FIDIC, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers, has appointed international transport industry leader Susanna Zammataro as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Susanna is currently the Director General of the International Road Federation, headquartered in Geneva, and will start her new role with FIDIC on 1 May 2025.

She has held previous roles with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the European Commission. FIDIC President and Senior Vice President of Stantec Catherine Karakatsanis, noted Susanna’s “collegiate and collaborative approach” and said: “As a global industry federation leader of many years standing, Susanna knows well how membership organisations work and is familiar with the business, political and regulatory environment in which they operate.”

FIDIC’s membership counts around 100 national associations across the globe, including Consult Australia, and represents more than one million engineering professionals and 40,000 firms. The buildings and infrastructure sector in which FIDIC members work contributes over US$36trillion to global GDP.

HDR has appointed Huai Lim as Managing Principal of its Australian architecture practice. Outgoing Managing Principal Cate Cowlishaw will move into a newly created role as Regional Business Development Director.

With more than 24 years of experience across the health, science, defence, transport and civic sectors, Huai joins HDR from Arcadis, where she was Managing Director of Places.

“HDR’s global knowledge exchange and unique innovation capability will challenge my design thinking and inspire my approach that is founded on people leadership and strong design delivery,” Huai says.

HDR’s Country Director of Operations Brendan Botha says the appointments will “enhance our design and technical leadership across the region and reinforce our commitment to the communities, industries, and professions we serve.”

HDR is an employee-owned business driven by 13,000 people across the globe.

Three built environment consultancies specialising in property and facilities management consulting have formed a strategic alliance. In-Touch Advisory (Australasia), BWA (Europe) Limited and BWA Middle East are separately RICS regulated firms. 

Stephen Ballesty, Founding Director of In-Touch Advisory says: “We are seeing increasing demand for innovative and sustainable solutions, which requires a more global perspective. This collaboration aims to enhance both companies’ consultancy capabilities and reach while maintaining our independence, and delivering enhanced value to our built environment clients worldwide.”