Becky Wood appointed as Chief Executive Officer of NISTA
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-16)

New CEO brings wealth of infrastructure leadership experience to new body supporting the implementation of the government's 10-year infrastructure strategy.

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) has today announced the appointment of Becky Wood as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Last October, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones announced plans to create a new National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), bringing together the former Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) and National Infrastructure Commission (NIC).

Formally launched at the beginning of this month, NISTA will look to fix the foundations of our infrastructure system by bringing strategy and delivery under one roof, addressing the systemic delivery challenges that have stunted growth for decades.

Supporting delivery of our roads, railways, schools and hospitals, it will help overcome the barriers to delivery of UK infrastructure, as well as provide expertise on private finance and implementing the 10-year infrastructure strategy.

With extensive experience in infrastructure leadership, particularly in the UK transport and international sectors, Becky will bring significant expertise, skills and knowledge to the role.

Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury said:

I am delighted that Becky is going to lead NISTA as the new CEO, she brings a wealth of experience from the public and private sector overseeing some of the biggest transport projects around the world in the past decade. Her appointment is an important milestone for NISTA’s work in getting a grip on infrastructure delivery, powering growth across the country and delivering on our Plan for Change.

Sir John Armitt, Chair of the NISTA Council of Expert Advisors said:

I am pleased to welcome Becky on board to lead NISTA. We are at a critical moment for transforming how we plan and deliver the nation’s infrastructure, and Becky’s leadership will be vital for building an effective and credible institution that can do just that. I look forward to working closely with her in the coming months.

Becky Wood, NISTA Chief Executive Officer said:

It is an honour to be appointed to a role that has so much potential to make a vital difference to the everyday lives of people across the UK, ensuring robust delivery of infrastructure and enabling growth. I am very much looking forward to joining the team in June.

Becky will formally take up her role as CEO in June 2025.

Notes to editors:
- The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, formally launched on 1 April 2025, brings together the functions of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority and National Infrastructure Commission, under HM Treasury NISTA is part of a three-pronged approach to addressing the fundamental constraints to infrastructure investment, sitting alongside the 10-year infrastructure strategy, which sets out a long-term plan for the country’s infrastructure, and the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill to unblock planning constraints.
- She is currently a partner at the consultancy firm EY, and prior to that was a Commercial Advisor at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority. For ten-years Becky oversaw major infrastructure developments at the Department for Transport, serving as the Senior Responsible Officer for the Crossrail, Thameslink and Intercity Express programmes. She also has valuable international experience, having worked on significant infrastructure programmes across both public and private sectors in Australia and New Zealand.
- Last week, we also announced that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones had set up a new Council of Expert Advisors (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-council-of-expert-advisors-appointed-in-nista) to support the work of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA).
- For further information, please visit NISTA on gov.uk. (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/national-infrastructure-and-service-transformation-authority)