To meet these rising challenges, WSP has appointed Tom Cooper to head up its Transport Bridges and Structures business in Australia.
Relocating from WSP in the United States (US), Mr Cooper brings 35 years of industry experience to our shores in the delivery and management of iconic and innovative road, rail and pedestrian bridges and structures. He currently leads our global collaboration for complex bridge design, having spent the last four years as Technical Director for our Complex Bridge Group in the Western Region of the United States, based in Denver.
Over the course of his career, Mr Cooper has been instrumental in the evolution of bridge design and assessment practices in the US and across many parts of Asia. Recently he led the design and testing efforts on the innovative I-90 Track Bridge in Seattle, US – which takes light rail across a floating bridge. He also guided design and construction of the George C. King Bridge in Calgary, Canada, an iconic network arch pedestrian structure spanning 182 metres that resembles stones skipping across water.
Mr Cooper is recognised as a global leader in bridge design for specialist areas such as high-speed rail structures, pedestrian bridges and seismic design. He also has a keen interest in improving asset management approaches for existing bridges and has been on the Steering Committee for Bridges to Prosperity – a not-for-profit organisation that partners with local communities and foundations to build footbridges in rurally isolated areas across the globe.
Richard Boggon, WSP’s General Manager for Transport in Australia, says, “Mr Cooper’s appointment represents a unique opportunity for us to strengthen global knowledge sharing and innovation within the business, project delivery partners, and clients.
“When we set out to design a bridge or a structure that forms an integral part of an infrastructure project, we think about how its look and function will become a legacy for a city and community”.
“Combining Tom’s expertise with our learnings on key projects including Woolgoolga to Ballina’s Clarence River road bridge, the active transport Three Points Bridge in Perth, and underground structures on our Metro rail projects will enable us to deliver solutions that are better integrated with surrounding infrastructure and meet the complex needs of tomorrow’s communities.”
Mr Cooper commenced his role in March and is based in Melbourne.
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