David Whysall

Global Managing Director of Energy and Natural Resources

I’m passionate about building an industry that’s fit to deliver on our society’s big moments of our time – climate change, global security and equality.

I lead our global energy and natural resources team. My role is focused on helping our clients deliver the investment required to realise the global energy transition. We’ve a talented and diverse global team who’re able to provide a platform to support our clients set strategy, set up and deliver high performing, transformational projects and programmes.

We’re very proud of the work we’re doing to enable the global transition to clean energy, de-carbonise existing assets and ensure a sustainable approach is taken to the world’s natural resources that will leave a lasting positive legacy.

I spent a couple of years working within the UK supply chain for a major contractor before joining Turner & Townsend as a graduate in 2004. The majority of my time has been spent within the infrastructure sector where I was Managing Director between 2018 and 2023, prior to my transition into energy and natural resources. I sit on our Executive Committee and Management Board.

I’m passionate about playing my part in driving industry improvement and currently act as co-chair of Constructing Excellence. Before this, I sat on the RICS Infrastructure steering group and chaired G4C (Generation for Change). I’ve led studies into major programme performance and have been involved in a number of industry improvement initiatives. These include the UK Department for Transport, Transport Infrastructure Efficiency Strategy and the UK Infrastructure Projects Authority Routemap to establish successful major projects.

Career highlights

Appointed to the Executive Committee
2024
Appointed Global Managing Director of Energy and Natural Resources, and appointed to Operations Board
2023
Appointed to our Management Board
2021
Appointed Managing Director, Infrastructure UK
2018
Worked on Crossrail as part of its set up
2010
First major project, Heathrow Terminal 2
2008
Worked on Heathrow Terminal 5
2005
Joined Turner & Townsend
2004

Q. What attracted you to join Turner & Townsend?

A. Its ambition. When I joined in 2004, we were a much smaller business but with big aspirations to be the best at what we do. We've expanded greatly since then, yet still have huge ambition for the future. We've also retained the things that have made us successful: a focus on excellence, development of diverse talent and passion to solve our clients’ biggest challenges.

Q. Which project are you most proud of being involved in at Turner & Townsend?

A. Heathrow Terminal 5. To this day I still see it as the most successful delivery model used for a major programme. It put collaboration at the heart of its strategy and stretched talent such that the outcome delivered was amazing. It has left an incredible legacy for our industry, as well as in the asset that was created. It’s the project I still point out to my children!

Q. How do you contribute to Turner & Townsend making a difference?

A. Firstly, as leader in our business I engage with clients and use my role to highlight the great work that our people do to meet the needs of our clients, as well as society. Secondly, I mentor talent across the industry and spend time with school and college-age children, showing them that a career within the built environment can provide unrivalled opportunities to learn and to shape the world around them.

Q. What do you most enjoy most about working at Turner & Townsend?

A. Seeing talented people reach their full potential and take on leadership positions around the world.

Q. Describe your typical day.

A. I do not have a typical day! I try and balance seeing clients with sending time with our people and creating the capacity I need to keep developing the business. My team stretches from Brisbane to California and as such I can structure my day so that I have early morning or late nights – hopefully not on the same day! I love visiting our projects around the world to see the positive impact we are making.

Q. What's the emerging trend in your industry specialism and how are you responding to this?

A. The energy and natural resources segment is going through transformation. The way society generates, distributes and uses energy is being radically reset to enable us to reach a sustainable future. This is putting strains on our industry with clients trying to build their capability so that it's fit for the future. Supply chains are under significant pressure to create capacity and manage cost inflation, and there are also new technologies that require investment.

We're helping our global clients build their capability, unlock market capacity and create the environment for delivering high performing projects, programmes and portfolios. We're investing in our global platform so we can support our clients successfully deliver anywhere around the world.