By Global Consultants Review Team ,
Global project management consultancy Turner & Townsend has appointed Leila Taghavi as Head of Infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, strengthening its leadership team as the Kingdom continues to invest in major infrastructure programmes.
The appointment was announced on September 9, 2026, and positions Taghavi to lead the consultancy’s infrastructure business across several key sectors.
In her new role, Taghavi will oversee Turner & Townsend’s infrastructure offerings across rail, roads, ports, water, aviation and defence.
These sectors are central to Saudi Arabia’s ongoing infrastructure transformation and its wider Vision 2030 ambitions.
Her appointment comes as the country continues to develop large-scale projects aimed at improving connectivity, supporting economic growth and creating new infrastructure capacity.
For Turner & Townsend, the appointment strengthens its senior infrastructure leadership in a market that has become an important destination for major capital investment.
The consultancy works with clients on complex programmes, providing expertise in programme management, project delivery, project controls, commercial management, risk and performance.
Taghavi brings more than 20 years of experience delivering major infrastructure programmes across Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
Her career includes both consultancy and client-side positions, giving her experience across different aspects of major infrastructure delivery.
Before taking on her new position, Taghavi most recently worked with Transport for New South Wales in Australia, where she served as a Director focused on the delivery of transport projects.
Her work there gave her extensive experience in managing complex transport programmes and supporting their delivery.
Earlier in her career, Taghavi worked with Aquenta Consulting, an infrastructure and project advisory firm, where she developed further experience in consulting and major project delivery.
She also worked with Salini Impregilo, the Italian construction and engineering group, on a major metro project in Sydney.
Her career across these organisations has given her experience in the delivery, governance and assurance of large-scale programmes.
She also brings expertise in project controls, performance management and risk management, areas that are particularly important for large infrastructure investments involving multiple stakeholders and long delivery timelines.
Taghavi's experience is also closely connected to the Middle East. After relocating to the region in early 2024, she worked on some of Turner & Townsend’s significant programmes in Saudi Arabia, including projects spanning transport, aviation, urban development and destinations.
This regional experience provides her with an understanding of the country's infrastructure environment while her international background allows her to bring experience from major programmes across different markets.
Saudi Arabia is undertaking an extensive infrastructure transformation as part of Vision 2030, creating demand for expertise across transportation, aviation, water, urban development and other major sectors.
The country's infrastructure programme involves projects of significant scale and complexity. Effective planning, programme governance, risk management and project controls are therefore important to ensuring that these investments are delivered efficiently.
Taghavi highlighted the scale of the opportunity in Saudi Arabia, saying:
“Saudi Arabia is undertaking one of the most ambitious infrastructure transformations in the world, driving the creation of nationally significant schemes that will have a lasting impact on connectivity, economic growth and future generations.” Leila Taghavi , Head of Infrastructure ,Saudi Arabia — Turner & Townsend
Her comments reflect the broader role that infrastructure is expected to play in Saudi Arabia's economic development. Large transportation and infrastructure programmes can improve connections between cities, support new economic activity and provide the foundation for the country's growing tourism, logistics and urban development sectors.
For consulting firms, this environment is creating opportunities to support clients throughout the lifecycle of major projects. This includes advising on programme strategy, managing delivery, monitoring costs and performance, identifying risks and helping organisations coordinate complex capital investments.
Taghavi's appointment also supports Turner & Townsend's continued expansion in Saudi Arabia.
The company has been involved in major programmes across the Kingdom, and its infrastructure practice works with clients on projects requiring specialist programme and project management expertise.
Taghavi said Turner & Townsend's reputation for delivering major programmes provides a strong foundation for further expansion.
She also expressed her intention to work with clients on transformational infrastructure projects across the Kingdom.
Her appointment is significant for the consultancy because the role combines regional knowledge, international infrastructure experience and consulting expertise.
Having previously worked in both consultancy and client-side environments, Taghavi brings an understanding of the challenges faced by infrastructure owners as well as those supporting project delivery.
Turner & Townsend's Saudi infrastructure business will continue to focus on sectors that are central to the country's transformation, including transportation, aviation, water and other major infrastructure programmes.
The appointment also reflects the growing importance of experienced infrastructure consultants in markets undertaking large-scale development.
As projects become more complex, organisations increasingly require professionals with experience in governance, programme controls, risk, performance and delivery.
With Taghavi taking responsibility for the infrastructure business in Saudi Arabia, Turner & Townsend is strengthening its leadership at a time when the Kingdom's infrastructure pipeline continues to expand.
Her more than two decades of experience across Australia, Asia and the Middle East, combined with her work on Saudi programmes since relocating to the region, gives the consultancy additional leadership capacity for its next stage of growth.
The appointment therefore represents both a senior consulting leadership move and a strategic strengthening of Turner & Townsend's infrastructure presence in Saudi Arabia.
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