ODA senior team

David Higgins, Chief Executive
David Higgins was appointed Chief Executive Designate of the Olympic Delivery Authority in December 2005 and appointed Chief Executive with effect from 30 March 2006.

Prior to December 2005, he was Chief Executive of English Partnerships, the Government’s national regeneration agency, for three years.

He graduated in Civil Engineering from the University of Sydney & holds a Diploma from the Securities Institute of Australia.

Following graduation, he spent time working in the UK and Africa, returning to Australia in 1981 and joined the Lend Lease Group, an international property and construction company, in 1985.

In 1995, he was appointed Managing Director and Group Chief Executive of the Group.

Dennis Hone, Director of Finance
Dennis Hone joined the ODA from English Partnerships, where he was Chief Operating Officer having previously been Regional Director for Eastern England and Milton Keynes.

His previous roles include Director of Finance & Administration at the Commission for the New Towns and Financial Controller of the London Docklands Development Corporation.

At the ODA he is responsible for the implementation, development and delivery of financial management systems and practices and a control framework to support the achievement of the ODA’s goals, ensuring the integration of best practice financial management and control across all aspects of service delivery.

He is also responsible for a range of corporate services, such as IT, Legal and HR.

Ralph Luck OBE, Director of Property
Ralph Luck is the former Chairman of the British Urban Regeneration Association.

He was previously the Director for London and the Thames Gateway at English Partnerships and primarily responsible for the regeneration of Greenwich Peninsula.

As ODA Director of Property, Ralph is responsible for leading on the network of land deals being put in place to deliver the land for the Games in London and elsewhere, and also to deliver a legacy after 2012, working alongside the London Development Agency and the South West Regional Development Agency.

Key responsibilities include securing the agreements for legacy use of the Olympic and Paralympic venues and negotiating the development of the Stratford City lands that will deliver the majority of the Olympic Village and associated facilities.

He is also involved in procuring the International Broadcast and Media Centre together with the sailing facilities at Weymouth and Portland.

Alison Nimmo CBE, Director of Design & Regeneration
Alison is a chartered surveyor and town planner specialising in regeneration.

She has worked in both the public and private sectors and is probably best known for her track record in delivering major regeneration programmes in Manchester and Sheffield city centres.

In 2004 Alison was awarded a CBE for services to urban regeneration. Later that year she was awarded an honorary degree from Sheffield Hallam University.

Alison worked on the London Olympic Bid, advising London 2012 as its Head of Planning and Regeneration. From July 2005 she was tasked with establishing the Olympic Delivery Authority (IODA) and in July 2006 was appointed as Director of Design and Regeneration.

Simon Wright, Director of Infrastructure and Utilities
Simon Wright joined the ODA from Arup, where he was Director and Group Leader of Arup Project Management Europe.
 
At the ODA Simon is responsible for the delivery of environmental, geotechnical and civil engineering solutions and infrastructure, including ground remediation, earthworks, roads bridges and retaining walls.

He is also responsible for the commissioning and securing of operator licences to provide for a full range of all major utilities – water and sewerage, gas, electricity and other services required to stage the Games and to ensure that legacy issues are fully integrated and planned for.

Howard Shiplee, Director of Construction
Howard Shiplee has wide experience of delivering major national and international infrastructure projects and joined the ODA from Ascot Racecourse, where he was the Redevelopment Chief Executive responsible for the £200 million redevelopment of the world-class racing venue.
 
Howard was previously a Director of specialist construction consultancy High Point Rendell.

As ODA Director of Construction Howard will develop, lead and manage construction contracts, budgets and timelines for all aspects of construction for the venues and facilities at the London 2012 Games, and will ensure the effective management, monitoring and delivery of the approved schedule.

He will also be responsible for developing the ODA’s role as an “intelligent client”, which will include construction inspections, workmanship standards, and best practice on site.

Hugh Sumner, Director of Transport
Hugh Sumner led on Transport for London’s 2012 Games bid in 2003. His team at Transport for London (TfL) developed the plans submitted to the International Olympic Committee.

He and his team at the ODA are accountable for the delivery of transport infrastructure required for the Games and transport legacy. They are also a delivery partner for the majority of Games-time transport operations services.

The ODA will ensure the delivery of infrastructure and services working with and through transport delivery partners.

Hugh was previously Managing Director of one of the Infrastructure Companies (Infracos) upgrading London Underground and before that Director of Passenger Services at London Underground.