James Hay

James Hay is the National Manager Infrastructure Delivery at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, where he leads the delivery of major infrastructure programmes across New Zealand’s transport network. Based in Christchurch, he works closely with partners, industry leaders, and stakeholders to deliver safe, efficient, and resilient infrastructure outcomes that support the country’s long-term transport needs.

James brings extensive experience across infrastructure delivery, project development, and strategic programme leadership. His background spans both the public and private sectors, with deep expertise in planning and delivering complex projects, navigating commercial and legal frameworks, and working across government and industry to achieve aligned outcomes.

In his role, James is responsible for overseeing high-value and complex infrastructure portfolios, ensuring strong governance, effective delivery, and alignment with national priorities. He leads a large, geographically dispersed team and is focused on driving performance, consistency, and quality across infrastructure delivery, while balancing strategic direction with operational execution.