Joseph (“Josie”) Gallagher is the Founder and Group Chairman of Joseph Gallagher Limited, a leading UK-based civil engineering and tunnelling contractor established in 1982.

With over four decades of industry experience, he has played a pivotal role in developing the company from a small, family-run business into a major infrastructure group delivering complex projects across the UK and internationally.

Under his leadership, the organisation has built a strong reputation for technical expertise in tunnelling, specialist engineering, and large-scale infrastructure works, contributing to nationally significant projects such as rail, utilities, and urban development schemes.

As Group Chairman, Josie remains actively involved in guiding the company’s strategic direction, maintaining its family-led values while supporting continued growth, innovation, and operational excellence.

Chief Executive Officer at Joseph Gallagher Group, Steve oversees the company’s strategic direction and drives the ongoing growth of one of the UK’s foremost specialist civil engineering contractors. A qualified civil engineer, Steve joined the Group in 2011 and has been instrumental in broadening its presence both across the UK and internationally.

He places strong emphasis on technical excellence, innovation, and effective risk management, leading the successful delivery of complex infrastructure projects while upholding the Group’s reputation for safety, quality, and reliability.

Recognised for his clear strategic outlook, he excels in building and leading high-performing teams and remains committed to delivering engineering solutions that respond to the changing needs of clients and communities.

Paul Gallagher serves as Group Managing Director at the Joseph Gallagher Group, where he is responsible for overseeing the company’s operational performance and supporting the delivery of its long-term strategic objectives. As part of the senior leadership team, he plays a key role in ensuring the effective coordination of the Group’s specialist services across the UK and international markets.

With extensive experience within the business, Paul has contributed to the continued growth and diversification of the Group, helping to strengthen its position as a leading provider of tunnelling, civil engineering, and specialist construction solutions. He is closely involved in driving operational excellence and maintaining the high standards of safety, quality, and efficiency that underpin the organisation’s reputation.

Paul is a strong advocate of the Group’s core values and its “LIFE” (Living Incident Free Everyday) culture, promoting a collaborative and safety-first approach across all projects. His leadership reflects a commitment to delivering practical, innovative solutions while supporting the development of high-performing teams and fostering long-term relationships with clients, partners, and communities.

Claire, Commercial Director at the Joseph Gallagher Group, where she is responsible for leading the commercial function and overseeing financial governance, contract strategy, and risk management across the Group’s portfolio of projects. As a key member of the senior leadership team, she plays an integral role in aligning commercial performance with the organisation’s broader strategic objectives.

With extensive experience within the business, Claire has developed a strong understanding of the commercial and contractual complexities associated with large-scale civil engineering and infrastructure projects. She is instrumental in ensuring robust cost control, and the successful negotiation and delivery of contracts across the Group’s operations in the UK and international markets.

Claire is committed to maintaining the highest standards of commercial discipline, safety, and quality, while supporting sustainable growth and long-term client relationships. Known for her collaborative leadership style and attention to detail, she works closely with operational teams to drive performance, manage risk, and deliver value-focused engineering solutions that meet the evolving needs of clients and stakeholders.

John O’Dwyer, Contracts Director at the Joseph Gallagher Group, where he is responsible for overseeing the delivery of major contracts and ensuring the successful execution of projects across the Group’s specialist civil engineering and tunnelling operations. As a member of the senior leadership team, he plays a key role in aligning project delivery with the company’s strategic and operational objectives.

With extensive experience in contract management within the construction and infrastructure sector, John brings a strong focus on programme delivery, commercial control, and risk management. Since joining the Board in 2015, he has contributed to maintaining the Group’s high standards of performance across complex and technically demanding projects.

John is committed to ensuring that projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to the highest quality standards, while supporting collaboration between commercial and operational teams. Known for his practical, solutions-focused approach, he plays an integral role in driving consistent project outcomes and reinforcing the Group’s reputation for reliability and engineering excellence.

Martin joined Joseph Gallagher as Group Finance Director in 2022, having previously held a number of senior finance roles within the construction industry.

Martin trained as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG, qualifying in 1989 and has 40 years accounting and finance experience across a range of sectors.

Martin brings financial insight and discipline to all the Group’s activities, ensuring accurate and timely financial and management reporting to support the Group’s strategic development and operational decision-making.  Martin is also responsible for managing the Group’s ongoing finance and cash flow requirements.

Commercial Director at Joseph Gallagher, leading commercial strategy across complex infrastructure and civil engineering projects in the UK and internationally. 

With over 35 years of experience in commercial management, contract delivery, and business leadership, Tony brings a results-driven approach to high-value projects across the sector.

Committed to operational excellence and commercial integrity, Tony ensures robust risk management, client engagement, and commercial governance. He fosters a collaborative, performance-focused culture, driving value, efficiency, and long-term growth across the business.

Chris became a Non-Executive member of the board in 2020. He had previously worked for HSBC as Deputy Head of Corporate Banking in London Central.

Having qualified in 1985, Chris is a longstanding Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. He worked for Midland Bank and thereafter HSBC Group for 42 years.

Chris brings valuable insight through both his financial knowledge, and via his experience of working alongside leaders of many mid-market and large corporate businesses across his banking career.

Lisa joined Joseph Gallagher in 2023 and was appointed as HR Director in 2026, having previously held a number of senior human resources roles within the construction and engineering sectors.

Lisa holds a Master of Laws (LLM) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons) and is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD (FCIPD), bringing a strong blend of legal expertise and strategic HR leadership to the business.

Lisa has extensive experience in people management, organisational development, employment law, and client engagement, with a proven track record of supporting business growth through effective HR strategies and strong stakeholder relationships.

Lisa is responsible for leading the Group’s people function, driving initiatives across talent development, employee engagement, and performance management. She plays a key role in shaping the Group’s culture and ensuring that HR practices support the Group’s strategic objectives and long-term success.

For the past three years, Mirna has served as Middle East Manager for the business, playing a central role in strengthening and expanding the company’s regional presence across the Gulf and wider Middle East. With more than 28 years of international civil engineering experience across infrastructure, marine, and heavy civil engineering sectors, she brings a wealth of technical knowledge and strategic leadership to the role.

Mirna is regularly on the ground across the region, working directly with project teams, clients, partners, and live site operations to ensure alignment, momentum, and strong regional delivery. Her hands-on approach allows her to maintain close oversight of project progress while building strong relationships that support long-term growth and operational success.

Her responsibilities include business development, operational management, project delivery strategies, and stakeholder engagement across the Middle East. Mirna ensures projects are delivered with technical excellence, strong governance, and long-term value.

Mathew Beechey is the Group Safety, Health and Environment Director at Joseph Gallagher Group. He leads safety, health, environmental and training functions across the Group in the UK and overseas, setting strategy while overseeing delivery across complex, high-risk infrastructure and tunnelling projects.

With over a decade in senior SHE leadership roles, Mathew has worked on major schemes including The London Olympics, HS2 and Thames Tideway, building high-performing teams and driving industry-leading standards in risk management and continuous improvement.

He also supports the wider industry as Secretary of TunnelSkills, contributing to skills development and best practice across the sector.

Chief Executive Officer at Joseph Gallagher Group, Steve oversees the company’s strategic direction and drives the ongoing growth of one of the UK’s foremost specialist civil engineering contractors. A qualified civil engineer, Steve joined the Group in 2011 and has been instrumental in broadening its presence both across the UK and internationally.

He places strong emphasis on technical excellence, innovation, and effective risk management, leading the successful delivery of complex infrastructure projects while upholding the Group’s reputation for safety, quality, and reliability.

Recognised for his clear strategic outlook, he excels in building and leading high-performing teams and remains committed to delivering engineering solutions that respond to the changing needs of clients and communities.

Paul Gallagher serves as Group Managing Director at the Joseph Gallagher Group, where he is responsible for overseeing the company’s operational performance and supporting the delivery of its long-term strategic objectives. As part of the senior leadership team, he plays a key role in ensuring the effective coordination of the Group’s specialist services across the UK and international markets.

With extensive experience within the business, Paul has contributed to the continued growth and diversification of the Group, helping to strengthen its position as a leading provider of tunnelling, civil engineering, and specialist construction solutions. He is closely involved in driving operational excellence and maintaining the high standards of safety, quality, and efficiency that underpin the organisation’s reputation.

Paul is a strong advocate of the Group’s core values and its “LIFE” (Living Incident Free Everyday) culture, promoting a collaborative and safety-first approach across all projects. His leadership reflects a commitment to delivering practical, innovative solutions while supporting the development of high-performing teams and fostering long-term relationships with clients, partners, and communities.

Claire, Commercial Director at the Joseph Gallagher Group, where she is responsible for leading the commercial function and overseeing financial governance, contract strategy, and risk management across the Group’s portfolio of projects. As a key member of the senior leadership team, she plays an integral role in aligning commercial performance with the organisation’s broader strategic objectives.

With extensive experience within the business, Claire has developed a strong understanding of the commercial and contractual complexities associated with large-scale civil engineering and infrastructure projects. She is instrumental in ensuring robust cost control, and the successful negotiation and delivery of contracts across the Group’s operations in the UK and international markets.

Claire is committed to maintaining the highest standards of commercial discipline, safety, and quality, while supporting sustainable growth and long-term client relationships. Known for her collaborative leadership style and attention to detail, she works closely with operational teams to drive performance, manage risk, and deliver value-focused engineering solutions that meet the evolving needs of clients and stakeholders.

John O’Dwyer, Contracts Director at the Joseph Gallagher Group, where he is responsible for overseeing the delivery of major contracts and ensuring the successful execution of projects across the Group’s specialist civil engineering and tunnelling operations. As a member of the senior leadership team, he plays a key role in aligning project delivery with the company’s strategic and operational objectives.

With extensive experience in contract management within the construction and infrastructure sector, John brings a strong focus on programme delivery, commercial control, and risk management. Since joining the Board in 2015, he has contributed to maintaining the Group’s high standards of performance across complex and technically demanding projects.

John is committed to ensuring that projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to the highest quality standards, while supporting collaboration between commercial and operational teams. Known for his practical, solutions-focused approach, he plays an integral role in driving consistent project outcomes and reinforcing the Group’s reputation for reliability and engineering excellence.

Martin joined Joseph Gallagher as Group Finance Director in 2022, having previously held a number of senior finance roles within the construction industry.

Martin trained as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG, qualifying in 1989 and has 40 years accounting and finance experience across a range of sectors.

Martin brings financial insight and discipline to all the Group’s activities, ensuring accurate and timely financial and management reporting to support the Group’s strategic development and operational decision-making.  Martin is also responsible for managing the Group’s ongoing finance and cash flow requirements.

Commercial Director at Joseph Gallagher, leading commercial strategy across complex infrastructure and civil engineering projects in the UK and internationally. 

With over 35 years of experience in commercial management, contract delivery, and business leadership, Tony brings a results-driven approach to high-value projects across the sector.

Committed to operational excellence and commercial integrity, Tony ensures robust risk management, client engagement, and commercial governance. He fosters a collaborative, performance-focused culture, driving value, efficiency, and long-term growth across the business.

Lisa joined Joseph Gallagher in 2023 and was appointed as HR Director in 2026, having previously held a number of senior human resources roles within the construction and engineering sectors.

Lisa holds a Master of Laws (LLM) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons) and is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD (FCIPD), bringing a strong blend of legal expertise and strategic HR leadership to the business.

Lisa has extensive experience in people management, organisational development, employment law, and client engagement, with a proven track record of supporting business growth through effective HR strategies and strong stakeholder relationships.

Lisa is responsible for leading the Group’s people function, driving initiatives across talent development, employee engagement, and performance management. She plays a key role in shaping the Group’s culture and ensuring that HR practices support the Group’s strategic objectives and long-term success.

Robbie is Head of Work Winning and Business Development, where he leads business development and the pursuit of infrastructure projects across utilities, power, transmission and nuclear sectors.

He previously served as General Manager of the Group’s International Division, leading the pursuit and delivery of award-winning tunnelling projects in Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain. More recently, he completed an MBA at Ulster University while working with the HS2 ground movement assessment team.

Drawing on a strong blend of engineering and commercial experience, Robbie plays a key role in driving strategic growth and securing complex, high-value infrastructure work for the business.

Joe Shepherd, Contracts Director at the Joseph Gallagher Ltd, where he is responsible for overseeing the operational and commercial performance of the UK Tunnelling and Engineering contracting activities.

Joe is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and has over 30 years experience in the UK and overseas with Global Construction and Engineering businesses where he has held business level leadership roles in pre-construction and delivery.

Joe is a natural collaborator and focussed on people and solutions.  When combined with his entrepreneurial approach, strong risk awareness and commercial acumen, Joe strives to exceed expectations with positive project outcomes.

Rob is a key leader within the Tunnels Division at Joseph Gallagher, where he has been a pivotal team member since 2009. Beginning his journey as a Graduate Engineer, Rob has methodically advanced through the Tunnels and Structures division, cultivating a career defined by direct delivery and solid engineering principles.

Since joining he had developed a wide-ranging depth of experience across the JGL Group, Rob has developed a profound understanding of both the UK and Middle East markets, playing a central role in the firm’s operations in the UK, Kuwait and Bahrain. His expertise spans multiple sectors, including Tunnelling, heavy Civils, and trenchless construction techniques.

As a senior member of the operational team, Rob has been instrumental in delivering major infrastructure projects across London and the South of the UK. His portfolio includes landmark schemes such as Crossrail, Thames Tideway, and HS2, where he successfully applied innovative construction techniques to meet challenging programmes. Known for his strong work ethic and technical depth, Rob continues to strengthen JGL’s capabilities by bridging the gap between complex engineering design and high-performance site execution.

Mathew Beechey is the Group Safety, Health and Environment Director at Joseph Gallagher Group. He leads safety, health, environmental and training functions across the Group in the UK and overseas, setting strategy while overseeing delivery across complex, high-risk infrastructure and tunnelling projects.

With over a decade in senior SHE leadership roles, Mathew has worked on major schemes including The London Olympics, HS2 and Thames Tideway, building high-performing teams and driving industry-leading standards in risk management and continuous improvement.

He also supports the wider industry as Secretary of TunnelSkills, contributing to skills development and best practice across the sector.

Mark Fogarty is Head of Procurement at Joseph Gallagher Ltd, with over 20 years of experience in plant and procurement across the construction and infrastructure sector.

Since joining the business in 2018, he has led procurement and plant operations across a broad range of complex civil engineering and specialist projects, supporting delivery at scale. His expertise covers both plant and materials procurement, ensuring efficient and effective project support across the organisation.

Mark established and continues to lead the company’s procurement function, driving high standards in quality, consistency, and commercial control, with a strong focus on practical delivery.

He brings extensive industry knowledge, sound judgement, and a proven track record in supporting the company’s sustained growth.

An experienced construction professional with over 25 years in the UK and Irish Construction Markets, working in both the building and engineering sectors, including the delivery of major infrastructure projects.

As Commercial and Contracts Lead, Ruth works closely with both the pre-construction and project delivery teams to develop clear, practical commercial arrangements that support successful project delivery.  Ruth is committed to a collaborative approach, working constructively with client teams and other project partners to foster strong relationships to help achieve successful outcomes throughout the project lifecycle.