John Lawson is a civil engineer specialising in water resources engineering with a degree in mechanical sciences from Cambridge University. Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) since 1985 and of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) since 1988, he was invited in 2002 to become a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers in recognition of his contribution to water resources engineering.
He served on the Water Resources Expert Panel of CIWEM from 1994 to 2002 and was its Chairman from 1997 to 2002. He served on the Water Board of the Institution of Civil Engineers from 2002 to 2007, and was its Chairman from 2003 to 2007.
He worked for Halcrow Group Ltd., Consulting Engineers, from 1968 to 2007. Throughout his career he was engaged on projects for water supplies, flood control, irrigation and hydropower, becoming a Director of Halcrow Group Ltd. from 1990, and Managing Director of its water business from 2003 to 2007. He has been responsible for numerous water resource planning studies in England and Wales, with a particular focus on minimising the impact of abstractions on the environment.
From 1991 to 1994 he was responsible for Halcrow’s work assisting the National Rivers Authority to develop its water resource strategy for England and Wales, which was published in 1994. This involved helping the NRA and water companies to examine a wide range of strategic options to meet future demands, including the Severn transfer and the Abingdon reservoir. His role in this was project manager, coordinating the work of the NRA and all the water companies concerned, including assisting the NRA in analysing the strategic options and developing their strategy.
Since his retirement from Halcrow he has worked as a voluntary water resources adviser to Action for the River Kennet, and the Wye & Usk Foundation. He is also a Trustee of the Thames Restoration Trust. In 2007 he prepared a report for Halcrow on transferring water to the Thames catchment from Wales, including the Severn transfer.
