Expert engineer to tackle society’s big infrastructure challenges

An eminent engineer has been appointed to a new post that will help policymakers address large-scale challenges in transport and utilities. Professor Gordon Masterton will seek to work with industry and government in his new role as Chair of Future Infrastructure at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering. His arrival coincides with the UK Government’s appointment of Lord Adonis to Chair the UK Infrastructure Commission, re-affirming the importance of the nation’s infrastructure to the economy.

Professor Masterton will embark on research to aid decisions on implementing infrastructure projects, such as high speed rail, low carbon energy and sustainable water supplies. The civil engineer also hopes to study infrastructure in Scotland’s urban and rural mixed economy, as a model to help to address problems created by world class cities in sparsely populated countries overseas.

Until recently, Professor Masterton was Vice-President of Jacobs Engineering. He is a past president of the Institution of Civil Engineers and former chairman of the Construction Industry Council.

Professor Masterton was the UK Government's project representative on the £15 bn Crossrail development in London – Europe’s largest construction project to date. Recently, he was appointed a member of the Independent Assurance Panel for the HS2 high-speed rail link.

The new Professor brings more than 35 years of industry experience and leadership of major infrastructure design, construction and commissioning to his new post.

Professor Masterton will oversee a newly created Future Infrastructure Research Centre at the University. This will draw upon world-leading expertise in fire safety and structural engineering, granular materials, railway engineering, non-destructive testing and large-scale data acquisition and analysis.

Further Information

Professor Gordon Masterton, Chair of Future Infrastructure
Professor Gordon Masterton, Chair of Future Infrastructure

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