The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) has announced the appointment of Becky Wood as its new chief executive officer.
NISTA brings together the former Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) and National Infrastructure Commission (NIC).
Formally launched this month, NISTA aims to bring infrastructure strategy and delivery under one roof, addressing what the government called “the systemic delivery challenges that have stunted growth for decades”.
The organisation will support delivery of roads, railways, schools and hospitals, and provide expertise on private finance and implementation of the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy.
Wood will formally take up her role as CEO in June 2025.
She is currently a partner at consultancy giant EY, and prior to that was a commercial adviser at the IPA. For 10 years, she oversaw major infrastructure developments at the Department for Transport, serving as the senior responsible officer for the Crossrail, Thameslink and Intercity Express programmes.
She has also worked on significant infrastructure programmes across both public and private sectors in Australia and New Zealand.
Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury, said: “Becky brings a wealth of experience from the public and private sector, overseeing some of the biggest transport projects around the world in the past decade. Her appointment is an important milestone for NISTA’s work in getting a grip on infrastructure delivery, powering growth across the country and delivering on our Plan for Change.”
Expert advisors
Last week, Jones announced a new Council of Expert Advisors to support NISTA’s work.
Sir John Armitt, chair of the NISTA Council of Expert Advisors, said: “We are at a critical moment for transforming how we plan and deliver the nation’s infrastructure, and Becky’s leadership will be vital for building an effective and credible institution that can do just that. I look forward to working closely with her in the coming months.”
Wood said: “It is an honour to be appointed to a role that has so much potential to make a vital difference to the everyday lives of people across the UK, ensuring robust delivery of infrastructure and enabling growth. I am very much looking forward to joining the team in June.”
The Council of Expert Advisors will hopefully not be remembered as The Council of ‘Kicking badly needed infrastructure into the long grass’ Advisors, as has been the case with successive Governments for the last thirty years.
We live in hope..
Mike Forsdike
MCIOB