MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands names Islander, civil engineer, as next head of Public Works

The next Director of PW has a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Exeter

The Falkland Islands Government announced the appointment of Islander Colin Summers as the Director of Public Works, who will succeed Manfred Keenleyside when he retires later this year.

 Colin Summers has a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Exeter, and has been employed as the Deputy Director of Public Works for the past eighteen months.

Chief Executive, Keith Padgett, welcomed the appointment: ‘I am pleased to appoint Colin into the role of DPW and to have been able to support his career progression from Deputy Director to Director. He takes on the role from Manfred Keenleyside who stands down after a commendable tenure of over a decade as Director of Public Works.’

Colin Summers is looking forward to taking on the role: ‘I am both honored and proud to appointed to the role of Director of Public Works. It has always been my ambition to return to the Islands and to give something back for the support received during my education. PWD has a vital role to play both in supporting the community and the continued development of the Islands and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.’

Gavin Short, Portfolio-holder for Public Works was enthusiastic about Colin’s appointment: ‘This is great news. I very much look forward to working with Colin. He has a hard act to follow and we face many challenges during the next couple of years but I am sure he will cope admirably. It is also splendid to see a Falkland Islander moving up to step into the shoes of another Islander in a major FIG Department.’

Son of Owen and Veronica Summers, Colin returned to the Islands in May 2013 with his wife, Jo and their children, after studying and gaining professional experience in the United Kingdom, including six years as Project Manager for Day Group Ltd.