On the move – key appointments continue in May

Colette Carroll, market director for strategic rail at Atkins, has been appointed to the Railway Industry Association (RIA) Board, one of several key infrastructure appointments announced so far in May.

Carroll will play a key role in the strategic direction and governance of RIA – the UK’s national trade body for suppliers to the railway industry, as one of the organisation’s 13 RIA Board members.

Commenting on her Board appointment, Carroll said: “This is a pivotal time for the rail industry with priorities such as decarbonisation and digital transition, presenting both opportunities and challenges. 

“In the face of continuous change, the cross-sector collaboration and knowledge sharing facilitated through RIA membership has become more valuable and vital than ever. 

“Joining the RIA Board gives me an opportunity to help shape the future of UK rail and provide member companies with the support and representation they need to succeed.”

Carroll, who was awarded an OBE for services to the rail industry in 2013, brings over 20 years’ senior experience to the RIA Board. 

She joined Atkins in 2022, and in her role, oversees the consultancy’s offering to the UK rail market, which ranges from strategic advisory services to the delivery of large, complex engineering projects. 

Prior to this Carroll held senior roles at HS2, including that of land and property director, and in government, where she led a £7bn+ rail franchise portfolio and worked on operational planning and infrastructure development for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Global construction consultancy, Soben, has appointed Tom Harrison, former Global COO of Turner & Townsend (T&T), as its new strategic advisor.

Harrison will work closely with Soben’s executive team to help accelerate the firm’s global expansion. 

His expertise in scaling international professional services businesses will be instrumental in driving Soben’s continued growth ambitions. 

A veteran of the construction industry, Harrison spent 43 years with T&T, joining them when they were just 100 people. 

He saw the business transform from a regional QS practice in the northeast of England, to a global business with 5000 employees and operations in over 100 countries. 

Working closely with industry leaders like Vince Clancy, Harrison has first-hand experience of the scale-up journey Soben is on. 

He will be using this experience to help Soben navigate the challenges of scaling a global professional services organisation. 

In the last year, Soben has grown to 250 people worldwide, adding capability in Singapore and Australia to existing operations in North and South America, Europe and Africa. 

With their unique combination of traditional quantity surveying and hands-on commercial experience, the Scottish consultancy is on a course to reach 1000 staff by 2028.

National property consultancy Carter Jonas has expanded its operations in Nottingham, appointing Andrew Prowse as a partner in its infrastructure team. 

Carter Jonas opened in Nottingham last year, marking its second site in the region, having launched in Birmingham in 2016.

Its Nottingham space at Cumberland House, 35 Park Row, is initially supporting the ongoing expansion of its Infrastructure and Energy business - which has grown exponentially over the last ten years, having secured several client mandates to assist in the delivery of a number of flagship schemes across the UK. 

Prowse joins from Bruton Knowles with more than 15 years of experience. 

He has a background in commercial property, specialising in compulsory purchase and compensation in the infrastructures sector.

He has advised on land assembly for infrastructure and regeneration projects across the UK, working for many national operators, including National Grid, Western Power Distribution, Northern Powergrid, Severn Trent Water and Cadent Gas.

At Carter Jonas, Prowse will work closely with Christian Green, head of its Midlands practice, helping to lead the eight-strong Nottingham team and grow the business’ regional presence.

With a deep-rooted knowledge of the region, and extensive experience advising public and private sector clients, he will play a pivotal role in several client projects. 

Leading construction consultant, Currie & Brown, has announced a series of new hires to boost the firm’s technical expertise, and deliver advisory services to lenders and investors across a raft of large-scale PPP projects across the UK and internationally. 

The new team is made up of Jonathan Wilson, director, Simon Bate and Liam Potts, associate directors and Andrew Henderson, FM consultant.

The team boasts over 60 years of combined industry experience, across a portfolio of social infrastructure projects ranging from Government Accommodation such as HM Treasury, to major healthcare projects such as the Royal London and St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.

The team will complement Currie & Brown’s existing PPP expertise, with each new member bringing unique and long-standing experience of PPP projects. Their exceptional reputations and skill set in this market will significantly increase Currie & Brown’s contribution to delivering many of these projects across the UK.

During the next decade nearly 300 major PFI contracts in the UK covering a range of assets, including hospitals, prisons, and schools, will reach the end of their term. The team’s combined insight and expertise means they will be able to offer support and advice as assets transition back from private sector operation. 

Beyond the UK, the new team will also bolster Currie & Brown’s capacity to leverage its existing work in the Middle East and expand into Africa, where parent company, Dar Group, is already a major player.

UK retirement properties specialist Inspired Villages, has bolstered its leadership team as Neal Dale takes on the role of chief development and property officer and James Cobb will become chief customer officer.

Both are originators of the firm.

Reporting into the CEO, the roles will be at the forefront of delivering Inspired Villages’ growth ambitions through its pillars of buying sites well, building on time and budget whilst driving an unerring focus on putting the customer first.

Experienced highways specialist John Swift has joined Waterman’s Glasgow team as associate director to take a leading role in developing Waterman’s nation-wide DRIMS (Dynamic Response Intelligent Monitoring) offering. 

Prior to joining Waterman, John was head of business development for Gaist Solutions, where he worked with local authorities to develop strategic planning and development improvements.

With over two decades in the highways sector, his extensive portfolio is punctuated by success and innovation across the UK and Europe, including the UK’s first LED Road Safety and Wireless Vehicle Detection trial. 

Earlier this month, it was also announced that Turner & Townsend, had bolstered its UK digital business with two new appointments.

Dr Ade Awonaike joined the firm as director of data and analytics in the company’s real estate team, and Christopher Frost has started as director of data and analytics to support infrastructure clients.

Meanwhile, Buro Happold has appointed Marc Barone as its new chief operating officer.