RCEA Annual Conference – HS2 - Taking the project forward

David Coles

David joined the Department for Transport’s High Speed 2 Rail Group in 2016 and was appointed chief engineer for the whole department in 2020. He leads a team advising on technical and operational aspects of DfT’s infrastructure projects, their influence on cost, value and risk and where we should be looking to innovate. 

He is a chartered civil engineer and director and fellow of both those institutions and former chairman of the Railway Civil Engineers’ Association.

In 2020 he completed the Infrastructure Project Authority’s Major Projects Leadership Academy and in 2021 he was elected to ICE Council.

Ian Blight

Ian is currently HS2’s Stations Technical Director, as a member of the Engineering Delivery Partner, and is also Jacob’s Global Director for High Speed Rail.

Ian commenced work on HS2 as the Head of Delivery, managing the work of the Profession Services Consultants who together with HS2, deposited the Phase 1 Bill in 2013 and then technically supported the Bill’s passage through Parliament until it’s Royal Assent in 2017. Since then, Ian has been in his current role on HS2 as the design, procurement and construction of the Phase 1 stations have progressed.

Gheorghe Nicoara

Gheorghe is a Fellow of ICE and joined HS2 team in 2020 as a Head of Track Engineering. He leads the track alignment, gauging, track system and survey team responsible for all track engineering and railway system survey across the HS2 phase 1, 2a and 2b. He is also the track subject matter expert and owner of all track and survey related standards.

Dr Alistair Hitchcock

Alistair is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Fellow of the ICE with over 20 years experience in the design and delivery of major transportation infrastructure both in the UK and Australia. He holds an Engineering Doctorate in innovative underground construction from the University of Southampton, and has worked predominantly in design consultancy at Mott MacDonald and Capita Infrastructure. He has held key leadership roles during the planning, design and implementation stages on metro, rail and high speed rail projects including Crossrail, Melbourne Metro and London Underground station upgrades.

Since 2012 Alistair has led the development of the hybrid Bill design for three sections of HS2 covering Phase 1 and Phase 2b totalling 190km of route length. He was appointed head of engineering for Phase 2 at HS2 Ltd in 2021, with responsibility for all technical and engineering aspects of the Phase 2 route.

Alistair has been involved with the ICE for over 20 years on various panels and committees including ICE Council (2012-15). He has been a Professional Reviewer since 2015 and currently co-chairs the ICE Professional Review Panel.

Alistair has been a professional reviewer since 2015. He has been actively involved with the ICE on various panels and committees, including ICE Council and co-chair of the Professional Review Panel.