Advisory Council - Infrastructure
Our advisory council helps ensure that we’re tackling the most relevant cross-sector issues within our infrastructure theme.
The council has been carefully curated to ensure a diverse range of perspectives from across the UK, representing the breadth of our membership.
The role of the council is to:
- Suggest key topics, challenges, opportunities, and speakers for a range of events and content.
- Provide feedback on some of the core areas already addressed and suggest improvements for future plans.
- Work collaboratively to find new ways to address the biggest cross-sector challenges.
Meetings are held quarterly under the Chatham House Rule and chaired by the theme lead. Invitation to join our councils is at our discretion, as an independent body, with nominations welcome. If you would like further information, or to discuss future opportunities, please email [email protected].
Meet the council
Clare Burgess is a partner at international law firm Clifford Chance, specialising in infrastructure and clean energy financings. Clare is an expert in green bonds, green loans and related regulatory and legislative initiatives.
She has advised on a number of renewables and green energy projects in the UK and elsewhere, including offshore wind projects such as Hornsea One, Walney Extension, NNG and Beatrice, biomass and solar portfolios. Her infrastructure practice encompasses airports, ports, roads, water and utilities, and Clare was appointed to HM Treasury's expert panel to support their Infrastructure Finance Review.
Ben Franklin is head of markets of the European strategic consulting business in Jacobs. He is an economist and commercial expert with more than 20 years’ experience in the infrastructure sector.
During his career, he has been project director of several high-profile infrastructure and transportation projects: having worked extensively with DfT; other public sector bodies; private sector organisations; operators; and investors - providing advice across the infrastructure lifecycle from policy implementation and feasibility, through to delivery and operation.
Chris joined ICE as Head of Policy and Public Affairs in October 2018. He has responsibility for the transfer of ICE’s insights and recommendations to political decision makers, alongside supporting the Infrastructure Client Group with industry change initiatives.
Previous roles include Head of Business Environment Policy at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation – where he was responsible for developing positions on infrastructure, devolution and digital transformation. Other policy roles include stints at the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Jenny Preece is Deputy Director for Planning (Infrastructure), and joined the Planning Directorate at Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government in November 2018. Her responsibilities include national policy on CIL and S106 and the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Planning regime and working with the planning system to support the delivery of infrastructure and needs of communities.
She is a career civil servant, with extensive experience of supporting Ministers, delivering major legislation and public policy reforms.
Bio coming soon.
Bio coming soon.
Elliot Shaw is the Executive Director of Strategy and Planning at Highways England. Within Highways England: he has responsibility for the development of the strategy for the Strategic Road Network; the company’s organisational transformation agenda; it’s analytical and economist functions and the relationships with key statutory and regulatory bodies; including the Office for Rail and Road and Transport Focus.
Before joining Highways England, Elliot was a civil servant at the Ministry of Justice and Department for Transport. Prior to this, Elliot was a management consultant, working in Accenture’s UK and US strategy practices.
With a background in Engineering, Amir is a partner at Arcadis leading their Central Government Sector and with a focus on the Government’s buildings infrastructure and their operation. His work leads him to engage regularly with most Government Departments and the challenges of creating a Civil Service estate fit for the future.
Theme lead
As Director of External Engagement, Tom is responsible for overseeing the WIG Events & Content team and the Membership team. The main focus is to ensure WIG continues to be the leading platform for constructive collaboration between government, industry and the not-for-profit sector. Tom originally joined as Head of Content and Events in 2017.
Before joining WIG, Tom worked across both government and industry. He ran the energy division for a commercial conference company, worked within the Department for International Trade, and developed new business for an independent TV production company that worked exclusively with not-for-profits.
Tom graduated from UCL with a BA (Hons) in History and subsequently picked up a Masters in International Security and Global Governance from Birkbeck.
Outside of WIG, Tom is a keen Tottenham Hotspur fan and spends time exercising, and walking his dog.