Plenary is one of the world’s leading investors, developers and managers of public-private partnership (PPP or P3) infrastructure projects.

Infrastructure investor, developer & manager | Plenary

Chris Whitefield, Executive Director, Communications and Community

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1600" height="1067" src="https://cms.plenary.com/app/uploads/2022/09/Chris-Whitefield_3516-1600x1067.jpg" alt="Photo of Chris Whitefield" class="wp-image-10223" srcset="https://cms.plenary.com/app/uploads/2022/09/Chris-Whitefield_3516-1600x1067.jpg 1600w, https://cms.plenary.com/app/uploads/2022/09/Chris-Whitefield_3516-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.plenary.com/app/uploads/2022/09/Chris-Whitefield_3516-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.plenary.com/app/uploads/2022/09/Chris-Whitefield_3516-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.plenary.com/app/uploads/2022/09/Chris-Whitefield_3516-2048x1366.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /></figure>



Chris leads the development and implementation of Plenary’s communications and stakeholder engagement strategies at a corporate level and across Plenary’s projects and communities.



Responsibilities include media and external communications, market positioning, stakeholder and community engagement, and ESG initiatives.



He leads Plenary&#8217;s <a href="https://plenary.com/apac/about/reconciliation">reconciliation</a> journey, championing Plenary’s reconciliation initiatives with First Nations peoples and organisations in Australia. In 2020, he led the development and implementation of Plenary’s inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan and, as chair of the RAP working group, leads its ongoing development and implementation.



Chris joined Plenary in 2015 with more than a decade of experience across the public and private sectors.



He acts a Trustee on behalf of Plenary for the <a href="https://www.ceda.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Committee for Economic Development of Australia</a>, is a member of <a href="https://melbourne.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Committee for Melbourne</a>’s <a href="https://melbourne.org.au/news/standing-committees/#:~:text=The%20Future%20Economy%20Standing%20Committee,and%20CEO%2C%20MedCorp%20Technologies)." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Future Economy Standing Committee</a>, is a board member of the <a href="https://ballaratfoto.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ballarat International Foto Biennale</a> and is a former board member and treasurer of the <a href="https://www.iabcvic.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Victorian chapter of International Association of Business Communicators</a>.



Chris is a graduate of the <a href="https://www.aicd.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Australian Institute of Company Directors</a>, holds a Master of Business (with Distinction) from <a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RMIT University</a> and a Bachelor of Commerce from <a href="https://www.deakin.edu.au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deakin University</a>.

Chris Whitefield

Plenary Middle East accepting IJGlobal Award

ABU DHABI, UAE – The Zayed City Schools PPP has been recognised as Middle East and North Africa Social Infrastructure Deal of the Year at this year’s <a href="https://awards.ijglobal.com/2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IJGlobal Awards</a>.



The project is the UAE’s first schools infrastructure PPP and Plenary’s first project in the Middle East.



It comprises the financing, design, construction, commissioning and 20-year operations and maintenance of three new school campuses for 5,360 students in Zayed City, Abu Dhabi.



Plenary is sponsor, financial arranger, SPV manager and investor in the project, part of the BESIX-Plenary consortium selected to finance, design, build and maintain three schools for 20 years, facilitated under the procurement agency ADIO and in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge.



Construction of the state-of-the-art schools is underway and set to be completed in August 2024, with schools opening in September 2024.

Education

Zayed City Schools named MENA social infrastructure deal of the year

Plenary is a people business. We look for high-performing professionals with a commitment to excellence in the procurement, delivery and management of public infrastructure.

Zayed City Schools named MENA social infrastructure deal of the year

The UAE proving a promising prospect for Plenary

Financial close achieved on Zayed City Schools: a pioneering PPP in Abu Dhabi

Plenary welcomes Emma Warren, Chloé Brayne to the board