David Higgins (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Sir David Hartmann Higgins (born Brisbane
in 1954), is an Australia
n businessman, the Chief Executive of Network Rail
(since February 2011) and the former Chief Executive of the London
2012 Summer Olympics
Delivery Authority
.
Higgins was educated at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview in Sydney
. He then gained a degree in Civil engineering
at the University of Sydney
, residing at St John's College
; and a diploma at the Securities Institute of Australia.
After graduation, he worked in the United Kingdom
and Africa
, before returning to Australia in 1983, and joining the international property and construction company Lend Lease Corporation
in 1985. In 1995 he was appointed managing director and chief executive, when the corporations developments included the 2000 Summer Olympics
Sydney Olympic Park
, and the Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent
, England
.
From March 2003, Higgins was Chief Executive of English Partnerships
, the UK government national regeneration agency. Higgins was appointed Chief Executive Designate of the Olympic Delivery Authority
from December 2005, and appointed Chief Executive with effect from 30 March 2006. In this role he is paid £394,999 a year; making him the highest paid Quango
boss in the UK.
Married with two children, his hobbies include hiking
and outdoor pursuits.
On 28 September 2010, it was announced that he is leaving the Olympic Delivery Authority to take up the role of chief executive of Network Rail
, taking over from outgoing chief executive Iain Coucher
, and with effect from February 2011.
Higgins was knighted
in the 2011 Birthday Honours
for services to regeneration.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in 1954), is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n businessman, the Chief Executive of Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
(since February 2011) and the former Chief Executive of the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
Delivery Authority
Olympic Delivery Authority
The Olympic Delivery Authority is the statutory corporation responsible for ensuring delivery of venues, infrastructure and legacy for the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in London...
.
Higgins was educated at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. He then gained a degree in Civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, residing at St John's College
St John's College, University of Sydney
]St John's College, or the College of St John the Evangelist, is a residential College within the University of Sydney.Established in 1857, the College of St John the Evangelist is the oldest Roman Catholic university college and second-oldest university college in Australia, and is one of the...
; and a diploma at the Securities Institute of Australia.
After graduation, he worked in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, before returning to Australia in 1983, and joining the international property and construction company Lend Lease Corporation
Lend Lease Corporation
Lend Lease Group is a global property and infrastructure company headquartered in Sydney, Australia...
in 1985. In 1995 he was appointed managing director and chief executive, when the corporations developments included the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Sydney Olympic Park is located 16 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council....
, and the Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
From March 2003, Higgins was Chief Executive of English Partnerships
English Partnerships
English Partnerships was the national regeneration agency for England, performing a similar role on a national level to that fulfilled by Regional Development Agencies on a regional level...
, the UK government national regeneration agency. Higgins was appointed Chief Executive Designate of the Olympic Delivery Authority
Olympic Delivery Authority
The Olympic Delivery Authority is the statutory corporation responsible for ensuring delivery of venues, infrastructure and legacy for the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in London...
from December 2005, and appointed Chief Executive with effect from 30 March 2006. In this role he is paid £394,999 a year; making him the highest paid Quango
Quango
Quango or qango is an acronym used notably in the United Kingdom, Ireland and elsewhere to label an organisation to which government has devolved power...
boss in the UK.
Married with two children, his hobbies include hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and outdoor pursuits.
On 28 September 2010, it was announced that he is leaving the Olympic Delivery Authority to take up the role of chief executive of Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
, taking over from outgoing chief executive Iain Coucher
Iain Coucher
Iain Michael Coucher is a former chief executive of Network Rail.-Early life:He was brought up in Doncaster and Leeds, where his father, Brian, worked for the electricity generating board. He originally wanted to be an RAF pilot.Coucher attended Ashville College, a boarding school in Harrogate,...
, and with effect from February 2011.
Higgins was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 2011 Birthday Honours
2011 Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours 2011 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 7 June 2011 in New Zealand and 11 June 2011 in United Kingdom to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2011.-Privy Councillors:...
for services to regeneration.