GHD has announced that James Viray has been appointed as their new Sustainability Leader.
A newly created role by the practice, Viray is tasked with driving GHD’s commitment to ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) principles with an early focus on achieving carbon neutrality by 2025.
Across a career spanning multiple decades, Viray 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.
GHD CEO Ashley Wright says the new role is in line with the company’s strategic vision of delivering water, energy and urbanization made sustainable for generations to come,
“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,” he says.
“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.”
Viray says he is excited by the work being conducted by GHD to align themselves as a sustainable entity.
"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,” he says.
“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."
Viray will carry out his operations in Houston, Texas. The Sustainability Leader 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.
Image: Supplied
