Ordinary member to ICE Trustee Board 2024

I’m an experienced ICE Trustee, business director and passionate civil engineer committed to the continual improvement and development of our profession.

I’m well-suited for the role of trustee for the learning society (LS) due to my experience, skills and commitment to ensuring our institution pursues its activities in accordance with relevant by-laws and our Charter, fulfilling all legal and regulatory obligations.

Chairing the LS Committee: My leadership experience as a business owner and recent tenures as a council member and trustee for Membership, demonstrate my ability to lead, communicate, shape and deliver a strategy aligned with the priorities of the institution. I have extensive experience chairing and leading boards and committees for ICE and other organisations, as well as being an active advisor on behalf of industry including current roles with Sydney University and Xpede software company.

Professional experience: While my background primarily lies in industry leadership, infrastructure development and delivery, I continually research worldwide industry innovation and practice. As an infrastructure advisor to Sydney University identifying key global issues, innovation opportunities and knowledge development and by sharing ideas within a variety of forums, I ensure my professional knowledge is at the forefront of engineering. I am committed to promoting technical excellence within our profession, including mentoring young engineers preparing for professional qualifications and being a professional reviewer.

Experience in research and innovation: I spearhead all ICE programs in Australia including more recently ICE’s specialist knowledge initiatives including EBI, SAID and NEC. I’m an active member of the ICEs NEC Australia advisory group and led the research and development of NSW digital engineering standards and guidelines for the NSW Government in 2018. In 2023 I was engaged as an infrastructure specialist and appointed to the Xpede’s board.

Promotion of the profession: I re-established the NSW committee as chairperson in 2010 and in 2018 I instigated, curated, delivered and chaired the ICE Bicentenary Asia Pacific’s two-day conference, demonstrating my commitment to innovation and continued learning in our profession. This experience required drawing on my leadership skills, and my ability to develop effective relationships and collaborate across government, policy makers, decision makers, international businesses, and academic institutions. A key outcome included autonomously raising $80,000 in funding, to deliver a conference independently to One Great George Street.

Commitment to ethical standards and governance: Having previously held leadership positions for the institution, I’ve consistently adhered to the high ethical standards set by the ICE's Code of Professional Conduct. I’m dedicated to upholding its values and promoting these standards within our industry. As an experienced business owner and professional, I have a clear understanding of the duty of care and prudence associated with Directorship and trusteeship, as well as the importance of identifying and declaring any potential conflicts of interest.

I believe my directorship and trustee experience, commitment to professional development, and ethical standards make me an ideal candidate for ICE’s LS Trustee. My proven track record of success and dedication to advancing the civil engineering profession, makes me a valuable asset to our institution’s trustee board.

Proposed by: Keith Howells, Liz Waugh, Julie Wood, David Porter, Paula McMahon.

It is an honour to stand as candidate for trustee of our great institution, seeking election for the learning society portfolio. The position of Trustee comes with significant responsibilities which involves ensuring the best interests and reputation of the ICE are adequately represented in line with its vision and strategy.

With the ICE recognised globally as the world’s first professional engineering body and a foremost engineering institution, it is my strong view that providing an environment which fosters continuous improvement through knowledge acquisition, research and innovation is key to ensuring that we collectively tackle the challenges of engineering a better world. Whether these be the challenges of climate change, building resilient infrastructures, deconstructing complex interdependency risks, tackling poverty, rebuilding war-torn communities, what sets us engineers apart is the knowledge, collaborations and partnerships that we form to bring about these widely sought-after solutions that the world urgently desire. As engineers, we have a great part to play in tackling these pertinent issues, but we cannot do it alone. It requires multi-sector, multi-disciplinary and multi-agency knowledge and research collaborations; it requires great vision and leadership to drive these to achieve purposeful results. This is the passion behind my decision to put myself forward for this position and it will be a great honour to receive your vote and work with the Institution to achieve these noble objectives.

My professional experience spans over two decades and includes a diverse blend of industry and academic research involvement which has allowed me to forge partnerships across both sectors to enhance my contribution to knowledge and continuous learning. I have firsthand industry experience of providing engineering leadership for the delivery of some of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes in the UK and overseas. A substantial part of my professional experience has also involved carrying out rich academic research and contributing to research knowledge and innovation, with research publications in peer reviewed, high impact journals. I have also collaborated with academics from the University of Oxford where I led the development of one of the most complete UK national scale research modelling of the complex infrastructure interdependencies across the entire UK railway network, stress testing it to diverse hazard scenarios and studying its vulnerability and resilience.

I have served as a member of the ICE’s Standards Panel for several years. I am also an ICE professional reviewer and regularly work with younger engineers who are seeking professional qualification with the ICE. I have mentored a substantial number of candidates who are now professional qualified.

Serving the ICE in the role of trustee for the learning society is very important to me because of the key role that knowledge, research and innovation, emerging technologies and continuous learning play towards our desire for engineering a better world. I pledge to harness my rich experience as a practicing engineer and strong academic research background to forge the right collaborations and partnerships that will contribute to the governance oversight of the institution’s learning society activity and knowledge programme.

Proposed by: David Davey, Hameed Jehanfo, Naima Westmaas, Ryan Sobers, Lianna Barrow.

For the last three years, I have had the privilege of being the yrustee for Policy and External Affairs, as which, I have played a significant role in helping the Institution develop and adapt its approach so that our profession leads rather than follows, particularly on key issues such as climate change and infrastructure transformation. However, I fervently believe that there is more to do - that is why I am seeking election again.

If elected again, I would be committed to making sure that work continues, raising the profile of the institution and the influence of our Membership, acting in the best interests of the institution to maintain its reputation, set its vision and strategy and direct its activities.

How we rise to the challenge of climate change, deliver on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, whilst adapting to a world of increasing technological change, presents enormous challenges and opportunities for our profession. With elections around the world in 2024, and the likelihood of a new government in the UK by the end of this year, our ability to collaborate and persuade will be more important than ever.

My contribution to the work of the Policy Team is clear evidence of addressing these points and of my suitability to continue with the Trustee role. In particular, over the last three years, I have:

• Given evidence to a number of House of Commons and House of Lords Select Committees
• Provided briefing to MPs and Lords
• Appeared on national and local media as a spokesperson for the institution
• Acted as Lead Fellow on a range of policy positions and green papers
• Helped established the Fellows Network and expanded the role of the Early Careers Network in contributing to the policy work of the institution
• Chaired the Policy and External Affairs Committee
• Supported a significant increase in international activity and
• Stood in for the President at Presidential Roundtables, designed to inform future policy positions.

As a member of the trustee board, I have overseen the introduction of the Chartered Infrastructure Engineer qualification and started to shape the review of the ICE Plan in 2025, the preparation of which will be a key task for the incoming Trustee.

Prior to becoming a trustee in November 2021, I had extensive experience working with national and regional politicians and officials. I spent two years as interim strategy director at transport for the North (TfN), leading the work to produce its first Strategic Transport Plan, and have continued to provide support to the TfN team as they embark on an update of the Plan, due for publication in March. I have also continued to develop core policy positions with a range of Local and Combined Authorities across the North. In all cases, this has provided me with direct experience of persuading politicians and officials to implement policy changes through building alliances, consensus and cutting through to the core of an issue.

Proposed by: David Porter, Judith Sykes, Richard McGuckin, Paula McMahon, Steve Lee.

I am a chartered civil engineer and chartered surveyor. I work as a construction adjudicator, mediator, expert determiner and training consultant. I am a keen advocate of engineers behaving ethically in the many challenges that our profession faces. Working in dispute resolution often gives me an insight into those challenges, in terms of engineering, people and finance.

I have considerable professional conduct expertise. I am a former member of the professional conduct panels at ICE (3 years) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (2 years). I have just completed 4 years as a member of the professional conduct committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the last two as chair. I am the vice chair of ICE’s dispute resolution committee. I am a mentor to several younger people in engineering and in construction dispute resolution supporting their professional development.

I understand the requirements of being a charitable Trustee having been a council member and trustee at the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (3 years) where I helped launch that body’s successful initiatives to promote equality and diversity. I was also a trustee of my local Scouts group registered charity when I was its treasurer. I am familiar with the need for good governance and what that entails for a global organisation that acts in the public interest and in accordance with its obligations to various other public bodies and in accordance with the law.

My work in dispute resolution has given me an understanding of legal compliance, conflicts of interest and the need to honour obligations voluntarily entered into.

I passed ICE’s law and contract examinations some years ago and was, until recently, one of the examiners for these qualifications. I have a diploma in construction adjudication and sit on 10 bodies’ adjudication panels, including ICE’s.

I have supported ICE’s work since joining as a student in 1990. I have sat on various committees and groups both nationally and in NW England, where I am based. I deliver unpaid training courses to ICE Local Associations (LAs) and have provided ad-hoc help to LA’s in training and ethics issues.

I am an author on ICE’s professional reviews (4 books) and on NEC contracts (4 books), all but one of these published by ICE or NEC.

I would be honoured to be a trustee of ICE and I have the requisite experience demanded by the Institution for this role.

Proposed by: Richard Bayfield, Richard Coackley, Susan Francombe, Shiona Openshaw, Deborah Scott.

I am a well-known and respected ICE member who has gained a trouble shooter reputation on difficult and complex projects including the $1.4bn DubAl project and the £168m SNF Emulsion Plant. As lead engineer for the early design stages of Hinkley Point C I coordinated complex standards and laws across countries, disciplines and stakeholders. I chaired meetings/been the independent person to resolve conflicts and has been involved in many technical/contractual/legal challenges. I have dealt with internal audits and conduct issues from documenting statements for many HR related matters to being asked to be an independent companion during disciplinary proceedings.

I have directed the ICE activities of committees and improved/refined processes for decades. As an ICE Trustee, lead reviewer and prolific mentor I have in depth knowledge of the ICE Code of Conduct and bylaws. Since 1992, I have been a strong leader and influencer on the ICE through championing ideas to shape and improve the organisation and its reputation at all levels. As ICE Trustee and ICE Proceedings Editor I have been setting an ethical and strategic vision and widening ICEs reach via many avenues. My contributions led to receiving the 2023 Warren Medal.

During my time as an ICE volunteer and trustee I have overseen key changes, made constructive ethical challenges which have led to enhanced legal compliance and enhancements to key documents (incl bylaws and ICE ethics strategy) and processes (incl GDPR compliance).

I have led and transformed UKRAC for over 2 years. I invited members to have open and frank discussions about their volunteer experiences and tackled the issues and significantly enhanced governance and transparency. I also identified wider changes to ensure workable governance for all the main standing committees. The UK Regions are now more effective, inclusive and accountable.

As honorary editor for the flagship ICE Proceedings I inspired all international Editors to adopt UNSDG keyword referencing and an inclusive recruitment process reinforcing and enhancing sustainability globally.

I have a credible record of leadership in her many voluntary and project roles. For many years I have advised Teesside University and steered course developments, new standards and improvements. My contributions have been acknowledged with an honorary professorship.

As an influential leader I am repeatedly asked to represent the ICE and industry on a wide range of topics to many audiences including difficult subjects addressing ethical questions. As trustee of several organisations I navigate legal and governance issues in areas including charity law and GDPR. As chair of several groups I navigate conflicting interests as well as sensitive/political/purdah related items.

I truly believe we are at a crucial time in history when the decisions and actions of every civil engineer is crucial to maintaining the ICEs reputation due to our effect on planetary health. I would very much welcome the opportunity to continue to act in the best interests of the institution with a focus on Professional Conduct and Ethics.

Proposed by: Keith Howells, Jonathan Spruce, Gorden Masterton, Julie Wood, Tony Gates.

I am seeking election to the ICE Trustee Board in the portfolio for ethics and professional conduct. My industry experience and engagement with ICE and other bodies, over many years, have provided me with a wealth of diverse knowledge that allows me to understand the everyday challenges that members face. As the institution evolves to meet modern day demands such as the climate emergency and the digital revolution whilst embracing wider infrastructure professionals it is vital to continue to frame the ethical standards that shape the way that ICE Members, and the profession, work.

I have 35 years industry experience in both major contracting and consultancy. My early career was spent in site construction before taking on a senior technical role and then moving into consultancy where I have spent the past eighteen years. I am now an executive director and a partner at Tony Gee and Partners. These roles have allowed me to develop robust leadership and management skills that will ensure I can make a positive contribution to the trustee board.

I have a passion for ensuring the ICE standards are upheld. Of my 35 years career experience nearly thirty of them have been involved with the Institution, and other organisations, in some way. I have served both regionally and nationally and have Chaired or been part of a number of committees and panels. These have included Membership Committee, Professional Reviews Panel, Qualifications Panel, Professionalism Panel and the South-west region. Importantly, for this role, I have been a member of the Professional Conduct Panel for three terms, and I served as an ICE Council Member and Trustee from 2006-12. These roles have brought me close to other professionals and enables me to draw from a diverse range of experience. Additionally, as a Reviewer for some twenty-five years I have been fortunate to conduct professional reviews and training in various parts of the world.

I also continue to mentor young engineers to achieve their own professional qualifications. I believe this has strengthened my understanding of the institution and I am able to appreciate the broad expectations of the members both current and future, wherever they are. So, as a member of the trustee board I will promote the highest ethical standards for the Institution and play an active and engaging part alongside other colleagues to make sure that your institution continues to develop to meet changing demands, it delivers its members aspirations and it always operates at the pinnacle of professional practice.

Proposed by: Professor Barry Clarke, Darren James, David Orr CBE, Professor David Tann, Professor Jean Venables CBE.