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People & Careers roundup

New president of the The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation for 2015/16 is Dr Susan Sharland. Her theme for the year is ‘Intelligent Transport in a Connected World’ looking at the opportunity to improve transport and mobility with technology and innovation. 


One time head of the Major Projects Authority John Manzoni has today been announced as the new Permanent Secretary of Cabinet Office. He will take on the role in addition to his responsibilities as chief executive of the Civil Service. Manzoni will replace the current Permanent Secretary, Richard Heaton, who has been appointed as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice. 

International law firm Pinsent Masons has marked its official opening in Australia with the hire of heavy-hitting infrastructure disputes specialist Peter Megens as a partner. He joins from the Singapore office of King & Spalding, where he was a partner. He has advised on legal matters relating to a number of Australia's highest profile infrastructure projects including the Melbourne CityLink Project and the Melbourne Train network. He also has substantive experience advising on projects spanning the Asia Pacific region

The number of applications to study engineering increasing by 7% on the previous year for all domiciles, and up by 9% for UK applicants according to the latest UCAS figures.

CBI is urging the government to increase the skilled migration cap to help business fill vacancies in the skills crisis.  “The Government’s current direction on non-EU immigration is causing some headaches for businesses. Growth in the UK economy is stronger than in other countries, businesses are facing skill shortages and international students want to learn at the best universities in the world. These are factors which draw people to the UK – people who are more likely to be employed, earning and paying taxes. We want the Government to scrap the net migration target and to increase the skilled migration cap to protect the UK’s reputation as being open for dealing,” said director general John Cridland in the organisations verdict on the new Government’s progress. 

Tidal Lagoon Power has appointed Eneco Wind UK project director Mike Unsworth as delivery director for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.  

National Women in Engineering Day last week saw the setting of a new Guiness World Record intended to celebrate the achievements of femal engineers.  Some 864 men and women joined Transport for London Commissioner (now Network Rail chairman) Sir Peter Hendy on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall breaking the Guiness World Records title for the most people performing a jumping high five simultaneously. The existing title stood at 150 pairs and was beaten by achieving a massive 432 pairs. as adjudicated by an official judge from Guinness World Records. The successful record attempt was supported by Siemens and TfL.