Tony Allum CBE FREng took up his post as our chairman in September 2007 after retiring
as chairman of multi-disciplinary consultancy firm Halcrow.
During his career with Halcrow Tony was responsible for establishing the company’s
Peterborough office which now employs more than 60 people and is a key part of Peterborough’s
‘environment cluster’ of companies.
Tony said: “Peterborough is a city with huge potential. I am delighted to have the
opportunity to play a part in developing the economic and physical potential of
the city. I look forward to working with our partners at the city council, EEDA,
English Partnerships and the government’s Communities and Local Government department
to raise Peterborough’s profile at the local, regional and national levels.
“Opportunity Peterborough has a key role in securing and delivering investment and
growth that will benefit the whole city. As chairman, I aim to ensure that we meet
the expectations of our partners and the community.”
Tony (actually Anthony Kenneth Allum) was born in Lucknow, India in 1942 and moved
to Bournemouth with his family in the early 1950s. He was educated by the De La
Salle Brothers at St Peter’s School (Bournemouth) before completing a civil engineering
degree course at Portsmouth in 1967.
He has had a distinguished career in civil engineering, the management of major
engineering projects and in business. He has more than 35 years experience in major
civil engineering projects worldwide and in project management for the design and
construction of projects valued at over £100 million.
Halcrow developed from a turnover of £132 million in 1997, when he joined the board, to
a turnover of over £300 million in his final year as chairman.
Tony played a key role in the reconstruction of Iraq UKTI as Chairman of the Iraq
Industry Working Group (IIWG) in 2003/4, and also became chairman of British Water
in June 2004. As a member of the Water Sector Advisory Group (WSAG) and chairman
in 2006, Tony contributed to the international trade strategy for the water sector
launched by the UK government in June 2004.
Tony is also a director of the British Consultants & Construction Bureau (BCCB).
He was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours on 11 June 2005 and a Fellowship
to the Royal Academy of Engineering on 9 July 2005.