David Fawcett CEng FICE

 

TUNNELLING CONSULTANT

 

davidffawcett@yahoo.com                                 +44 7786966277

 

Born 1947       British Citizen resident in England

Current Position          Independent Consultant providing expert advice on design and construction matters and contract responsibilities in relation to underground infrastructure projects worldwide

 

Education & Qualifications:

 

1st Class honours degree in Civil Engineering – 1970

Member of Institution of Civil Engineers – 1976

Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers – 1990

Chairman of British Tunnelling Society 1995 to 1997

 

Career Summary

 

From 1970 to 1990 progressed through a wide variety of roles working on tunnelling related projects. During this period spent time with contractors, clients and consulting engineers working on projects in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Southern Africa. Re-joined Babtie in 1988 and established a new office specialising in the design of tunnels and tunnelling projects. In 1990 took wider management responsibilities in Babtie being highly instrumental in the firm’s growth (both organically and by acquisition) throughout the decade. In 1997 relocated to the Far East to oversee the integration of acquired companies returning to the UK in 2000 to negotiate and oversee the acquisition and integration of Allott & Lomax into Babtie. In 2001 appointed as managing Director of Babtie’s Professional Services business (turnover £50m) and turned this from loss making into a highly profitable business. In 2004 appointed Chief Operating Officer of Jacobs Babtie responsible for a UK business with 3500 staff and a turnover of over £200m. Through the period from 1992 (when appointed as a partner of Babtie) through to 2004 held senior director positions in all parts of the firm’s diverse business while maintaining a role as head of practice in tunnelling.

During12 years as a director of Babtie was highly instrumental in the growth of the firm from being a medium sized consulting engineering practice with 400 staff to being one of the UK’s top 5 designers running a very profitable growing business with 3500 staff

 

Positions held:

 

  • 2007 -              Independent consultant
  • 2004-2007       Chief Operating Officer – Jacobs Babtie
  • 2001-2004       Managing Director – Babtie Professional Services
  • 2000-2001       Integration Director – Babtie Allott
  • 1997-2000       Overseas Director (based in Far East)
  • 1994-1997       Director Babtie Infrastructure business
  • 1992-1997       Director Babtie Water & Environment business
  • 1988-1992       Manager tunnelling division
  • 1985-1988       Senior tunnelling estimator – Lilley Construction
  • 1984-1985       Research Manager – Babtie tunnelling
  • 1981-1984       Director of new works – Natal Water Authority
  • 1975-1981       Resident Engineer – Babtie
  • 1970-1975       Various site positions with tunnelling contractors

 

Tunnelling Experience

 

  • 1970-1975       Site engineer rising to site manager on: cable tunnel in rock in Manchester,Sewer tunnels in boulder clay in Dublin, Mine grouting in soft rock in Teesside, Sewer tunnels in rock & soft ground in Blackburn, Rail tunnels in sandstone in Liverpool
  • 1975-1981       Resident Engineer on the 28km rock tunnels for the Kielder Scheme in the North East of England
  • 1981-1984       Director of New works for the Umgeni Water Board (Natal Water Authority) responsible for the management of consultants and contractors involved in major new water supply schemes in Natal including three major rock tunnels.
  • 1984-1985       Manager of a research project for the DoE investigating the feasibility of using tunnels to access North Sea oil.
  • 1985 Manager of research project for NIREX investigating the practicality of a site for a deep waste repository.
  • 1985-1988       Tunnelling estimator with Lilley – projects included Docklands Light Railway; Rail tunnels in Singapore; sea outfalls in Australia; sewer tunnels (MEPAS scheme) in Liverpool
  • 1988-1992       Established and managed Babtie’s tunnel design team. Projects included:
    • Channel tunnel TBM management
    • Sewer tunnels in Ramsgate
    • Jubilee Line – Southwark section
    • Crossrail – Farringdon section
  • 1992 to 2007.  Post 1992 remained head of profession for tunnelling in Babtie while overall responsibilities became much wider. During this period involved in tunnelling as:
    • 1992 – 1996 Project director for Kwai Chung park tunnels on HK airport railway
    • 1993 – 1997 Project director for tunnel design on NE rail line in Singapore
    • 1994 – 1998 Project director for major tunnel development in Daw Mill colliery
    • 1998 – 2003 Project director for designs on DTSS tunnels in Singapore
    • 1995 – 2003 Adviser to Government in relation to the 22km of tunnels beneath HK harbour for the SSDS scheme
    • 1995 – 20002 Expert witness for HK government in relation to SSDS arbitrations
    • 2002 – 2007 Expert adviser to HK government in relation to professional negligence for tunnelling project.
    • 2001 Expert adviser in relation to Melbourne rail tunnels
    • 1994 Expert witness in relation to sewer tunnels in Halifax
    • 1996 Expert adviser in relation to sewer tunnels in Penzance
    • 1995 – 1996 Expert witness in relation to the highway tunnels on the A26 near Worthing.

        Consultancy work carried out since retiring as Chief Operating Officer in early 2007

  • 2007 – 2008 Lead Expert adviser to contractor in relation to a major tunnel collapse onto a live railway at Gerrads Cross in the UK
  • 2008 - 2009 - Expert adviser for contractor in relation to a cooling water tunnel for a power station at Cartegena - Spain
  • 2010 - 2015 Senior Design Reviewer and construction/contract adviser to client and designer for the £150 million Glendoe Hydroelectric scheme recovery project in Scotland. The project involved repairs to an unlined headrace (pressure) tunnel in rock.
  • 2011 - 2012 Expert adviser for client in relation to a failed tunnel machine project In the NE of England
  • 2014 - Advice to owner in relation to TBM project in Singapore
  • 2016 - 2018Advice to insurers in relation to failed unlined hydroelectric headrace (pressure) tunnel in South America.
  • 2020 - Expert adviser to contractor in relation to suitability and performance of 16m diameter EPB TBMs to be used in mixed ground - Australia