What makes the perfect client?

BAM Executive Director for Infrastructure, Huw Jones, featured in a thought-provoking New Civil Engineer article exploring what makes the perfect client. Bringing together senior leaders from across the industry, the feature provides an in-depth look at how client leadership and approaches can shape project outcomes.
 

The article highlights progressive contracting models, early collaboration, transparency and aligned incentives, offering a comprehensive guide to the practices that drive successful projects.

Huw contributed alongside Skanska UK Executive Vice President, Meliha Duymaz, Mace Managing Director for Infrastructure (Europe), Andy Beard, and WSP Director of Strategic

Growth, Sandra Robinson. It’s an insightful read for anyone involved in shaping the future of infrastructure delivery.

Huw emphasizes the benefits of long-term partnerships, particularly in fostering innovation, efficiency and best practice: “The whole thing about building collaborative relationships is that actually we can have some really challenging conversations, but we do them in the right way, and then the outcome from those challenging conversations is an improvement to how we’re going to work together.”

He also stresses the importance of modern client leadership, where the supply chain is treated as a true partner rather than a transactional provider: “The leadership within the client organisation should recognise the supply chain as partners… to help them solve their problems,” he says.

Read the full article in New Civil Engineer: What makes a perfect client? Senior leaders answer.