GHD appoints Darren Shrives as regional GM for UAE
The appointment follows the firm’s recent agreement to help develop the UAE’s National Hydrogen Strategy
GHD has announced the appointment of Darren Shrives as regional general manager – UAE. The firm said that Shrives, who has previously led the company’s Philippines business, will take on the role at a time when the company will be helping the UAE develop its National Hydrogen Strategy.
According to a statement, Shrives comes with more than 25 years of experience in the planning and leadership of multidisciplinary projects in Australia, the UK, and the Philippines.
“This is a very exciting time to be leading our UAE business. The COP28 summit in Dubai will be symbolic of the vast transition underway in the UAE and the GCC more broadly as these economies transition from oil and gas towards a low carbon future. We look forward to supporting our clients in solving the world’s biggest challenges in water, energy and urbanisation,” Shrives said.
Operating continuously in the UAE since 2001, GHD employs about 200 people across its offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, a statement from the firm noted.
In early February 2020, GHD discussed its role in developing Modon Properties’ Jubail Mangrove Park.
“GHD is at the forefront of helping the UAE build sustainable resilience for its economy, maintain the country’s market share of the global energy market, and in delivering its ambitious social infrastructure and tourism programmes. It is exciting to see the live potential that exists for our Future of Energy, Future Communities and Future of Water offerings,” said Simon Light, GHD’s CEO – EMEA.
In September last year, the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) signed an agreement with GHD Group, in partnership with Germany-based Fraunhofer–Gesellschaft, to develop its National Hydrogen Strategy.
As part of the UAE’s Hydrogen Roadmap and the ongoing commitment to decarbonisation and energy transition, the National Hydrogen Strategy will help establish the UAE’s hydrogen vision and inform its policy decisions as one of its energy-mix diversification strategies and Net Zero targets by 2050.
Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said at the time: “We remain focused on our goal of capturing 25% of the most important hydrogen market. Our ambition is to see the UAE become a world-leading authority on the role of hydrogen in the energy transition.”
In late December 2020, GHD said it had completed works on the Hudayriyat Leisure and Entertainment District.
He concluded, “GHD had initially collaborated with the MoEI to assess the critical elements necessary to establish a hydrogen strategy in the UAE. GHD’s scope for developing and implementing the National Hydrogen Strategy is expected to set the direction for a hydrogen economy across the UAE.”
In early June 2021, GHD’s David Kinniburgh told Big Project Middle East that the Australian construction firm is committed to making the region’s developments more sustainable, resilient and community-focused.
