Driving standards and building the Golden Thread: An interview with Annie Hunn
Posted by Maddie Tribley —
Ultra-marathon runner, high-altitude hiker, dedicated fundraiser, and a valued member of the Axter team. Meet Annie Hunn, Technical Administration Manager and NBS (National Building Specification) Lead.
After more than four years with Axter, Annie recently stepped into a pivotal role that combines technical compliance, specification leadership, and the responsibility of safeguarding the Golden Thread across every project.
We spoke to Annie about what this role means, why accurate and transparent information is essential, and how her passion for endurance challenges mirrors Axter’s culture of resilience and collaboration.
Embedding the golden thread in practice
“I’m incredibly proud to take on this role,” Annie begins. “It’s an opportunity to strengthen our technical processes and specification practices so they meet the highest standards of accuracy and traceability, supporting compliance with the Building Safety Act and the principles of the Golden Thread.”
The Golden Thread is a digital record of key building information, maintained from design through to occupation, enabling dutyholders to manage safety risks and meet legal responsibilities.
Annie’s role centres on creating a clear, auditable trail of decisions, materials, and changes that impact safety. She ensures project documentation – from tapered designs to specifications and rainwater calculations – is accurate, consistent, and maintained throughout the project lifecycle.
“My focus is to ensure every piece of project information is accurate, traceable, and securely managed throughout its lifecycle,” she explains. “That clarity is critical to delivering safer buildings.”
Making specifications clear, accurate, and accessible
Annie leads the creation of Axter’s building specifications – detailed instructions that guide how a roofing project should be built and what materials should be used. These documents follow industry formats (CAWS and Uniclass) and must be accurate, clear, and tailored to each project.
“It’s about getting the details right; specifications must be robust and tailored to client requirements,” Annie says. “And making sure the whole team is confident in how we apply them.”
Axter is also upgrading to a new system called NBS Chorus, which makes it easier to share and update specifications with clients, architects, and contractors.
“As we complete our transition to NBS Chorus for managing specifications, we’ll be able to provide the right information to the right people, exactly when they need it.”
Annie is especially excited about how NBS Chorus’s revision history feature will support the Golden Thread: “It clearly highlights any new, amended, or removed requirements upon publishing. This will enable external users to easily identify and understand changes, improving clarity, reducing misunderstandings, and supporting more efficient project coordination.”
Fitness and fundraising: why the challenges matter
Outside her technical responsibilities, Annie channels her energy into Axter’s fitness and charity challenges – from the Three Peaks Challenge to the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA) Charity Challenge.
“The Three Peaks was unforgettable,” she recalls. “Climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon in under 24 hours is tough, but it brought the team closer together and helped raise nearly £5,000 for Tommy’s – a charity close to our hearts.”
Tommy’s is a charity dedicated to preventing baby loss and making pregnancy and birth safer for all.
The LRWA Challenge is another favourite. “It brings the roofing industry together in such a positive way – promoting fitness, teamwork, and raising funds for LandAid’s work to end youth homelessness.”
For Annie, these events embody Axter’s values of collaboration, integrity, and respect.
Going the distance: endurance events and personal motivation
Annie’s appetite for challenge does not end there. Over recent years, she’s taken on ultramarathons and high-altitude hikes, pushing beyond her comfort zone.
Earlier this year, she ran the London to Brighton 100km Ultramarathon, raising £1,900 for St Bartholomew's Hospital in London (Barts Charity), in memory of her late father-in-law, David.
“Over the last couple of years, I’ve pushed myself beyond my limits with high-altitude hikes and ultramarathons. Completing this challenge felt incredibly meaningful; we truly believe David was with us every step of the way,” says Annie.
AXTER CULTURE
When asked what she enjoys most about working at Axter, Annie says:
“The one thing that really stands out to me is how much it’s valued that each individual within the company contributes to the success of what we do. There may be different departments that contribute on different levels, but the contribution that each individual plays is valued and important – and that’s reflected in the culture we have here.”
Axter places strong emphasis on both professional growth. Every team member benefits from a Learning and Development (L&D) Pathway, which offers clear, structured opportunities for progression.
“This level of transparency makes it easy to see how far you can go in your current position and what steps are needed to get there,” Annie explains. “It’s empowering and motivating.”
Equally important is the company's commitment to mental health and wellbeing. Employees have access to mental health and wellbeing sessions, which can be requested whenever additional support is needed.
“That kind of care really resonates with me,” says Annie. “It’s easy to forget what someone might be going through behind the scenes, so knowing the company provides meaningful support during challenging times is not only reassuring – it speaks volumes about the values we uphold.”
This emphasis on people, purpose, and professional integrity is part of what makes Axter’s culture so unique – and so effective
Looking ahead
As Annie looks to the future, her priorities are clear: “It’s about creating systems that uphold the Golden Thread, maintaining consistency in specification, and supporting the team so we deliver excellence every time.”
Annie’s determination, leadership, and commitment to making a positive impact – both in her role and through her fundraising efforts – align with our culture here at Axter; we're so happy to have her on our team.
We are always looking for people with sharp minds and a curiosity about the world to join our team. See our careers page for our latest vacancies.
Alternatively, if you would like to discuss how we can help you with your next roofing project, we would love to hear from you, so please do get in touch.
