INDEPENDENT ASSURANCE GROUP
The IAG provides independent commercial and delivery assurance for major infrastructure programmes. We operate through a retained panel of industry leading experts with extensive experience in assurance, expert advisory work, and the governance of complex infrastructure. This collective capability enables us to deliver best practice that sets a gold standard for infrastructure commercial assurance.
ASSURANCE SERVICES
LoD2 (Line of Defence 2) reviews are semi-independent, impartial and unconflicted reviews to help teams identify and reduce delivery, commercial and procurement risk and strengthen value for money. They provide a semi-independent assurance service. LoD2 assurance can be provided by experts connected with the commercial team but not responsible for the day-to-day management of the procurement exercise.
LoD3 (Line of Defence 3) reviews offer senior decision-makers (SROs and Boards) fully independent assurance for senior leaders (SROs/Boards) that procurement and commercial activity align with the programme or project’s strategic intent and is likely to deliver value for money. LoD3 assurance is provided by experts that are not employed in a commercial role by the client organisation.
INDEPENDENT EXPERT ADVISORS
Available to deliver IAG services with Rowark & Wright is a group of experienced, trusted, and independent expert advisors, including:
PROFESSOR GORDON MASTERTON
OBE, DL, HONDENG, HONDTECH, BA, MSC, DIC, FRENG, FRSE,
PPICE, FISTRUCTE, PPIES, MCIWEM
Gordon Masterton is Emeritus Professor of Future Infrastructure at the University of Edinburgh School of Engineering. Before his appointment as Chair of Future Infrastructure in 2015, Professor Masterton was Vice-President of Jacobs Engineering, latterly as a director of AWE ML, and prior to that was the UK government Project Director for the early years of Crossrail (2009-12).
Gordon was President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Engineers in Scotland (2009-11); past chair of the Construction Industry Council (2008-10). He was Deputy Convenor of the UK Collaboratorium for Research in Infrastructure and Cities (UKCRIC) (2019-23).
Gordon continues to advise government on major programmes and chairs Independent Assurance Panels (LoD3) acting for clients including HS2, East-West Rail, Dublin MetroLink, the UK Parliament Restoration and Renewal Programme, and National Highways. In 2021, he co-led a UK government study into the technical feasibility of a fixed bridge or tunnel link to Northern Ireland. Gordon has contributed to TV Series such as Life After People; Canals: The Making of Modern Britain; and Britain’s Greatest Bridges. He has been a judge for the Royal Academy of Engineering’s MacRobert Award for Engineering for two terms (2013-16) and (2019-present).
DAVID ORR
CBE, FRENG, HONDSC, FICE
David is a chartered civil engineer who spent much of his career as a construction client and procurement specialist in the Northern Ireland Civil Service. He served as Permanent Secretary of the Department for Regional Development where, as Accounting Officer, he was responsible for Departmental governance and the administration of all public roads, water / wastewater, and public transport in Northern Ireland.
David was President of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 2007-08 and in 2009 was awarded the ICE Gold Medal for services to infrastructure. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He was appointed CBE in the New Year Honours 2010 and awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science by Ulster University in 2017 for services to engineering.
David now specialises in providing strategic advice and assurance to clients for the procurement and delivery of major construction projects. Since 2008, he has chaired, or been a member of, Independent Assurance Panels (LoD3) for Crossrail, HS2, Dublin MetroLink, Thames Water and National Highways. Since 2013, David has been a strategic adviser to the Houses of Parliament for the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster.
PETER SELL
BSC, FRICS
Peter is an expert in the UK infrastructure sector, known for the “industrialisation” of the procurement process through standardisation, codification, and the use of electronic systems to support effective governance and compliance with procurement regulations. Peter has provided expert advice and support to major clients including Transport for London (TfL), National Nuclear Laboratory, PPP at Sellafield, Strategic Estates Houses of Parliament, the New Hospitals Programme, and Dublin MetroLink.
Peter has held senior consulting roles in the procurement of multi-£bn programmes including procurement operations for Crossrail Limited (the Elizabeth Line), the re-organisation of TfL’s capital upgrade programmes commercial function, and the development and implementation of procurement processes and systems for the London 2012 Olympics.
Peter is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). He was the chair of the e-Tendering working group and led the drafting of the eTendering Guidance Note (part of the RICS ‘Black Book’) and the RICS guidance on the role of the Commercial Manager in Infrastructure. Peter supported the development of the Procurement Module of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (now NISTA) Projects Initiation Route Map and is the joint author of the book, BIM and Quantity Surveying.