Security Management Today (SMT) Editorial Advisory Board member Bob Holmwood of Happold Safe and Secure has been appointed as leader for specialist consulting in parent company Buro Happold’s Dubai office. The appointment takes effect from January next year.
Bob’s new role involves developing the international multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy’s Safe and Secure practice right across the region following its tremendous success in the UK. Regular readers of both SMT and info4security will recall that the practice scooped the Best Security Consultant accolade at last month’s 2008 Security Excellence Awards.
Holmwood joined Buro Happold ITAC as principal security consultant back in 2004 and was tasked with offering business continuity and event response planning dimensions to major master plan and building developments. A true industry professional, he chaired the British Institute of Facilities Management’s (BIFM) Special Interest Group for Security and Business Continuity.
In recent times, Bob has worked on security planning and design for major projects including the Grand Museum of Egypt (pictured), the 2012 London Olympic Stadium, the Chicago Spire Tower, the Madrid Law Courts and the Landmark Tower in Abu Dhabi.
Demand for specialist consultancy advice
Speaking to info4security, Holmwood said: “The driver for my move is that we have seen lots of progress in the Middle East region. As an organisation, Buro Happold now has more than 120 engineers in country, and the client demand for specialist security consulting has increased quite dramatically.”
Holmwood will develop the Safe and Secure offering, taking in specialist audits and surveys. “We want to deliver an holistic service,” added Holmwood, “taking in not only security but also fire and Health and Safety advice. The aim is for inclusive design.”
Timescales for Holmwood’s involvement are not set in stone. He’ll be heading for Dubai in mid-January and hopes to remain there “for at least three years”.
Multi-disciplinary international practice
Buro Happold is a multi-disciplinary international practice of consulting engineers established in 1976. It concentrates on civil and structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, quantity surveying, building services and environmental engineering.
There’s also a focus on areas including Health and Safety management, infrastructure and traffic engineering, ground engineering, facade engineering, fire engineering, CFD analysis, inclusive design consultancy, project management, urban design and a range of specialist CAD services.
