Tim Verdon

Tim is currently on sabbatical. He was recently Senior Vice President in AECOM in Dubai where he provided oversight to all AECOM’s megaprojects (greater than one billion dollars) around the Middle East. His last three projects in Dubai included the completion of the landside works on the Abu Dhabi Airport, the Dubai Harbour Superyacht Marina and completion of the Dubai Canal which made the city an Island.
Prior to moving to Dubai Tim was the Program Director for a new (USD$7b) greenfield Port and Navy Base development in Doha where he led a high calibre team of 300 AECOM professionals managing 65+ packages, supervising 22, 000 workers. He reported directly to the Minister of Transport for Qatar and was responsible for delivering the port to immovable deadlines.
Before moving to Qatar, he was the Senior Projects Director responsible for delivering three Iconic Museums in Abu Dhabi, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim and Sheikh Zayed Museum. Tim established the baseline budgets, baseline programs, project plans and undertook extensive value engineering to control cost creep.

PROJECT: Iconic Central Market Redevelopment (US $2bn), Abu Dhabi
Construction of a major mixed-use prestigious development in the heart
of Abu Dhabi consisting of 3 super tall towers; 90 storey residential tower,
60 storey office tower, 60 storey hotel, 480 room five-star hotel, 212
room four-star hotel, Souk, Cinemas and 300+ tenant Retail. Designed by
Fosters and Partners as an Iconic centerpiece in Abu Dhabi. On site labour
force of 6, 000 and 26 tower cranes. 20m deep retaining wall 1.5km long,
1, 100 piles, 2 million m2
of excavation, high water table, 274, 000 m3
concrete and 74, 000 tonnes of rebar.
Project Director responsible for procurement of contractors (early works,
enabling works, main works), contract drafting, contract negotiations,
appointment of consultants (50 No.). Management of 35+ expat team.
The ‘Engineer’ under FIDIC 1987 and 1999 for all contractual issues.
Direct dealing with Client Chairman, CEO, COO and stakeholders. The
main challenges were third party approvals; management of the global
design team; inflation mitigation strategies; securing supply chain
resources; preventing adversarial contracting and building a relationship-
based team environment with common goals.

Took over financial management of US $100m/year Consulting business
and returned business to profit in 2 years. Collected receivables of
US$36m over 18-month period. Restructured expat terms and
conditions. Reduced staff from 250 to 125. Identified and won new work
worth approx. US $40m. Introduced Sarbanes Oxley and streamlined
accounting.
PROJECT POSITION: Project Director
PROJECT: Great Man Made River, Libya (US $13bn)
Phase IV Ghadames to Zwara (US $800m)
Construction of 654km of 1.6m dia. concrete pipeline through the Sahara
Desert from 106 desert aquifer wells to the coast. The pipes were laid in
very soft sand that require bespoke excavation machinery. Project
Director responsible for ensuring that the Contractors designs meet the
owners’ requirements. Supervision of 30 multi-disciplined expat
engineers and a supervision staff of 120+ Libyan Nationals. Establish
effective project controls (cost, planning, materials). Manage the
engineering process and client relations.
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PROJECT POSITION: Project Director
PROJECT: Great Man Made River, Libya (US $13billion - all phases)
Tarhouna to Abuzziyan Pipeline Project (US $140m)
Construction of 76km of 2.8m dia. concrete pipeline and 8km of fully
welded 1.6m dia. steel pipeline around Tripoli, Libya. Construction of two
16MW pump-stations, sub-stations and a 300, 000m3
concrete reservoir.
Co-ordination and management of four major international Contractors.
Project Director responsible for all technical and commercial aspects of
the project. Client point of contact. Set up project controls, monitor
progress and take effective steps to mitigate delays. Establish project
budgets and monitor project forecasts. Lead and manage the design
team. Monitor engineering quality and drive continuous improvement
initiatives. QA audits. HSE audits.
PROJECT POSITION: Project Director
PROJECT: Great Man Made River, Libya (US $13bn)
Al Khadra Reservoir (US $126m)
Construction of a rock fill bunded reservoir 1km in diameter. Reservoir
fully lined with asphalt. Project Director responsible for all commercial
and technical aspects of the project.

PROJECT: Magadi Soda Ash Plant, Kenya (US $8m)
Total responsibility for this target date and target cost contract. Contract
finished 5% below the target cost and 15 days ahead of the 180 day
programme.

PROJECT: 3rd
Nairobi Water Supply Project (US $80m)
Resident Engineer on Ngethu Water Treatment Works and Thika Dam.
The dam (70 million m3
raw water) providing the main water supply for
Nairobi. Supervised total of 20, 000m3
of concrete placement.

Design Engineer - Bristol Bulk Terminal and Berth (£70m)
Assist. Resident Engineer - Sizewell 'B' Nuclear Power Station