Simon kirby hs2 biography samples

High Speed Two (HS2) today takes another step from drawing board to reality with the appointment of a new independent design panel that will support HS2 in realising its aim of applying the best design principles to all its work.

The Panel, chaired by Sadie Morgan, will be the project’s independent advisor, helping it to deliver on its key design principles around People, Place and Time.

Experts in design fields including: urban; landscape; EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) ; digital; brand and product will work alongside internationally-renowned architects; sustainability experts and engineering specialists to help guide HS2’s development.

Speaking as the Independent Design Panel is launched, Sadie Morgan said:

I am delighted that we’re now up and running with the HS2 Independent Design Panel. Our aim is to mentor and inspire HS2 to design a transformational railway system which will exceed all of our expectations.

The British

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HS2 – The story so far

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With the new Government carrying out a spending review due to be announced on 25 November, it is a good time to look at one of the big-ticket rail projects around at the moment – HS2.

So far, the HS2 story has been about planning, design, compromise and proposal. The route has been argued over – the begrepp NIMBY (not in my back yard) has come into popular use – and altered several times, which has increased the estimated total cost. The railway is now likely to be largely in cuttings and tunnels, to keep it away from the sight (and ears) of those who live nearby, but that will need extra engineering work.

This is the first of a two-part look at HS2, how it has got to where it is now, and what it plans for the future. In this first instalment, Rail Engineer talks with Andrew McNaughton, the engineer who has been with the project since its first day. After the strategic review has been published and considered,

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The Infrastructure Podcast: Episode 17

Guest:Simon Kirby, Managing Partner, The Nichols Group

This podcast focuses on what can be done to help major infrastructure project teams actually deliver the outcomes that are promised – and specifically whether engaging minds early will drive project success .

As any casual observer of infrastructure will be aware, the track record of major project delivery is not good. In fact a new book by Oxford University professor Bent Flyvbjerg highlights that globally from his list of 16,000 projects in 136 countries over the last 30 years, just 8.5% met cost and schedule targets while just 0.5% satisfied all benefit goals.

OK, I haven’t audited his numbers, but they are, on the face of it, a pretty shocking set of findings – findings that seem to bear out and ring true if you consider the UK’s recent project outcomes from projects such as Crossrail, Jubilee Line Extension, West Coast Mainline upgrade, Hinkley Point &ndas