Amanda is Partner at HKA where she is the CEO for the EMEA Region and is a member of the global ExCom. With over 35 years in the Built Environment sector, she is a senior business leader and is listed in Who’s Who as a senior property professional in real estate, infrastructure and construction.
She is a chartered quantity surveyor and chartered civil engineer, certified management consultant and a specialist programme management and business transformation specialist. Amanda has managed and turned around some the most high risk, high profile and complex programmes for government and the private sector.
Amanda is Chair of RICS Construction and Infrastructure Market Forum. In 2016, she was the Global President of RICS, becoming the longest serving President in 123 years.She is also a Senior Special Advisor to the Construction Leadership Council in the UK, and is a member of the Mayor of London’s Infrastructure Advisory Panel. She is also the Chair of a University (UCEM) where she the Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Previously Amanda was an Executive Director at CBRE where she was on the Board and Chaired the Strategy Board. She was a Partner at EY LLP (Head of Infrastructure Advisory) and was a Partner at PwC LLP. She was also a Non-Executive Director of Countryside Partnerships LLP.
Amanda is a Fellow of RICS, ICE, APM, CMI, Institute of Consulting and the RSA. She is a Certified Management Consultant and Companion of the Institute of Management. Amanda received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Westminster in November 2019 for her outstanding contribution to building safety and diversity and inclusion in the Built Environment, and also an Honorary Doctor of Professional Practice from The University of Wolverhampton.
Amanda is a published author and speaker on areas such as strategy, digital, cities, placemaking, real estate and the war of talent. She is a strong voice on diversity and inclusion in the sector and has co-authored and published two books on the subject. She was named: The Cranfield Female FTSE Board Report 2021 – 100 Women to Watch (2021); 50 Leading Lights for Kindness & Leadership (2019), BIS Now Top 51 Influential Women in Real Estate (2018), City AM Power 100 Women list (2016) and a Mover and Shaker of 2015 in ICAEW’s Global Finance 50.
Lucy Antrobus is a partner in Caldwell’s Industrial Practice and based in the firm’s London office. She focuses on senior and board-level appointments in the Infrastructure, Construction, Transportation, Utilities, Energy and Nuclear sectors.
Lucy has deep knowledge and solid expertise across the various sectors, gained through 19 years of experience recruiting in this space. She has developed an extensive global network by delivering results and high levels of service at Senior / Executive, Board and C-suite levels for companies with significant projects / operations in the UK, Europe, UAE / Middle East, Australia, Asia, Africa and North America, having conducted searches in over 30 countries. She is also a specialist in major and mega / giga projects and the Civil & Infrastructure markets. Throughout her career Lucy has partnered with Contractors, EPC’s, PMC’s, Engineering Firms, owners / operators, Private Equity and Infrastructure / Pension Funds.
Lucy has been told by her clients that what differentiates her is her deep technical knowledge of the sectors that she operates in, from both an engineering perspective to contractual models, risk profiles and financing around the projects / programmes, coupled with her truly global network and knowledge.
Lucy joined Caldwell from a Boutique Search Firm, where she developed and led the infrastructure, construction, transportation, and energy sectors of the firm’s Industrial Practice. She previously held roles of increasing responsibility at several other boutique search firms.
Lucy holds a BA in sociology and criminology from the University of Essex.
Helena De Flaviis has over 20 years’ business experience and an extensive track record of new enterprises and joint ventures establishment, businesses origination, and growth, including M&A, complex commercial transactions & negotiations, and leading the development/implementation of business growth strategies and of complex business transformation and reorganization/corporatization programs. Helena worked across diverse regions including Latin America, the UK, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa, with experience in infrastructure finance, development, management consultancy & advisory services. Currently, Chief Strategy Officer and Board Member at Al Bawani Holding, Helena provides leadership, guidance, and support to the group and its subsidiaries on an exciting transformation and expansion program, which includes new ventures across Oil & Gas, Mining, Clean energy, Asset Management, and Infrastructure development, through acquisitions and partnerships. She has also been leading the group’s corporate re-organisation, including the implementation of a robust governance framework in preparation for a public listing.
Prior posts include head of corporate development at Khatib & Alami, leading a cross-continent, global reorganization and transformation program and establishing new businesses such as an infrastructure finance advisory; strategic growth and infrastructure finance executive positions across global firms like Serco, Brookfield, and KPMG; and a number of former board and audit committee positions in infrastructure development vehicles, and one former chair position, of the Italian Association of the State of Goias in Brazil, which acts as a quasi-consulate.
Helena holds a Masters of Applied Finance from Macquarie University, is a former member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and a current member of Women on Boards. She is about to become a certified board member by INSEAD and is on the Middle East Council of the International Project Finance Association (IPFA).
Helena is a former representative of the National water polo team of Brazil. She is passionate about well-structured governance frameworks that do not prevent but encourage and enable dynamism and innovation in and outside business.
Arsen is a seasoned professional in the field of data and information management, leading these functions at SEVEN. In his current role, he is responsible for overseeing the strategy and execution of digital delivery processes for more than 22 themed entertainment destinations, 50 cinemas, and other retail projects. With over 18 years of experience, Arsen brings a wealth of knowledge in BIM, digital delivery, and related processes for built assets. His background includes a mix of engineering, consulting, general contracting, and owner-operator organizations, providing him with a diverse skill set and unique perspective.
Eng. Ahmad G. Darwish is the Group Chief Administrative Officer of Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind The Red Sea and AMAALA, two ambitious tourism projects set along the northwestern coast of Saudi Arabia. These destinations will play key roles in the realization of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s blueprint for economic diversification and sustainable development.
With over 20 years of project management, business development, and strategic planning experience, Ahmad has been instrumental in developing RSG’s business strategy. He is responsible for its day-to-day operations, human resources management, finance and administration functions as well as overseeing development and implementation of company policies and regulations to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations. In addition, he ensures that all departments and employees are in accord with the company’s vision and objectives.
Prior to joining RSG, Ahmad spent 20 years working for Saudi Aramco where he managed multiple projects for King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), including the KAUST Research Park Infrastructure Project and the Saudi Aramco Research Center.
He is a certified member of the Project Management Institute and the Saudi Council of Engineers and holds a BSc in Electric Engineering from the University of Portland, US, and an MSc in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the University of Glasgow, UK.
Ian Williamson is the Group Chief Project Delivery Officer for The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), a closed joint stock company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. Ian leads the delivery of the planning, design and construction of The Red Sea and AMAALA projects – two of the world’s most ambitious luxury tourism.
As an executive and Board director for over 20 years, Ian has undertaken both strategic and operational roles across several industries and led the delivery of multi-billion-dollar capital expenditure programs and projects internationally. Prior to joining TRSDC, Ian served as Managing Director, Program Management, at Arcadis across the Middle East where he led the growth of program management and buildings design of the company across the Middle East.
Prior to joining Arcadis, Ian served as led AECOM’s Construction Services in the UAE where he led major projects such as the Midfield Terminal, Advanced Military Maintenance Repair Overhaul Center (AMMROC), Yas Mall and Cleveland Clinic. Ian has also previously worked for Sainsbury’s, Glaxo, Wellcome Foundation, BDP and Courtaulds.
Ian holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Mathematics from the University of Reading and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Bayes (formely CASS) Business School in the United Kingdom.
David Grover is Group Chief Executive Officer at ROSHN, a mixed-use community developer Giga Project powered by the Public Investments Fund. He is responsible for overseeing all the operations of ROSHN in Saudi Arabia.
Prior to joining ROSHN, David served as Group Board Director at Mace Group in the United Kingdom. With a turnover of more than $2.5bn, the firm employed 6,500 people and operated through five global hubs, across 65 countries. David also held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Mace Developments. Joining the UK firm in 1992, David worked across most key aspects of the business, from consultancy to construction and development and played a key role in the successful growth of the company. David’s major achievements included setting up and driving the growth of the company’s development business, and delivering multiple infrastructure and mixed-use projects.
David holds a Master of Science in Construction Law from Kings College London and a Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying from the University of Birmingham.
The CIOB are the largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership. At the CIOB we stand for the science, ethics, and practice of the built environment across the world. Everything we do is to improve the quality of life for those using and creating the built environment.
Matt heads up the Dubai branch of The CIOB and leads the strategy for the MENA region. Matt has been an inspirational influence in the construction industry over the last two and a half years, creating over 100 events for members and partners capturing a global audience of over 20,000 covering approx. 50 countries.
Matt posted the largest membership growth of any region throughout the pandemic and has successfully supported over 200 individuals through to chartered manager status in his time with CIOB. The CIOBs Chartered Manager and Fellow status’ are equivalent to a honours degree and masters in UK. Matt is also responsible for revitalising the CIOBs hub communities across countries and now has over 50 active construction professionals supporting the strategy. This is one of the many ways that the CIOB can influence change in the industry.
Matt is a keen collaborator and has travelled across the region in order to develop strong relationships for CIOB and the industry.
