Plenary Group

As Plenary Group marks 20 years of delivering public infrastructure for communities around the world, we reflect on our past, celebrate our present and look forward to our future. 

Plenary Group joined other industry leaders as proud partners of the 4th PPP Mena Forum, playing a pivotal role in discussing public-private partnership initiatives, opportunities, and issues concerning economic development and social progress in the region. Plenary Chief Operating Officer, Middle East Moustafa Fahour OAM moderated a session with key industry leaders from Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Ministry of Finance - Oman, Dubai Health Authority and Parkin, commenting on the rise of social infrastructure PPPs in the GCC as governments look for innovative ways to involve the private sector in financing, building, and operating public services more efficiently. Moustafa also joined a panel discussion with representatives from Alvarez & Marsal, National Center for Privatization & PPP, Albawani | البواني, Clifford Chance and HSBC to discuss circular economy principles in public-private partnerships as a sustainable economic model across the lifespan of a project. “The GCC’s embrace of the circular economy within PPPs is positioning the region as a global leader in sustainability projects, exemplifying innovative partnerships driving resource efficiency, waste reduction, and long-term environmental impact across sectors," Moustafa said. Plenary is proud to have successfully delivered the first-ever schools PPP in the UAE in the Zayed Schools Project, as well as securing the largest student accommodation PPP in the GCC, in Khalifa University Student Accommodation project. The region is maturing as a hub for PPPs, and we are pleased to be involved, working alongside such willing government partners and some of the global companies with which we have established relationships in other parts of the world.

The Zayed City Schools project is complete, marking the on-time and within budget completion for the UAE’s first schools infrastructure public-private partnership. Three state-of-the-art schools with capacity for more than 5,000 students from kindergarten to grade 12 have welcomed students for the 2024-25 academic year. Plenary Group is sponsor, financial arranger, SPV manager and investor in the project, part of the BESIX-Plenary consortium contracted to finance, design, build and maintain the schools for 20 years in partnership with Abu Dhabi Investment Office and Department of Education And Knowledge - ADEK. We are pleased to have played a key role in helping to deliver ADIO and ADEK’s vision to deliver best-in-class facilities for students and teachers, provide access to high-quality learning environments and modern facilities and to enhance the attractiveness of Zayed City and Abu Dhabi. The region is maturing as a hub for PPPs, and we will continue to look for opportunities to work alongside such willing government partners to deliver outstanding infrastructure solutions. [UNEC] United Engineering Construction | MZ ARCHITECTS LLC

Plenary Group joined other industry leaders in participating in a successful Infrastructure New Zealand Building Nations 2024 conference, where partnerships and alternative delivery models were high on the agenda. Director, Origination Isabelle Whitehead joined representatives from Bank of New Zealand, HEB Construction, Russell McVeagh and Beca to discuss the evolution of New Zealand’s public-private partnership (PPP) model. Key talking points included the use of more flexible and collaborative mechanisms such as those seen on the Sydney Metro Northwest and Bankstown Line and Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport PPP projects, and the importance of a pipeline of projects to enable international investors and contractors to form sustainable partnerships with local industry. The discussion follows Infrastructure New Zealand’s recent report on refinements to PPPs and other private financing tools for infrastructure; a valuable resource for the New Zealand Government as it considers alternative infrastructure procurement models.

Plenary Group was pleased to contribute to the Business Western Sydney Premier’s Annual Address event featuring NSW Premier Chris Minns MP. Plenary CEO David Lamming commended the NSW Government on their commitment to social and affordable housing, and their continued investment in infrastructure for Sydney and NSW. With the successful opening of Sydney Metro City section this week, and the Metro Western Sydney Airport project well underway, Plenary is proud to be contributing to world-class infrastructure for Sydney. Thank you to David Borger, Daniel Hunter and the teams at Business Western Sydney and Business NSW for the opportunity to contribute to the conversation.

A historic milestone for Sydney Metro M1 Metro Northwest and Bankstown Line, with first passenger service now running between Tallawong and Sydenham. The new M1 Line sees 45 state-of-the-art metro trains, which can carry around 1,150 passengers, run under Sydney Harbour, through six new underground stations, and has the capacity to move more people across Sydney Harbour in peak time than the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour Tunnel combined. Plenary Group is sponsor, financial and commercial adviser, and investor in the project, arranging and investing more than $3 billion of private capital to partly fund this transformational project. Government of New South Wales (NSW Government) | NSW Treasury | Transport for NSW | Sydney Metro MTR Corporation (Australia) | John Holland | CPB Contractors | UGL | Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)

Plenary Group has achieved financial close on the largest student accommodation project in the GCC region to be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP), the Khalifa University Student Accommodation Project. The project was awarded to the Plenary-led KUnnected Living consortium by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office in collaboration with Khalifa University of Science and Technology and financial close achieved on Wednesday 14 August. The development includes a 23-year concession to design, build, finance and maintain 3,260 student rooms and communal facilities located across Khalifa University’s Main Campus and its Sas Al Nakhl (SAN) Campus. The KUnnected Living consortium comprises - Plenary Group as lead sponsor, financial and commercial arranger, 45% equity investor, facilities management provider, and SPV manager - BESIX as co-sponsor and 45% equity investor and facilities management provider - Mazrui International as 10% equity investor - [UNEC] United Engineering Construction as contractor Major construction will commence shortly, and the project is due to be completed by the end of 2026. It is Plenary’s second project success in the UAE, following the July 2022 award of the UAE’s first school infrastructure PPP, the Zayed City Schools Project.

Plenary Group is grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to Infrastructure New Zealand’s report on refinements to public-private partnerships (PPPs) and other private financing tools for infrastructure. As New Zealand considers alternative funding models for different infrastructure developments, the report is a valuable resource for the New Zealand Government.   Plenary’s Director, Origination Isabelle Whitehead, who contributed to the development of the report, said: “This is a timely piece of work that highlights strong market interest in PPPs and opportunities to tailor the New Zealand model to reflect local needs and global best practice.” You can read the report here: https://lnkd.in/gxfafZzN

UNSW and Plenary Group, on behalf of our partners ISPT, UniSuper and HESTA, are pleased to announce that our contractor, Hansen Yuncken, has reached a major milestone for the UNSW Health Translation Hub in Sydney.    The first of its kind in Australia, the facility will drive the rapid translation of world-class health solutions and innovation, to change the future of health. For more than 60 years, UNSW has aspired to work in closer partnership with its neighbouring health partners to create a seamless, physical connection between research, public health and private industry. Together, we’ve made this a reality – installing a 31-metre pedestrian bridge connecting UNSW’s Kensington campus to the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct.   After months of diligent planning, and over one night, the bridge was effortlessly lifted into place. Congratulations to the many teams who made this dream a reality.   The UNSW Health Translation Hub opens in late 2025. Contact us to discuss your opportunity to join this ecosystem.   https://lnkd.in/gAeeiwCC   UNSW | Health Infrastructure | South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) | Sydney Children's Hospitals Network | Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct Plenary Group | ISPT | UniSuper | HESTA | Hansen Yuncken | Architectus | Essence Project Management | Ethos Urban | ASPECT Studios

Plenary Group is proud to have been recognised for its active commitment to achieving workplace gender equality for the second year in a row by lead body Workplace Gender Equality Agency.