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GHD has appointed James Viray to the newly created role of Sustainability Leader. In this role, James will help drive our commitment to ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) principles with an early focus on achieving carbon neutrality by 2025. This new role is an integral part of delivering on our strategic vision of “water, energy and urbanization made sustainable for generations to come” as the core of our strategy.
“With James’ appointment, alongside our commitment to delivering industry leading technical authority, we will reduce the impact of our own operations, and also help our clients make long lasting change in communities around the world. Our own ESG commitments further demonstrate our ongoing focus and existing strengths in the provision of ESG and Future Energy services to clients,” explains Ashley Wright, CEO. “The creation of this executive level position demonstrates the importance of formalizing our journey toward environmental sustainability and strengthens GHD’s established foundations in this critical growth area.”
"GHD’s ongoing transformation and digital expertise presents a timely opportunity to contribute to solutions that help address some of the world's most pressing sustainable development challenges,” says James Viray.
“I am excited to help drive the integration of social & environmental priorities into strategy, decision-making and operations across GHD and embed these in our engagement with clients and stakeholders on both a global and community level."
Based in Houston, Texas, James was previously global lead for the social responsibility function at ConocoPhillips. Across a diverse career, which includes work for an international NGO, the US Department of State and other multinational corporations like Chevron, he has led collaborations to develop best practices in sustainable business. His efforts have addressed issues from forced labor to supply chain sustainability to Indigenous peoples’ rights.
Mr. Viray also serves on the Advisory Board of the Center for International Business & Human Rights at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and on the human rights subcommittee of the 2026 Houston FIFA World Cup Bid Committee.