David Francis is an experienced infrastructure executive and advisor with more than 28 years of experience in infrastructure strategy, capital planning, business case development, program governance and major project delivery.
David specialises in helping governments, utilities and infrastructure owners make well-informed, evidence-based investment decisions. His expertise spans long-term infrastructure planning, capital prioritisation, project development, preliminary and detailed business cases, regulatory investment review, funding submissions, governance, assurance and program delivery.
Throughout his career, David has advised and led complex infrastructure programs across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and South Africa. His experience includes the management and development of long-term infrastructure programs extending beyond ten years and valued at more than $2 billion.
David is recognised for his ability to integrate strategic, technical, engineering, economic and regulatory considerations into practical investment and delivery frameworks. He brings a disciplined approach to establishing the need for investment, evaluating options, demonstrating value for money and creating the governance and delivery arrangements required to successfully implement major programs.
David has held senior leadership and advisory roles with Sunwater, ConnellGriffin, SIP Advisory, Programmed Facility Management, Arup and Strategic Economics Consulting Group, Halcrow/CH2M Hill, KBR and Hunter Water. His experience encompasses infrastructure owners, government departments, regulators and multidisciplinary advisory environments.
During his career, David has:
- led the planning and development of large-scale and long-term infrastructure programs;
- developed and reviewed preliminary and detailed business cases for major infrastructure investments;
- established capital planning and project prioritisation frameworks;
- advised utilities on demonstrating the prudency and efficiency of proposed investment;
- led independent reviews and assurance assessments of capital programs and supporting evidence;
- developed internal and external funding submissions for government consideration;
- established phase-and-gate processes, governance frameworks and assurance plans;
- built and led integrated program and project teams;
- developed resource-loaded schedules, budgets and delivery plans;
- advised executives, Boards and government stakeholders on complex infrastructure decisions;
- managed multidisciplinary technical and commercial advisors;
- coached program managers and senior leaders in business case and investment development;
- supported regulatory submissions and expenditure reviews across the Australian water sector; and
- integrated engineering, economic, commercial and regulatory considerations to support robust investment decisions.
Highlighted Experience
David supports infrastructure owners and government agencies to develop decision-ready funding material for major infrastructure investment.
His work translates project development requirements into clear activities, budgets, schedules, governance arrangements and approval documentation.
Representative Experience
NSW Department of Planning and Environment – ERC and Cabinet Funding Submission
Led development of schedule, budget and activity definition to support government approval and resourcing of a significant water infrastructure program.
Paradise Dam Improvement Project – Funding Letters to Government
Developed funding and approval material as part of a detailed business case process involving central agencies and senior government stakeholders.
Cairns Water Security Stage 1 – Queensland Government BCDF
Reviewed and assured business case documentation to ensure alignment with government investment decision-making requirements.
Sunwater – Investment Gate and Funding Decision Support
Prepared projects for funding decisions by aligning scope, investigations, costs, schedule and delivery-readiness evidence.
David establishes practical governance and assurance arrangements for complex infrastructure programs.
His approach clarifies decision rights, evidence requirements, assurance checkpoints, reporting disciplines and escalation pathways across the investment lifecycle.
Representative Experience
Paradise Dam Improvement Project – Governance and Assurance
Developed and managed governance and assurance plans, Board initiation material, funding letters and progress reporting for a major dam improvement business case.
Sunwater – Phase-and-Gate Project Development Framework
Led project development through structured gate decisions, ensuring investigations, options, costs and schedules were ready for funding decisions.
Port of Melbourne – Review Action Completion
Supported the organisation to confirm previous formal review recommendations had been completed and documented.
Sydney Water Planning Partnership – Evaluation Process Design
Advised an Independent Evaluation Panel on structuring the review process and aligning it with economic regulatory expectations.
David supports regulated infrastructure businesses to demonstrate that proposed expenditure is prudent, efficient and deliverable.
He reviews the evidence base behind investment proposals and helps organisations strengthen documentation before regulator, Board or independent review.
Representative Experience
Port of Melbourne – Capital Program and Tariff Compliance Review
Led independent review and assurance of proposed capital expenditure and supporting business cases for the 2023–24 Tariff Compliance Statement.
Three Victorian Water Businesses – ESC PS23 Expenditure Review Preparation
Provided technical advice on expenditure evidence, capital governance, cost estimation, procurement, delivery and business case quality.
Yarra Valley Water – PS5 Business Case Review
Assessed business case quality, identified gaps and supported managers to improve the regulatory readiness of capital investment documentation.
Sydney Water Planning Partnership – Independent Evaluation Panel
Provided technical and regulatory advice on assessing performance and demonstrating efficiency in capital project delivery.
David has extensive experience helping governments, utilities and infrastructure owners develop long-term, prioritised and deliverable infrastructure investment programs.
He integrates strategic, technical, engineering, economic and regulatory considerations to support clear investment choices and practical delivery pathways.
Representative Experience
Sunwater – Dam Improvement Program
Led project development across 21 regulated structures, progressing investigations, options assessment, schedules and business cases through a phase-and-gate framework.
NSW Department of Planning and Environment – Water Augmentation Program
Developed the activity schedule, resourcing plan and cost profile required to progress a significant water infrastructure augmentation initiative.
Port of Melbourne – Five-Year Capital Program Review
Reviewed and challenged capital programs and individual projects to assess need, scope, timing, evidence quality, prudency and efficiency.
Victorian Water Businesses – ESC Price Review Preparation
Advised on capital planning, asset management, cost estimation, procurement and delivery arrangements to support regulatory-review readiness.
David is a specialist business case advisor with deep experience developing and reviewing investment material for major infrastructure programs.
His work establishes a clear line of sight between problem definition, options, whole-of-life costs, risks, delivery requirements and decision-maker expectations.
Representative Experience
Paradise Dam Improvement Project – Detailed Business Case
Led development of the Detailed Business Case, coordinating government agencies, regulators, technical advisors and community stakeholders.
Cairns Water Security Stage 1
Provided expert advice, review and assurance for strategic assessment, options assessment and detailed business case material under the Queensland Government framework.
NSW Water Infrastructure Augmentation – Funding Business Case
Developed the schedule, budget and activity definition required to support an internal funding submission for ERC and Cabinet consideration.
Yarra Valley Water – Business Case Review
Reviewed templates and investment proposals, coached capital program managers and strengthened business cases for regulatory submission.