Infrastructure Industry Innovation Platform appoints new Programme Chairs

The Infrastructure Industry Innovation Platform (i3P) is pleased to announce the dual chair appointments of Mark Thurston and Phil Wilbraham.

As a primary driver for innovation in the UK infrastructure industry, i3P helps to transform ideas into opportunities and advanced solutions; providing a mechanism for strategically directing innovation to address the major challenges and opportunities facing the UK infrastructure sector.

Mark Thurston and Phil Wilbraham bring a wealth of sector knowledge and experience to the role, with both having already played an instrumental role in Innovate 18 and other significant innovation initiatives.

Mark joined High Speed Two (HS2) as Chief Executive Officer in March 2017. With more than 25 years’ experience in project and programme management, Mark has worked in both the public and private sectors on some of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects.

Previously, Mark was Managing Director for Europe at CH2M and was with the company from June 2008. During his career with CH2M Mark spent a significant amount of time in leadership roles on major programmes, including three years as Strategic Projects Director on Crossrail, leading the Programme Partner joint venture, Transcend.

Phil joined Heathrow in 2003 and became Expansion Programme Director in 2017 accountable for delivering Heathrow’s third runway along with the infrastructure to support it. Previously as Development Director, Phil was accountable for all the Capital works at Heathrow. As Eastern Campus Programme Director, Phil, was accountable for the delivery of the airport’s new Terminal 2. This £2.5bn programme has provided passengers with a new, ‘state of the art’, terminal.

Phil has also worked both overseas and in the UK as a civil engineer for DHV and Mott MacDonald.

The new chair role(s) are being handed over by Andy Mitchell, CEO Tideway who was instrumental in the conception of i3P and has taken an active delivery during his 18 months as chair. At the recent i3P Spark awards Andy spoke on the future of i3P;

“There’s a bigger realisation than ever before that things have to change. I3P can challenge the thinking and convene a consistent way of working together. It’s the biggest thing i3P can do”

This news comes at a very exiting time for i3P which has recently seen the successful i3P Spark Awards allocate funding to a range of innovative & collaborative projects with increased momentum building within the platform to drive innovation and impact across the sector

*I3P was recently referenced in Government Strategy as a force for change in driving collaboration, innovation and opportunity across UK infrastructure.

For more information on I3P please contact Mike Moseley.