New Government Projects Chief Unveiled
The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) announces Nick Smallwood as its Chief Executive and Head of the Government Project Delivery Function
Nick Smallwood appointed as Chief Executive of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) and Head of the Project Delivery Function
Today (1 July) Government continues to build a world class project delivery system that is fit for the future, by appointing a permanent replacement to lead the delivery of major government projects.
Nick Smallwood, former Vice President for Projects Engineering and Chief Projects Engineer at Shell, will become IPA Chief Executive in August.
He joins the IPA with 37 years鈥� experience of managing complex project portfolios and having developed Shell鈥檚 Global Project Academy, where he was accountable for managing how projects were delivered and a variety of significant improvement programmes.
Nick is also a trustee of the board of the Association for Project Management (APM) until November 2019, where he contributes to the overall development of the UK鈥檚 project management profession.
This appointment follows the departure of Tony Meggs in December 2018, who became Chairman of Crossrail to help the project complete its final delivery phase.
The IPA is the government鈥檚 centre of expertise for infrastructure and major projects, reporting jointly to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
The IPA oversees the Government鈥檚 Major Projects Portfolio, which contains around 150 of the Government鈥檚 biggest and most complex projects, and the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, which contains projections of 拢600bn of public and private infrastructure investment.
The IPA supports the delivery of these projects by helping set them up for success, setting the standards for how they should be delivered, building delivery capability in departments and industry, and providing commercial expertise and independent assurance.
Oliver Dowden, Minister for Implementation, Cabinet Office, said:
鈥淚 am pleased to welcome Nick to the Cabinet Office and am looking forward to working with him in delivering some of the government鈥檚 top policy priorities.鈥�
John Manzoni, Chief Executive of the Civil Service and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, said:
鈥淭he IPA is home to one of government鈥檚 most important cross-cutting Functions. If Government鈥檚 projects aren鈥檛 delivered successfully, then our policy agenda can鈥檛 be implemented.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled that Nick will lead the IPA. Now more than ever we need experienced project leaders in government, putting deliverability at the heart of government policy.鈥�
Charles Roxburgh, Second Permanent Secretary at the Treasury, said:
鈥淲e are growing our economy by investing in the infrastructure and capital projects the country needs.
鈥淣ick is joining the IPA at a critical moment as it helps ensure our investment is delivered on time and on budget and represents value for money for taxpayers.鈥�
Nick Smallwood, IPA Chief Executive, said
鈥淕overnment is delivering an ambitious portfolio of major projects that will transform people鈥檚 lives and the IPA has already made significant strides in building a world class regime that supports them.
鈥淚 want to focus on improving performance and taking our system to the next level.鈥�