Robert Osborne, Chief Executive of Augmentis

Robert Osborne, Chief Executive of Augmentis, the public services transformation specialist, has spent 20 years leading change and turnaround programmes in both the private and public sectors.

A civil engineer and construction manager, Robert's past projects include: the Thames Barrier; Stockley Park; 181 West Madison, Chicago; GCHQ and Glasgow Secondary Schools PFI.

At Tarmac (and Tarmac's US Subsidiary Schal Associates), Carillion and Amey (where he was a main board director) Robert held strategic, executive and business development roles in support services, contracting, project management and pioneering PFI projects.

In the public sector he has contributed to the shaping of PFI/PPP, specifically as head of the Private Finance Unit at the NHSE, and as Acting Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools for the launch of Building Schools for the Future. Robert is a past Chair of the Business Services Association.

In spring 2005 Robert completed the management buy out of Augmentis and, since then, has led successful commissions in BSF and Health PFI among others.

Presentation:
Can PFI/PPP really deliver public service transformation?

• Has the Government investment actually delivered real service improvement?
• Despite its successes, why is the PFI/PPP so unpopular?
• How might we balance flexibility and complexity in PFI/PPP contacts?
• Is a central or devolved procurement approach more suitable?
• In the next evolution of PFI/PPP;
• 1. do we believe that the private sector will be ready and able to support it?
  2. do we believe that the public sector will show sufficient courage and leadership to achieve it?