David Higgins (businessman)

Sir David Hartmann Higgins (born Brisbane in 1954), is an Australian businessman, the Chief Executive of Network Rail (since February 2011) and the former Chief Executive of the London 2012 Summer Olympics Delivery Authority.^[1]

Higgins was educated at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview in Sydney. He then gained a degree in Civil engineering at the University of Sydney, residing at St John's College; and a diploma at the Securities Institute of Australia.^[2]

After graduation, he worked in the United Kingdom and Africa, before returning to Australia in 1983, and joining the international property and construction company Lend Lease Corporation in 1985. In 1995 he was appointed managing director and chief executive, when the corporations developments included the 2000 Summer Olympics Sydney Olympic Park, and the Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent, England.^[2]

From March 2003, Higgins was Chief Executive of English Partnerships, the UK government national regeneration agency. Higgins was appointed Chief Executive Designate of the Olympic Delivery Authority from December 2005,^[3] and appointed Chief Executive with effect from 30 March 2006.^[4] In this role he is paid £394,999 a year; making him the highest paid Quango boss in the UK.^[5]

Married with two children, his hobbies include hiking and outdoor pursuits.^[2]

On 28 September 2010, it was announced that he is leaving the Olympic Delivery Authority to take up the role of chief executive of Network Rail, taking over from outgoing chief executive Iain Coucher, and with effect from February 2011.^[6]

Higgins was knighted in the 2011 Birthday Honours for services to regeneration.^[7]

References

1. ^ "About the ODA". Olympic Delivery Authority. http://www.london-2012.co.uk/ODA/. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Kelso, Paul (2008-01-18). "Australian fixer setting the pace to London 2012". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jan/18/banking.olympics2012. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
3. ^ "Higgins named as ODA chief executive". Contract Journal. 2005-11-23. http://www.contractjournal.com/Articles/2005/11/23/48517/higgins-named-as-oda-chief-executive.html. Retrieved 2008-05-08. 
4. ^ "ODA Senior Team". Olympic Delivery Authority. http://www.london2012.com/about/the-people-delivering-the-games/the-olympic-delivery-authority/oda-senior-team.php. Retrieved 2008-05-08. ^{[dead link]}
5. ^ "Quango chiefs' salaries revealed". BBC News. 2 July 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10482482.stm. Retrieved 2 July 2010. 
6. ^ "Olympic 2012 boss David Higgins leaves for Network Rail". BBC News. 2010-09-28. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11431934. 
7. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59808. p. 1. 11 June 2011.

External links

• Bio at the ODA Senior Team

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Name	Higgins, David
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Date of birth	1954
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