Modernising critical infrastructure has been driving new opportunities across the industry – and with it a flurry of job changes.
Two big firms revealed they had appointed specialists to senior roles ready to deliver projects in roads and water.
And firms focused on net-zero work also revealed appointments aimed at developing opportunities.
Data highway
Louise Haining
Balfour Beatty made the big announcement of the week, with its Connect Plus Services permanently appointing chartered engineer Louise Haining as managing director.
Previously an interim, she has responsibility for leading the firm’s M25 operations. Haining joined the firm in 2017 from Costain and held previous roles with the Environment Agency and National Highways. Career highlights include working on schemes including Hungerford Bridge in London and the Cliff Edge Coastal Protection Scheme in Kent. She was an early adopter of geo-referenced 2D and 3D technology, which provides more than 23 billion data points in the process.
“My focus will remain on data as a strategic imperative to prioritise decision making so that we keep the M25 safe and fit for purpose,” Haining said.
You’ve been framed
Scott Beard
United Living Group revealed that its subsidiary United Living Infrastructure Services (ULIS) had appointed Scott Beard as director of water, after it won places on major AMP8 frameworks in the past six months.
Beard has three decades of experience, previously as head of water engineering at Dwr Cymru Welsh Water.
Beard said he was joining at a point when “the water industry will face some of its toughest challenges in delivering world-class regulatory performance while investing record amounts in its infrastructure across water and wastewater services”.
Concrete suits
Concrete specialist Kilnbridge appointed Darren Wickins as construction director.
He moved to the East London firm from Aspect Contracts, where he was a director. He also held roles at Keltbray over 19 years.
Shore start
Independent advisory firm Turley has recruited Nicola Riley as senior director in its net zero infrastructure team.
She joined from WSP, where she was head of renewables and brings with her more than 23 years’ experience including onshore and offshore wind projects plus energy from waste and biofuels.
She said: “The new Labour government’s commitment to net zero is evident through announcements on an onshore wind taskforce and the establishment of Great British Energy, alongside a £500m increase in the budget made available for the recent Contracts for Difference Auction Round 6.”
Vivid changes
Homebuilder Vivid has hired a new non-executive director to boost its development programme.
Ian Playford joins from Ashfield where he was a non-executive director. He previously worked for Kingfisher Group Plc private equity businesses as well as the UK Government.
