Ziad ZAKHOUR

Senior Infrastructure Consultant at LASCO AD - October 2022 till May 2023

 Technical & Administrative Senior Advisor for Water Sector and Dams Projects at Ministry of energy and water /Water Establishments - March 2010 to September 2022

Head of Environment Department / Projects manager / Design team leader at Rafik El Khoury & partners RELK&P - September 2007 to March 2010

2007 Project Coordinator / Design team leader at Khatib & Alami K&A - April 2003 to September

World Bank Technical Consultant for water sector projects - September 1998 to December 2002 

Project Design Engineer at Dar Al Handasah - October 1995 to September 1998

Professor at Lebanese university faculty of civil Engineering 2nd branch 5th year students  hydraulic structures and dams course - 2006 to 2022

I would describe myself as someone who has more than 25 years of extensive experience in the public sector for the design supervision and construction of water sector projects locally and abroad, with local and international engineering firms, governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions such as World Bank and European Union. Additional experience as clients’ representative such as ministries and water establishments were an asset. During my career I experienced all the ascending positions successfully starting as project engineer, Design Team Leader, project manager, head of department, Projects Manager, senior water resources expert, CEO and owner of “LEAD s.a.r.l” (local engineering consultancy firm) and advisor for water sector and dams to the ministers of energy and water starting 2010 for about 11 years. I gained a wide and exceptional experiences from working with international consultants, contractors and experts, in applying technical, administrative, legal procedures rules and laws for local contracts forms adopted by the Lebanese Government ministries and water establishments further to FIDIC contracts. Additional experiences in managing and monitoring projects from technical, administrative and legal aspects for the design, supervision and construction contracts related to water sector and dams’ projects, by leading projects monitoring, coordination and management, with all stakeholders at all levels. 

My experience covered different consultancy services & disciplines such as, strategies, work plans, budget preparation,  design and supervision of hydraulic structures & dams, spring catchments, river intakes, water courses protection, dams and Hill lakes with auxiliary structures, earth stabilization, Aqueducts, bridges, sanitation engineering (water supply, wastewater, storm water) and irrigation networks and details, reservoirs, etc.;  developing programs, strategic and master plans for the water sector, engineering design and supervision services and managing programs/projects at local and regional levels. I developed the National surface storage strategy (NSSS-2011) and a prioritized work plan for short, mid and long terms for the proposed water production systems to fill the water deficit for the future year 2035. The NSSS is under implementation since 2011. I performed the annual update of the NSSS till 2016 and prepare the work plan in accordance with national priorities further to the relevant budget fund raising; projects financial management; Monitoring and Evaluation; etc. I provided consulting services for the different dams like, Jannah and many other dams that part of them are under the construction.

I prepared communication plans with local Authorities and communities, Municipalities, owners, governmental administrations and councils, financing Agencies, etc., related to the projects that were subject for execution and participated in public participation sessions, as Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) representative. 

Worked on major projects in the water sector in Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Lebanon.

I gained a high level of communication and coordination skills with different types of organizations like governments, private sector, NGOs, international consultants and contractors, ICOLD Experts, universities and research centers. I have distinguished capabilities in networking, planning and implementing a participatory approach programs/ project. I had shown high analytical and technical skills, a good capability to lead multidisciplinary, multitasked and multicultural teams and gender sensitivity and ability to deliver under tight timetables and pressure, which was concretized by MoEW achievements in my involvement field of work.

I worked closely with ministers, deputies and high-level officials in the Lebanese governments, KSA and Qatar. I worked with donors, World Bank, USAID, UNDP, AFD, KFW, KFAED, and others. Represented MoEW, CDR, Consultants, establishments, in different high-level meetings with officials and donors. I was a member of projects' different committees (steering, technical, evaluation).

I achieved my Diploma in civil engineering (BE) and master’s degree (MSc.) in “Hydraulic Structures & Dams” at the Lebanese Engineering University – Second branch Roumieh – Mount Lebanon, 1995.