5-week course: Ethics and Professional Development

Alex Katon

Alex Katon is co-founder and Executive Chair of GIACC-UK. He is also the founder and CEO of Arc Energy Consulting, a UK-based electricity and infrastructure market consultant for the UK, Middle East and Africa. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and a member of the Institute of Directors.

During his career he has worked in infrastructure project development and senior management in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region for companies such as International Power and Engie. He was latterly CEO of Summit Global Power, Sumitomo Corporation’s MEA infrastructure business. 

He also worked in investment for UK government-funded organisations such as CDC (now British International Investment), Globeleq and InfraCo Africa, a project development company for Sub Saharan Africa infrastructure. He was CEO of InfraCo Africa, implementing ISO 37001anti-bribery management system to help manage corruption risks in project development and construction.

Paula McMahon

Paula started life as a civil engineering apprentice with her local council straight from school. At Sir Robert McAlpine she oversees the professional development of future ICE members and manages the Social Value for the A19 DBFO Project as well as effecting positive changes through several Affinity and leadership groups.

 Her career has been wide ranging and varied and has included significant roles on high profile projects including the Thames Barrier, Hinkley Point C and DUBAL Aluminium. She is a Chartered Fellow of the ICE and the Chartered Management Institute as well as being a Fellow of the Women’s Engineering Society.

 Paula strongly believes in inspiring our next generation of civil engineers and educating everyone to work towards an equitable and sustainable future. She is regularly invited to speak at national and international events on a range of topics including engineering, diversity and sustainability.

Alex Garman

Alex is a chartered civil engineer with over ten years’ experience in the technical design and delivery of infrastructure and building projects in the UK and abroad.

Alex has worked on a wide range and scale of projects in the rail, master planning, nuclear and aviation industries, including a role as construction manager for HS2 and time spent working overseas in India. More recently, he has been involved in the design of complex flood defence schemes in Lewes, utilities master planning for Engie and strategic site feasibility studies for Berkeley Homes.

Alex’s breadth and depth of experience have also enabled him to advise on construction innovation consultancy projects. For example, Alex helped to lead the i3p Earthworks Tiger Team research project, which looked at opportunities to improve productivity and sustainability when undertaking major earthworks projects.

Alex feels passionately about actively contributing to the civil engineering industry. He is a chartership reviewer for the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and is a member of the New Civil Engineer Advisory Board. Alex also sits on the editorial panel for the Smart Infrastructure and Construction Journal, and mentors students through schemes run by the University of Bristol and the ICE to help inspire the next generation of engineers.