Jon Clyne

Senior Director, Infrastructure/Regulatory Economics at Jacobs

Speaker

Jon has recently re-joined Jacobs as a senior director for infrastructure/regulatory economics.

Jon has over 30 years’ experience as a transport, regulatory and financial economist in the public and private sectors, specialising in the economics of major infrastructure projects. Extensive senior and board level experience in the UK and international transport industry, including key projects delivered in Europe, North & South America, and Asia-Pacific.

In his previous role, as Head of Cost Assessment for the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) £16bn regulatory price review of Heathrow airport, Jon was a key member of the senior leadership team, leading the work that in March 2023 successfully delivered a robust economic framework and corresponding cost, revenue, and passenger forecasts. This included a detailed review of £4bn+ planned investments for Heathrow’s challenging and crucial H7 period (2022-2026), working closely with key stakeholders, including major airlines, such as BA, and the Department for Transport (DfT). This H7 Final Decision (including all elements where Jon was leading) was largely confirmed by the independent arbiter CMA in October 2023, following an Appeal against the CAA’s decision by Heathrow and airline stakeholders.

This high-profile role for Heathrow – the UK’s international gateway – was particularly critical during an intense period of change for the aviation industry and for Heathrow, resulting from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Jon also led development of a new policy framework to deliver improved cost efficiency and benefits for capex projects at Heathrow, including strategic reviews of key processes such as Heathrow’s procurement.

Prior to CAA role, as Head of Infrastructure Economics & Advisory / Director for Jacobs, Jon was co-leader of a team of 65 in locations across the UK and Italy, having played a key role in the successful integration of existing teams from Jacobs, CH2M, and Leigh Fisher into a single team following Jacobs’ acquisition of CH2M.

At Jacobs, Jon assumed major strategic and technical leadership roles for UK clients, such as DfT and the independent economic regulator for the UK rail industry, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). Acted as Jacobs’ delivery lead for several major regulatory and commercial advisory projects for DfT, including projects to procure franchisees for the London-Manchester-Glasgow West Coast franchise; and to implement ORR’s £30bn price control into rail franchise agreements. International clients and projects included the Malaysian Government, international financing institutions (IFIs), and the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES). Acted as economics and regulatory lead in supporting the Malaysian High-Speed Rail (HSR) delivery authority MyHSR with the development of a transformational £20bn HSR line proposed to link the major city regions of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, including: developing an innovative regulatory framework for the line and analysis of development opportunities around stations on the route.

Prior to joining Jacobs, fulfilled Head of Investment Policy and Analysis role in the economics team of ORR. In this role, developed and implemented an innovative policy framework for capital investment in the regulated railway, ensuring that value for money (VfM) was achieved. Also performed a key role in the delivery of price controls for Railtrack (2000) and Network Rail (2003 / 2008).