John Hobson spent his working career as a civil servant working mostly in the environment and local government areas. His last job before retirement was as Construction Director at DTI, following the machinery of government changes in 2001 which transferred construction from DETR. In that post he played a part in Sir John Egan's report "Rethinking Construction" and its subsequent implementation.

Since retiring John has pursued a role as an independent policy analyst specialising in change management, construction, sustainability, and education and training. He is particularly interested in improving the relationship and dialogue between industry and academe, and acts as champion for the Accelerating Change in Built Environment Education initiative partly based at Salford. He has also worked on off site manufacturing methods, and sustainable buildings.

He sees his Visiting Professor role as an opportunity to test the quality of dialogue in practice, and also to help the School understand better the political and regulatory framework within which it and the industry operate.