digital technologies to enable better information management, BIM Academy has helped clients such as BMW, LEGO, Sydney Opera House and The Royal Household make more informed, data driven decisions.
Continuing the role of Managing Director, Dr Graham Kelly, will not only oversee the business transformation, but also the introduction of new areas of built environment expertise – including place shaping, economics, strategy and intelligence – all complementing Okana’s comprehensive client offering, which includes safety and sustainability.
Kelly said: “When BIM Academy was established, training was a fundamental part of our service offering, in recent years this training has progressed to learning and development and we felt we had outgrown the name BIM Academy. We have succeeded in offering so much more than what was originally intended for the business and our global growth has won us an enviable reputation as a leading global strategic consultancy.
“The time is right to move to a new name and under Okana we can expand further and offer more services as we bring in new partners and new future thinkers.”
In July 2023 Ryder Architecture took over as the complete shareholder of BIM Academy and will continue to be the sister company of Okana. The former Ryder Alliance, a global network delivering collaborative built environment projects around the world, has also now integrated within Okana, strengthening the geographical reach and breadth and depth of expertise on offer.
Jonathan Seebacher, partner at Ryder who formerly led the Ryder Alliance, said: “At Ryder, we are extremely proud to see the launch of Okana. Having overseen the development of Ryder Alliance for the past decade it’s fantastic to see it’s progression into a global pioneering consultancy. The success to date is testament to the culture and collaborative approach of each of our partners – an approach which lies at the heart of Okana and one which will see us continuing to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients around the world.”
Find out more about Okana’s expertise, projects and people here.