Nelson Ogunshakin
Olawale Nelson Ogunshakin OBE (known as "Nelson Ogunshakin") is a British engineer and businessman. He is currently chief executive officer of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) based in Geneva, Switzerland. He was appointed to the board of Transport for London in September 2016. Education. Nelson Ogunshakin graduated from Aston University in 1985 with a BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering and obtained a master's degree in Construction & Programme Management at the University of Birmingham. He also completed an MBA in Strategic Management and Corporate Finance from Aston University in 1994. Nelson also gained certifications from the  Harvard Business School and INSEAD Business School executive programmes. Career. Ogunshakin's first position after university was with civil engineering firm Tarmac, later known as Carillion, in 1981. He then moved to Warwickshire County Council, where he became a transport planner. Moving back into consultancy, he joined Rendel Palmer & Tritton consulting engineers and worked on the construction of new motorways in the area, including the M6 toll. He spent 14 years at the company, where he worked on projects in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa, Canada, Egypt, Africa, the USA and across Europe. He also held senior positions at  WSP Global, AEO Group and in 2004, he became chief executive of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering. At ACE, he oversaw the acquisition and integration of the Environmental Industries Commission into the group and the establishment of the infrastructure industry magazine "Infrastructure Intelligence". FIDIC. As FIDIC CEO, Ogunshakin has repositioned and reinvigorated the organisation to represent the global consulting engineering sector. He concluded the FIDIC strategic negotiations with most multi-lateral and bi-lateral Development Banks (MDBs) to adopt FIDIC standard form of Contract 2017 to be included in their Standard Procurement Documents used for the delivery in excess  of $170 billion infrastructure investment funded by the following MDBs: Ogunshakin has led the global expansion of FIDIC business operations by established FIDIC businesses in Geneva, Switzerland, and in Beijing, China. Other roles. In June 2018, Ogunshakin was appointed to the board of Crossrail Limited. In September 2016, Ogunshakin was appointed to the Transport for London (TfL) board by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, on an initial four-year tenure and then extended to 2024. Ogunshakin is the Vice Chair of the TfL Programmed and Investment Committee, member of the Audit & Assurance Committee and the Elizabeth Line Committee  responsible for commissioning and onboarding the £18 billion Cross Rail investment project into the London Underground operational asset portfolio. In October 2014, Ogunshankin was appointed to the London Infrastructure Delivery Board by the GLA. In October 2012, Ogunshakin became co-chair of the National Infrastructure Plan Strategic Engagement Forum, providing strategic direction to the execution of the £350 billion plan, working in collaboration with the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP and Chief Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, Lord Deighton KBE. Ogunshakin has also held a number of non-executive roles on the  boards of construction/engineering related companies and organisations. He is currently chair of the investment committee at ARIM-Harith, responsible for £250 million worth of investments in West Africa. He was also chair of Thomas Telford Ltd, the commercial arm of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), board member at construction firm, Deal Pride and trustee roles at engineering charities Engineering UK and Engineers Against Poverty (EAP). In 2021, Ogunshakin was appointed to the Board of Connected Places Catapult. Professional affiliations. Ogunshakin is qualified, registered and proactively active with several professional institutions operating within infrastructure and built environment including  the following: Personal life. Nelson Ogunshakin OBE is married to his wife Helen. They have three children (a girl and two boys) and currently live in Switzerland and the UK.