Paul Williams

Arup has appointed Paul Williams as its new Asia Pacific Resources and Critical Materials Leader. In this role, Paul will lead the team across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, supporting the mining, waste, and industrial sectors to reduce their environmental footprint, support safer and capital efficient operations, strengthen water and energy resilience and enable long-term positive legacy for communities.

Paul brings over 25 years of experience in business design, asset strategy, and technical due diligence across mining, energy, and infrastructure projects, and he is well-known for delivering high-value, complex assignments that integrate both engineering and finance expertise. His appointment follows the transition of Joyanne Manning from the APAC Resources Leader role to her new leadership role of Arup's global resources business.

Tan Yoong Heng, Arup’s Energy, Water & Resources Leader in APAC said: “Paul’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for the resources sector. His experience in mining and energy, along with his ability to drive innovation and deliver complex programs, will enhance the support we provide to clients as they pursue decarbonisation, resilience and responsible resource stewardship. With Paul leading our APAC resources team, we are well placed to partner with industry to grow and help shape a more sustainable future for the sector.”

With an extensive background in senior leadership positions, Paul most recently served as Managing Director of Mining & Energy for Australia at WSP. In this capacity, he led multidisciplinary teams on major mining projects and energy infrastructure programs throughout the Asia-Pacific region. He has additionally led initiatives on energy planning, greenhouse gas reduction, and resource recovery, reflecting his strong focus on decarbonisation and circular economy principles.

High-profile projects under his direction have included due diligence on multi-billion-dollar utility acquisitions in Australia to the feasibility planning of innovative energy and carbon storage solutions. He was project leader for South Australia’s infrastructure needs study to support Mining and Energy development (RESIC); and CCS and Hydrogen initiatives across Australia to name a few. In his most recent role, Paul championed capital efficiency, collaboration and social performance in mining projects, emphasising environmental stewardship and expediting product to market as core elements of project success.

Paul said: “I am thrilled to join Arup at a time when the mining, industrial and waste sectors are embracing transformation. By leveraging Arup’s global expertise in sustainable design and innovation, I look forward to partnering with our clients to solve complex challenges – from decarbonising operations to optimising resource efficiency – and delivering outcomes that benefit both business and society.”

Paul will be based in Melbourne but will work across the broader Asia Pacific, aiming to help mining, industrial and waste management clients achieve their net-zero and circular economy goals.