Next Steps Panel Debate: What are the pinch points that could derail the UK’s infrastructure ambitions?

David Waboso CBE

Raoul Ruparel OBE

Raoul Ruparel is a Senior Director at Boston Consulting Group leading their economic work in the UK and the BCG Centre for Growth. Over recent years he has helped to spearhead BCG’s infrastructure research and thought leadership in the UK. Raoul is an expert in economic, trade and investment policy, advising both public and private sector leaders on these topics. Raoul’s previous roles include Director of Trade and Investment at Deloitte, Special Adviser to Prime Minister Theresa May on Europe, and Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU. Raoul has also previously been a member of the British Chambers of Commerce Economic Advisory Group and a contributing author for Forbes on macroeconomics.”

Julie Taylor

In September 2023, Julie Taylor took up role as Director for Commercial, Regulatory and Supply Chain in Strategic Infrastructure, the arm of National Grid which is delivering the Great Grid Upgrade The Great Grid Upgrade | Making our electricity fit for the future (nationalgrid.com). She is responsible for working with the supply chain, UK regulators and government to ensure that National Grid and their JV partners can deliver this £20bn programme, and for developing new commercial and regulatory models to allow delivery at an unprecedented pace.

Prior to this new role Julie was Chief Finance Officer for National Grid Ventures, the competitive division of National Grid  (https://www.nationalgrid.com/national-grid-ventures). In this role she was involved in business development for renewables and interconnectors in the US and the UK, as well as driving performance in the existing interconnectors (from the UK to Europe), LNG storage and gas-powered generation businesses.

Prior to joining National Grid in 2018, Julie had a thirty-year career in the public sector, qualifying as an accountant in the NHS in the early nineties and undertaking a number of senior roles in hospitals and primary care, prior to moving to central government in 2001.  In central government she held a variety of roles, including Director roles in the Prison Service, Border Force and the Ministry of Justice, where she was change leader as well as a leader of finance and other functions.  Julie’s last roles in government were as Director General for Transformation in the Home Office and Director General Corporate Services in the Ministry of Defence. 

Julie is passionate about the potential for organisations to grow and develop through well-managed change, and proud to be part of a company which is determined to lead the energy transition.

Professor Richard Wilding OBE

Richard Wilding a multi award winning business educator and executive specializing in global supply chains.

Describing his goal as “challenging and inspiring business and supply chain leaders to innovate”, he works with international companies on logistics, procurement and supply chain projects in all sectors including pharmaceutical, retail, automotive, high technology, food, drink, and professional services to name a few. He is a highly acclaimed presenter and regularly speaks at industrial conferences. As Emeritus Professor in Supply Chain Strategy at Cranfield University UK, and past Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK, Richard is recognized as one of the world’s foremost supply chain experts and has received multiple awards, including an honor from Queen Elizabeth II.

Richard is author of the highly subscribed Linkedin Learning Course “Supply Chain Fundamentals: Risk and Resilience” this has engaged over 55000 learners globally..

Rachel Skinner CBE

A member of WSP’s senior leadership team, Rachel Skinner works to raise the profile of the global firm’s UK business and protect its reputation. Previously, she led its 600-strong UK transport planning and advisory team.

In 2020-21, Skinner served as the 156th ICE President, becoming the youngest person to take that office. She holds a range of non-executive roles and is a patron of not-for-profit campaign group Women in Transport, having been a founding board member. She is also a patron of the Women’s Engineering Society.

A Chartered Engineer and chartered transport planner, she was elected as a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2019. Skinner holds honorary doctorates from the universities of Leeds and Exeter for services to engineering and industry diversity. She is also an honorary fellow of the Society for the Environment. 

In 2022, Skinner was awarded a CBE for services to infrastructure.

Paul Gandy

Paul Gandy is the current President of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) for the 2025/26 term.

Paul is the former CEO of Tilbury Douglas. He has over 40 years of experience in the industry, with 30 of those in executive positions in companies including Lend Lease Construction, Kier Construction and Balfour Beatty London. He has an extensive range of expertise encompassing all construction sectors.

Paul is the 122nd person to hold the position of CIOB president.