PFI Team
KIRSTY THIRLWELL
Chief Executive Officer
KIRSTY THIRLWELL
Chief Executive Officer
Kirsty has over 22 years of experience in PFI and Investment Management, primarily in health and education sectors. Throughout her career, she has secured the delivery of over £750m in capital infrastructure. She is a highly skilled negotiator working with banks, equity providers, clients and developers to deliver a range of projects and services.
Her knowledge in identifying risks of PFI consortium groups and her extensive knowledge of the commercial & financial build-up of PFI projects allows her to apply appropriate methodologies to manage client risks. Having worked at director level both for operational delivery companies of PFI investment schemes, and high-profile beneficiaries of such developments, Kirsty has an array of knowledge of the lifecycle of PFI projects as a whole.
Kirsty holds a degree in Chemical Engineering, a PhD in Nuclear Chemistry and is a Chartered Chemical Engineer.
JAMES MARSHALL
Senior Project Manager
JAMES MARSHALL
Senior Project Manager
James is a qualified mechanical engineer with over 25 years’ experience of building systems and energy management in the life sciences, education and health sectors. James has over 20 years PFI experience in the health and education sector nationwide. He has worked on large scale projects within a number of NHS Trusts where he progressed to Head of Estates. Having worked as a Whole Life Cost Manager at Balfour Beatty, James was responsible for providing strategic advice on BBCap’s investments in PFI/PPP Schools and hospitals.
James’ PFI experience has been from both client and operational management perspective, a skillset which is invaluable for PFI handback. Under his current remit, James is responsible for operational PFI SPV management in the education sector and has extensive project and contract management experience for a range of contract formats, delivering consistent quality and value.
HOWARD DAVIES
Senior Project Manager
HOWARD DAVIES
Senior Project Manager
Howard is a Chartered Project Manager with a degree in Building Management (Design & Construction) and experience spanning over 25 years. He has 20 years PFI experience in both the health and education sectors nationwide. Prior to this, Howard was the Independent Certifier for seven New Build Primary and Secondary schools on Gateshead Council PFI Schools, amounting to a capital value of over £100m and several PFI healthcare schemes for NHS Trusts capital value over circa £30m. In his time, Howard was the funders technical advisor for NNT Lift Co Tranch 1 and Tranch 2.
Throughout his career, Howard has gained an in depth knowledge and understanding of whole life costings, contract form and risk having worked as both the client and in an operational delivery role on PFI contracts in both health and education sectors.
GARETH DEVINE
Senior Project Manager
GARETH DEVINE
Senior Project Manager
Gareth has over 17 years’ experience of PFI projects and will be leading upon the PFI Handback and post contract facilities management service. Gareth has worked with PFI assets nationwide and has led multiple multi-disciplinary teams to deliver services for the public sector, having directed public private partnerships with Durham County Council, Lancashire County Council and Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. Gareth has been involved in PFI schemes at all stages of the buildings’ lifecycle, from initial procurement, through construction and from an operational management context on both contractor and client side.
VIKKI HETHERINGTON
Project Manager
VIKKI HETHERINGTON
Project Manager
Vikki has extensive PFI experience in project management, stakeholder management and strategic development of PFI infrastructure programmes. She has detailed understanding of delivery methods for complex portfolios on behalf of local authority, education and commercial clients and has considerable experience of identifying stakeholders, assessing their interests and desired outcomes which are then managed through communication management planning.
Throughout her career, Vikki has worked on an array of educational PFI portfolios with a capital value of circa £380m.
FRANCES CAREY
Bid and Business Development Co-Ordinator
FRANCES CAREY
Bid and Business Development Co-Ordinator
Frances joined Aura in September 2020 having transitioned from an architectural practice, where she managed communications and bid strategy to support successful business development. Fran holds a BA in History from Newcastle University along with a postgraduate MA in International Marketing and Cross Cultural Studies. She brings knowledge and experience of being part of a successful bid development team securing projects and frameworks throughout the North East and London.
MICHAEL HENNING
Consultant Senior Project Manager
MICHAEL HENNING
Consultant Senior Project Manager
Michael has previously worked in both the public and private sectors, originally trained in an Architects office, he has developed his career and has been a Director for over 10 years. With a background in Commercial Management, Michael has a wealth of knowledge on the construction and building consultancy market. He has worked with Aura in a consultancy capacity for 6 years in the commercial and education sector. He has a strong background in conducting feasibility studies and assessing the impact of asset condition in order to identify risks and costs to clients.
Michael is qualified in BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying.
CHRISTINE RICHARDSON
Technical Consultant
CHRIS RICHARDSON
CHRISTINE RICHARDSON
Christine has over 29 years’ experience in Architecture, 10 years spent heading up WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff Newcastle office Architectural team and 15 years working with Aura in a consulting capacity as both a project manager and technical consultant. She has 16 years PFI experience in the education sector nationwide. Having specialised in design for education for the past 18 years, Christine has in addition successfully delivered multiple school construction projects under the PFI and BSF programmes all completed on time and to budget. Christine is qualified in BA (Hons) Architectural Studies, BArch.