LONDON — (BUSINESS WIRE) — June 13, 2014 — CH2M HILL’s Director of Operations for Europe, Mark Thurston, participated in a roundtable debate at the independent think-tank Reform’s Annual Conference yesterday. The conference brought together the public, private and voluntary sectors to speak about three of the think tank’s central themes: the institutions of good government, public sector organisation and an educated and capable society being able to reduce demand on taxpayer-financed public services.

Mark sat on the ‘New Intelligence’ roundtable with Baroness Sarah Hogg, Lead Non-Executive Director at HM Treasury, Martin Buck, Commercial Director at Crossrail Ltd and Michael Whitehouse, Chief Operating Officer at the National Audit Office. The group explored the concept of the government as an ‘intelligent client’, looking into how government works with industry to ensure efficient delivery of key projects.

Drawing on CH2M HILL’s experience as delivery partner for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, Mark spoke of the lessons learnt from the programme and provided insight into delivery for future major projects. Mark went on to speak about CH2M HILL’s approach in delivery, including the use of Key Performance Indicators in scheduling, budget and quality, as well as early engagement across the supply chain to provide better delivery certainty.

Commenting on the roundtable discussion, Mark Thurston, Director of Operations for Europe, said: “This was a very thought provoking roundtable which provided interesting insights from both the public and private sector on delivering major projects. Having worked on London 2012, Crossrail, and contracts across various government departments, CH2M HILL has a good all round view of delivering projects for government. It is clear from the discussion that the role of private sector organisations is becoming increasingly important to ensure better value for money for the taxpayer, however closer collaboration and information sharing will be central to instilling this ethos for both the current and future governments.”

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Notes to Editor:

• Mark Thurston is available for interview or further comment.
• Mark Thurston serves as CH2M HILL’s Director of Operations for Europe. Prior to this, he was a director in the Transportation business group in the UK, reporting to our Global HQ in Denver. Mark has spent the majority of the last three years leading our Programme Partner joint venture (known as Transcend) on Crossrail.
• In the two years prior to this Mark was the Programme Delivery Manager leading the roads and bridges programme on the London 2012 Olympics, as a member of the CLM delivery partner. He joined CH2M HILL in June 2008, joining CLM to complete the Power Lines Under Grounding project, which removed the skyline on and around the Olympic Park of the electricity pylons.
• Mark has over 20 years’ experience in project and programme management, working in both the private and public sectors on major infrastructure projects, particularly in the UK rail sector.

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Employee-owned CH2M HILL is one of the world’s leading consulting, design, design-build, operations, and programme management companies serving government, civil, industrial and energy clients, employing over 30,000 people worldwide. Our work is concentrated in the areas of water, transportation, environmental, energy, facilities and resources.

CH2M HILL has operated in the UK for over 20 years and acquired Halcrow in 2011. Its European headquarters are in London and it employs over 3,400 people in the UK. CH2M HILL is working on some of the most iconic infrastructure programmes including High Speed 2, Thames Tideway Tunnels, the decommissioning of Dounreay and was one of the leading partners in CLM, Delivery Partner to the ODA for the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

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