Mott MacDonald adds Brian Gash to its Highways business in UK

Brian Gash has been picked up by Mott MacDonald as a Programme Director for its UK Highways Business. Gash brings more than 30 years of experience to the firm, and will provide considerable client side insight from his previous work at Highways England, as well as broader industry insights, allowing the firm to improve its coordination and engagement with the government entity.

Prior to joining Mott MacDonald, Brian Gash worked at Highways England as the Group Leader South West, responsible for Major Projects, which included six major infrastructure works as part of the Road Investment Strategy programme. Previously, from 2013 until 2015, Gash worked at the Highways Agency as a Senior Project Manager, where he delivered four SMART motorway schemes as part of the accelerated delivery programme. Gash’s earlier roles include Project Manager at Amey; Principal Engineer at Peter Brett Associates; Civil Engineering Technician at Buro Happold; Structural Technician at Peter Brett Associates; Bridge Structures Technician at Parsons Brinckerhoff; Senior Technician at Scott White and Hookins; Technician at Husband & Co; and Junior Technician at Wilcox Cooper Associates, where he started his career in 1985.

Gash holds a diploma in Building Studies from Highbury Technical College, an HNC in Civil Engineering from the Southampton Institute of Higher Education and passed the Engineering Council Exams in Civil Engineering from University of the West of England. Gash is a Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation member and an Association of Project Managers Registered Project Professional.

Gash joins Mott MacDonald’s Highways Business in the UK as a Programme Director. The addition of Gash provides the firm with the means to better coordinate and increase its engagement with Highways England, as Gash takes responsibility for aligning a joint approach on a number of key aspects including safety and project delivery. In addition, the firm will leverage Gash’s consulting experience across a range of large infrastructure projects, as well as his broad stakeholder engagement capabilities, developed during his more than 30 years in the field.

Commenting on his appointment, Gash says, “One of the greatest challenges facing Highways England is delivering the substantial increase in investment on England’s motorways and major A roads. I’m keen to develop ways in which we can work with them to realise their ambitions.”

David Tarrant, Highways Managing Director at Mott MacDonald, adds, “Brian’s appointment is a key part of our drive to continually improve communication and collaborative working to deliver better outcomes for our clients. His insight and experience will prove invaluable in strengthening our relationship with Highways England.”

Earlier this year Mott MacDonald also added David Webster and Norrie Westbrook to its Highways business – both serve as a Director. Clients recently added to the unit's portfolio include the Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Transport for Wales.