The National Infrastructure & Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) was created on 1st April to replace the Treasury鈥檚 Infrastructure & Projects Authority (IPA). It also replaces the National Infrastructure Commission, although all 10 members of the NIC have been appointed to a new NISTA Council of Expert Advisors, although 79-year-old council chair Sir John Armitt is scheduled to retire in July (having previously been scheduled to retire last January).
The first NISTA chief executive is to be Becky Wood, who will formally take up her new role in June 2025.
Wood is currently a partner at the consultancy firm EY, and prior to that was a commercial advisor at the IPA. For 10 years she oversaw major infrastructure developments at the Department for Transport, serving as the senior responsible officer for the Crossrail, Thameslink and Intercity Express programmes. She also has international experience, having worked on infrastructure projects in Australia and New Zealand.
Wood is both a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said: 鈥淚 am delighted that Becky is going to lead NISTA as the new CEO, she brings a wealth of experience from the public and private sector overseeing some of the biggest transport projects around the world in the past decade. Her appointment is an important milestone for NISTA鈥檚 work in getting a grip on infrastructure delivery, powering growth across the country and delivering on our Plan for Change.鈥�
Sir John Armitt said: 鈥淚 am pleased to welcome Becky on board to lead NISTA鈥� I look forward to working closely with her in the coming months鈥� 鈥� which sounds like Armitt might be once again putting off his retirement for a bit longer.
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