The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has announced that Mathew Riley will continue as chair for a second year to support the organisation through a transitional period, owing to the recent appointment of new chief executive, Hannah Vickers.

While chairs usually hold office on an annual basis, ACE’s articles of association allow for it to extend the tenure of the chair by one year “if considered appropriate to address exceptional circumstances.”

ACE Chair Mathew Riley said: “With Hannah’s recent arrival at ACE, the board felt that maintaining a degree of continuity would be beneficial to the organisation. One of my key roles in 2018 was to oversee a smooth transition between Nelson Ogunshakin and Hannah and I’m delighted to be able to continue to do that over the coming year on behalf of ACE’s members.”

Hannah Vickers, chief executive of ACE said: “I would like to thank Mathew and the board for their support in my first three months and look forward to working together in 2019 to ensure ACE is meeting the needs of its members and speaking in one voice to government and industry stakeholders.”

A number of new appointments were also made to both ACE’s board and advisory board. Vickers added: “I would like to welcome the new members who, as well as bringing with them new ideas, energy and enthusiasm, add a wealth of experience which will be crucial as we navigate issues such as Brexit and launch our Future of Consultancy campaign, ensuring our industry is ready to meet both medium and long-term challenges.”

ACE Board 2019:

A number of new appointments to the board were made:

• Vice Chair (SMEs and devolved nations) – Simon Innes, Goodsons
• Vice Chair (Future of Consultancy) – Craig Huntbatch, Royal HaskoningDHV
• Vice chair (Voice of Consultancy) – Rajiv Sudan, WYG
• Chair of Large Consultancy group – Geoff Hunt, Arup
• Chair of Progress Network – Georgia Hughes, Arcadis
• Chair of Wales – Catherine Wenger, Arup

They join existing board members:

• Chair 2019 – Mathew Riley, Ramboll
• Immediate Past Chair – Mike Haigh, Mott MacDonald
• ACE Treasurer – Paul Reilly, Peter Brett Associates
• Chair International Business group – Clive Anderson, WYG
• Chair Major Projects group – Dave Barwell, AECOM
• Chair SME group – Steven Hale, Crofton Design
• Chair ACE Business Academy – Mark Naysmith, WSP
• Chair ACE Midlands – Ruth Jeffs, Waterman
• Chair of Scotland – Mark Arthur, Hurley Palmer Flatt
• Chair of Northern Ireland – Stuart MacKenzie, JCP Consulting

ACE would like to thank the following former board members who stepped down in 2019:

• Vice Chair – Nick Taylor, Waterman
• Chair Legal and Commercial group – Henry Pipe, Max Fordham
• Chair Public Affairs group – Joanna Streeten, AECOM
• Chair Best Business Practice group – Alan Dunn, Jacobs

ACE Advisory Board 2019:

New appointments to the advisory board:

• Phill Cartwright (executive chairman, CFMS)
• Ruth Mallors-Ray OBE (director, RMR Consultants)
• Lord Robert Mair (head of civil and environmental engineering, University of Cambridge)

They join existing members:

• André Gibbs (Executive Director, Argent)
• Katrina Hayley (managing director, head of structured bonds, infrastructure and real estate, HSBC)
• John Holland-Kaye (chief executive officer, Heathrow)
• Chris Lewis (partner, EY)
• Dilek Macit (head of consultancy services unit, European Development Bank)
• Terry Morgan OBE (former chairman Crossrail and HS2)
• Dr Nelson Ogunshakin OBE (chief executive, FIDIC)
• Sir Vivian Ramsey (Technology and Construction Court, Royal Courts of Justice)
• Geoffrey Spence (former global head of infrastructure, resources & energy, Lloyds Bank and head of Infrastructure UK)
• Graham Watts OBE (chief executive, CIC)

ENDS