Top award for infrastructure chief

Nick Smallwood, chief executive of the Infrastructure and Project Authority (IPA) and head of government’s Project Delivery Function has received an Outstanding Achievement Award.

Smallwood took the title at the annual Association for Project Management (APM) Awards which took place in London recently. 

The honours recognise the very best within the project profession – from project organisations, individuals and projects from across a broad range of sectors across the UK and internationally.  

Smallwood received the Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of his commitment to the development of the project management profession. 

In his role at the IPA, he has overseen the launch of the Transforming Infrastructure Performance: Roadmap to 2030 strategy as well as the launch of the Government Projects Academy, which is dedicated to improving project delivery skills for professionals across government, to increase the capacity and capability to improve the delivery of public projects. 

As well as transforming public projects, he is also driving industry to become more innovative, green and modern. 

In a career spanning more than 40 years, he has also worked as vice president for Projects Engineering and chief projects engineer at Shell, and has served as a trustee of APM’s board - a role he held until November 2019, where he contributed to the overall development of the profession.

Smallwood said: “It’s a great honour to be presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award, which I hope reflects to others my passion, commitment and drive towards project delivery, in both the public and private sectors. 

“I find great satisfaction in working within a profession that truly transforms the country that we live in. Projects ultimately deliver the public services that allow the UK to thrive, innovate and prosper - and people are of course at the very heart of this. 

“This award is not just recognition for me, but also other government project professionals who are working tirelessly on our shared ambition to drive major improvement in project delivery.”

Sue Kershaw, managing director, transportation at Costain and APM president, added: “I am delighted to have presented Nick with this award.

"In a changing and challenging world, he exemplifies the power of projects to benefit society, as well as helping to create a world where government projects succeed and those delivering them can be at their best.”