Meet the team
The group of experts who represent our infrastructure members
Rhian Kelly, director for business environment
Rhian is director for business environment encompassing construction, infrastructure and energy and climate change. She spearheads the CBI’s campaigns to boost investment in infrastructure, promote the development of the low-carbon economy and ensure the resilience of the construction industry. She joined the CBI in 2006 and was responsible for the ground breaking 2007 report on climate change, which helped shift the perception of the role business can play in moving to a low-carbon economy. Rhian became head of Climate Change in 2008. Prior to the CBI Rhian worked in Beijing and Taipei.
Nicola Walker, head of infrastructure and environment
Nicola took over as head of the CBI’s infrastructure and environment team in January 2012 – a role that steers the CBI’s work on economic infrastructure, transport, environment, planning and property policy. She spearheads the CBI’s campaign to boost investment in infrastructure, pushing for government action to deliver key strategic decisions and attract much-needed private finance. Her varied CBI career over almost four years has seen her heading up projects on boosting the UK’s export performance, making the consumer case for low-carbon and increasing diversity in the boardroom.
Sana Nabi, policy adviser
Sana is the CBI's policy lead on transport policy, including aviation, road and rail policy. Prior to joining the CBI, Sana worked at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce as a policy officer focusing on a variety of policy ranging from transport to skills.
Tom Thackray , senior policy adviser
Tom leads on planning, property and regional development policy for the CBI and is responsible for planning policy at all levels, from major infrastructure projects to local and neighbourhood planning. He is also responsible for the CBI’s policy on localism, and supports the work of our Localism Group. He has previously worked CBI’s public services team and in its Brussels office.
Joseph Harley, policy adviser
Joseph leads on environmental issues including resource efficiency, water, waste, air quality and biodiversity policy. Joseph previously worked within the public services directorate at the CBI, and prior to this worked as a Parliamentary Adviser to a group of MP’s covering Cabinet Office and political and constitutional reform policy.
Matt Sheldon, senior policy adviser
Matt works on infrastructure policy at the CBI, supporting the work of the CBI's Infrastructure Board on the investment and delivery of transport, energy, waste, water and digital infrastructure. He has previously worked on a number of CBI policy areas, including aviation stratefy, transport, climate change (including climate risk and international climate negotiations), education and skills.
Sham Begum, team administrator
Sham joined CBI in 2008 and worked with the Economics & Enterprise Group before joining the business environment directorate. Sham supports the heads of group with diary management, as well as providing the team with logistical admin support for committees, councils, meetings and events.
