State of the Nation Strategy Session: how to improve the productivity of infrastructure projects

Ed McCann

A past ICE President, Ed McCann is an experienced project director. He was fundamental in growing Expedition Engineering from a startup to Building magazine’s Engineering Consultant of the Year in 2012. 

With a deep understanding of the construction process, McCann is particularly skilled in strategic consultancy, feasibility studies and design. He has led projects all over the world, including the award-winning Infinity Bridge at Stockton-on-Tees and London 2012’s Olympic Velodrome. 

In his most recent projects, McCann has worked with infrastructure clients to improve processes and implement new technologies. This has included creating and delivering a productivity workstream for High Speed 2; designing the Rolls-Royce small modular reactors programme factory for BAM Nuttall; and developing the Berkeley Homes modular housing system.

His interests include developing talent in the built environment sector. This led him to co-create the Constructionarium, a not-for-profit provider of education and training. He is also a co-founder of the Get It Right Initiative, an organisation working to eliminate avoidable errors in construction.

A renowned thought leader, McCann is often invited to write articles and speak at industry events. He has also made TV programmes about civil engineering.  

Janet Greenwood

Janet is a specialist in major and mega project and programme development, delivery and assurance with over 25 years’ experience.

She has experience in carbon and sustainability at both strategy and project delivery levels and is a member of leading industry carbon forums.

Janet Greenwood is a Director in KPMG’s Major Projects Advisory practice and has over 25 years’ experience developing and delivering major infrastructure programmes, having worked in the water, wastewater, flood defence and transport sectors.

She led two task groups of the Institution of Civil Engineer’s Carbon Project and is a founder member of the Cambridge University Centre for Smart Infrastructure in Construction’s Achieving Net Zero Roundtable.

A Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, she has extensive experience in shaping and delivering major construction projects and supporting Infrastructure clients to deliver their most challenging programmes.

She is Chair of the Major Projects Association Sustainability Ambassadors Group.

Her experience includes roles in government, as a client and as a consultant, working on failure investigations, in site supervision, project management, programme management and sponsorship.

She has worked on the development and delivery of major projects including Thameslink, the South West Route Capacity Programme and Crossrail and held leadership roles at Tideway and the Lower Thames Crossing.

Darren James

Lucy Howard

Lucy has been contributing to improving infrastructure for 23 years. Originally from the North-East of England, she studied Civil Engineering at Imperial before leading as a Principal Contractor PM on London Rail infrastructure at Kings Cross, East London Line and DLR.    

Her consultancy experience includes work with London Overground, Network Rail, Heathrow Express and Heathrow Airport. As Head of Infrastructure Markets she now works across our full national team of sector, service, and regional experts to ensure we arm our team with the best of industry innovation and solutions for our clients across Transport, Utilities, Power and Defence.  

Lucy is active in industry including with the Institution of Civil Engineers on Productivity, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Programmes with Purpose Report and long-term investment in Project 13 since 2017 with the Infrastructure Client’s Group as Development Board member and co-chair of the Capable Owner workstream. 

Andy Alder

Andy is Jacobs Vice President for Major Projects and Programmes in the UK. He is also Programme Director for Tideway, where he is responsible for delivery of all infrastructure on the project.

Andy joined Tideway from Crossrail where he was Chief Tunnel Engineer during the detailed design phase, managed procurement of a number of the tunnelling contracts, and was Project Manager for construction of all tunnelling work through the West End of London.

Andy has previously been responsible for the design of the LU Tottenham Court Road Station Upgrade, and DLR Extensions to London City Airport and Woolwich. Other projects that Andy has worked on include the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the Jubilee Line Extension and tunnelling / metro projects In Ireland, Egypt, and Malaysia.

Andy is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, an ICE Council Member and an ICE Trustee. He is co-chair of the Productivity Community Advisory Board as well as Chair of the Finance, Assurance and Risk Committee and a member of the Fellowship Panel. Andy is also a Fellow of the Association for Project Management and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Sun Yan Evans CEng FICE

Sun Yan Evans FREng, FICE, FCIWEM is Mott MacDonald’s inaugural Fellow and director of flood risk and water quality, with over 30 years of experience in the water sector. She is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), where she also serves as a Trustee.

Internationally recognised for her leadership in flood and water quality modelling, dam breach analysis, and policy-shaping work with the UK Government and the World Bank, Sun Yan has led high-impact projects across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

A passionate advocate for technical excellence, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and mentoring, she regularly speaks at global forums and has received numerous industry awards. Her leadership is defined by a reflective, inclusive approach that continues to inspire the next generation of water and environmental professionals.