Stantec appoints new director of urban regeneration for the UK and Ireland

Stantec has appointed Doug McDougall as director of urban regeneration for the UK and Ireland.

Based in Reading, he joins Stantec from WSP, where he served as sector lead for urban regeneration.

One of his primary roles, alongside Justin Kenworthy - a planning director in Stantec’s London team - will be to co-lead the Urban Regeneration Sector team and strategy for the UK and Ireland. 

McDougall will be working with colleagues across the business to draw together collaborative teams, support learning, and enhance visibility of Stantec’s regenerative work.

He has comprehensive experience supporting the design and delivery of large-scale interdisciplinary regeneration endeavours across the country. 

In his previous roles, he has been involved with transformational Stantec-supported urban improvement schemes, including Barking Riverside and Sugar House Island in Stratford, London.

He will now work to leverage the company’s early stage town planning, urban design, development economics, and wider design expertise. 

“Urban regeneration has, first and foremost, got to be centred around making fantastic places for people to live in and thrive,” said McDougall.

“My passion for urban improvement is rooted in supporting social mobility and improving quality of life within communities.”

National planning and development consultancy Lichfields has appointed a new planning director and an associate director to its London office.

Anna Snow has joined as a planning director, bringing extensive experience in managing large, multidisciplinary teams on significant urban developments across the capital. 

Sakhi Sumaria has been appointed as an associate director, bringing a wealth of expertise in complex infrastructure projects and economic planning.

Matthew Spry, head of the London office at Lichfields, said: “We are pleased to welcome Anna and Sakhi to our 100-strong London team.

"Their appointments strengthen our services, enhance client connections and support Lichfields as we maintain our pre-eminent position in the market, advising on the biggest and best projects.”

Snow will lead a team focused on shaping and delivering residential, hotel, commercial and mixed-use developments in the capital, particularly within the Central Activities Zone and inner London boroughs.

Sumaria joins from Arup. Her role will focus on enhancing Lichfields’ economic advisory and business case capabilities, drawing on her extensive experience in strategy development for public sector clients and major regeneration and infrastructure projects.

The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has appointed Noel Travers as its new chairman. 

He succeeds David Tonkin, who is standing down after seven years, and will start in post on June 3 - chairing his first board meeting later that month.

Travers – the MD of international railway engineering solutions and services firm and RIA member, XRail – has extensive experience and knowledge of all aspects of the railway industry, including infrastructure, rolling stock and the supply chain. 

He served on the RIA Board from 2018 to 2021 and as chairman of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Railway Division between 2022 and 2023 which reflects his commitment to engineering excellence and professionalism.

He intends to split his time between his role at Xrail and the role of RIA chairman.

“It is a great honour and privilege to become chairman of the UK’s oldest and most distinguished railway trade association, especially as it approaches its 150 year anniversary in 2025,” he said.

“Both the start of a new control period, CP7, and a new post-election government, whatever its colours, this year are real opportunities to restate the hugely important role the UK rail supply sector plays in creating jobs and GVA across the national economy, as well as supporting innovation and skills in rail.”

RIA has also appointed Matt Taylor as its new business engagement manager for RIA Northern Ireland. 

As a rail professional with 25 years of experience in the industry, he brings significant experience and strategic leadership. 

Ground engineering consultancy Civic Earth has expanded its team with the appointment of Alex Petts as senior geotechnical engineer and Kiera I’Anson as graduate geotechnical engineer.

Petts joins from Fairhurst, where he led multiple projects including site investigations, data analysis and risk assessments, as well as the delivery of Access for All schemes for Northern Trains, Network Rail and the Department for Transport.

He previously worked at Lithos Consulting, where he supported environmental monitoring and geotechnical appraisals for residential and commercial development schemes.

I’Anson also joins from Fairhurst, where she worked on a broad range of geotechnical projects, supporting the delivery of ground investigations, slope stability analysis and geo-environmental reports to support projects across the infrastructure, transport and energy sectors. 

In their new roles, they will help to grow Civic Earth’s presence, broaden its services and expand its portfolio of projects across the North, including working closely with its sister company Civic Engineers’ studios in Leeds and Manchester. 

The appointments follow a period of strong growth at Civic Earth. Recent projects include delivering site investigation for Oldham Council’s Civic Centre, the first step in the plans to transform the town centre; providing geo-environmental engineering consultancy services for the transformational £65m Blackpool Multiversity, a state-of-the art higher education campus; and the Mayfield development in Manchester, the home of the city’s first new park in 100 years.