Chris Head

Chris Head.As Principal of the firm, Chris Head brings to the role thirty-five years of relevant experience. For much of this time he was as a Partner and Director of a leading international firm of Consulting Engineers, until 2001 when he established himself as an independent consultant. He offers:

  • Wide international experience having worked in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Far East, the Former Soviet Union, and South America. Resident in Kenya for four years establishing one of the first river basin planning authorities in Africa.
  • A multi-disciplinary approach, being an engineer by background with legal training and extensive experience in the economic and financial aspects of projects. He has led multi-disciplinary teams on a wide range of assignments.
  • Appreciation of development issues through having worked for many of the leading multilateral development banks including the World Bank/IFC, ADB, EBRD, UNDP and various bilateral donors.
  • Engineering and Arbitration qualifications: A civil engineer by training, he is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, an internationally recognized organisation for the resolution of contractual disputes.
  • Capacity building skills through having lectured at undergraduate and postgraduate level for four years at one of the UK’s leading universities, Imperial College, London; and having been engaged on training and capacity building projects in various countries.
  • Experience as an Expert Witness and in both formal and informal dispute resolution processes overseas, and as the Technical Advisor to the Tribunal for a major Public Inquiry on the failure of a public water supply in the UK.
  • Extensive publications list as the author of many reports and papers on the financing and commercial aspects of hydropower and water resources projects, including related developmental aspects. Frequently invited to speak on these issues at international conferences.

Professional Qualifications

  • B.Sc. Civil Engineering (honours) King’s College, London University
  • F.I.C.E. Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, London*
  • F.C.I.W.E.M. Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water & Environmental Management, London*
  • F.C.I.Arb. Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London*

* Fellow is the senior grade of membership of each of these organisations.