Long standing and highly respected Queensland architectural and engineering firm, McVeigh Consultants, has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer Yasmine Gray to drive the 33 year old business forwards, promising a bright future ahead.

Yasmine Gray commenced in the role as CEO taking over from the firm’s founder Michael McVeigh, who remains in the business and is going to turn his focus back to his primary passion of design and client relations.

Mrs Gray, who has a strong background in marketing, communications, business management and development, particularly in consultancy and project work, has been brought in to build on the solid foundations laid down by Mr McVeigh and take the business forwards to new heights.

“Yasmine has excellent business and people skills that we know are going to take McVeigh into a strong and exciting future,” said Mr McVeigh. “It was important to find someone that not only had exceptional executive ability but that would have the passion and creativity required to take the business to the next level.

“Yasmine has already shared a range of exciting ideas she plans to bring to the business so I look forward to seeing the positive impact these will have, both for our people and our clients, as they start to take shape.”

Mrs Gray, who herself has founded and successfully run her own consultancy in the past, says she is “humbled” to have been given the opportunity to run McVeigh as she understands the significance of taking over the reins from the original founder.

“It’s a big thing to take over a successful business, that has been built up over many years and with much hard work, and to be trusted to take it forwards for the years ahead. That factor is not lost on me and I am honoured to have the opportunity to work with such talented people at McVeigh.

“Michael’s engineering knowledge and expertise will remain an important part of our business, but I am looking forward to bringing in new approaches that I believe will truly set McVeigh apart in the industry.”

McVeigh, based in Brisbane, is a fully integrated consultancy offering architectural, civil and structural engineering expertise. It was one of the first in Australia to launch a combined service offering and remains a leader in this field to this day. It is highly regarded for its work in the industrial sector but over the years has completed exemplary work in education, commercial, health, aged care, and residential.

Mrs Gray was formerly Executive Director at leading communications firm Red Havas and is highly regarded in the industry as a Fellow of the Public Relations Industry of Australia and has worked with a wide range of organisations across many sectors providing her business and strategic counsel including construction, architecture, logistics, resources, engineering, health, education, retail, tourism, travel, lifestyle, hospitality, not for profit, industry associations, franchise and more.

Mrs Gray says the most important focus for her will ensuring she builds an “incredible” team of people at McVeigh with a positive culture that will make it a “truly great place to work.

“To build on the success McVeigh has already enjoyed we will need the very best people, so I am putting people first in all that I do. We spend more time at work than anywhere else so we need to offer our people the very best conditions so they enjoy coming into work, every day.

“I am excited about our future and what we can achieve. I see plenty of opportunity in market for a fresh approach to design and construction and how McVeigh can add real value to the life cycle of projects moving forwards. So watch this space. Exciting times ahead.”