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Advisory · Strategy · Delivery

Connecting Strategy
to Delivery

We help organisations plan, procure, manage, and deliver complex infrastructure and public sector programmes across New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the Pacific.

50+Projects Delivered
NZ · AU · Pacific · AsiaWhere We Work
20+Years Combined Experience
Who We Are

Independent Expertise,
Delivered with Commitment

ConnectVT Consulting is an infrastructure advisory, strategy, procurement and delivery consultancy. We connect planning, funding, procurement, governance, stakeholders and implementation, so that strategy becomes something that gets built and works. Transport is a core area of expertise, alongside structures, asset management, economics and programme delivery.

The company is led by two directors: Varghese Thomas, a Chartered Professional Engineer with senior client-side and consultancy experience across major infrastructure, public transport, asset planning and development projects, and Anandu U, a Lead Structural and Bridge Engineer with international experience on bridges, tunnels, rail viaducts and transport structures.

We combine experienced client-side leadership with a network of senior specialists in asset management, economics, public transport, rail systems, and engineering. Our clients gain a single point of accountability and access to the right expertise at every stage of a project, without the complexity of managing multiple consultants.

TrustedIndependentPracticalCollaborativeDelivery-focused
Work with us →
Modern cable-stayed bridge against a blue sky
Connecting networks, funding and delivery
What We Do

Advisory and Delivery Across
the Full Project Lifecycle

From strategy and business cases through procurement, engineering and programme delivery, we support clients at every stage and across every discipline the job needs.

Strategy & Business Cases

Fundable, evidence-based business cases and strategies structured to meet NZTA and government investment requirements.

  • Business Cases
  • Integrated Transport Strategies
  • Option Development & Multi-Criteria Analysis
  • Implementation Roadmaps
  • Business Case Reviews & Peer Review

Economics, Appraisal & Funding

Economic and financial appraisal to the standards of NZTA and the multilateral development banks.

  • Cost-Benefit & Economic Assessments
  • Demand & Revenue Forecasting
  • Financial Viability & PPP Advice
  • MDB Feasibility Studies
  • Climate-Resilience Economics
  • Funding Agreements

Asset Management & Infrastructure Advisory

Strategic advice that connects long-term planning, asset condition and practical investment decisions.

  • Asset Management Plans
  • Customer Levels of Service & KPIs
  • Asset Data & Information Assessments
  • Infrastructure Planning & Feasibility
  • Lifecycle & Investment Strategies

Project & Programme Management

Client-side leadership that keeps complex programmes on track, on budget and accountable.

  • Project Planning & Mobilisation
  • Programme Management
  • Budget & Governance Reporting
  • Interface Management
  • Benefits Realisation & Delivery Assurance

Procurement & Commercial Advisory

Defensible, fit-for-purpose procurement from strategy through to contract award and management.

  • Procurement Strategy
  • RFI, RFT & Tender Documentation
  • NZTA-Qualified Tender Evaluation
  • Contract Negotiation & Management
  • Developer & Funding Agreements

Governance & Stakeholder Engagement

Structured, inclusive engagement that brings the right people together and builds consensus.

  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Workshop Facilitation
  • Council & Funding Agency Coordination
  • Statutory Process & Consultation Support
  • Executive & Board Reporting

Transport Planning & Engineering

Evidence-based transport and public transport advice for development, infrastructure and network projects.

  • Traffic & Integrated Transport Assessments
  • SIDRA Modelling & Trip Generation
  • Parking Studies & Strategies
  • Corridor & Freight Studies
  • Road Safety Strategy & Assessment
  • PT Network & Service Reviews
  • PT Operations
  • Bus, BRT, Rail & Interchange Planning

Rail Systems & Engineering Assurance

Rail and metro systems expertise for agencies and major delivery programmes.

  • Rail & Metro Systems Integration
  • Engineering Assurance & Requirements
  • Rail Programme Business Cases
  • Independent Technical Review

Structures & Bridge Engineering

Independent structural design, assessment and verification to New Zealand and Australian standards.

  • Bridge Design Checks & Peer Review
  • Load Rating & Heavy Vehicle Permits
  • Seismic Assessment & Strengthening
  • Tunnels, Noise Walls & Retaining Structures
  • Structural Design Automation
Beyond New Zealand and Australia

Development Finance & International Delivery

Our network has delivered feasibility, appraisal, due diligence and advisory assignments for multilateral and bilateral funders across Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Asian Development BankWorld BankEBRDUK FCDOAFDJICAEIBMCC

Experience shown is that of our directors and network specialists across their careers, including prior and concurrent roles.

Our Work

Projects That Have Shaped Regions

A selection of engagements spanning strategy, business cases, procurement, transport assessment and programme delivery.

Road Safety · Regional Strategy

Waikato Regional Road Safety Strategy

Project management and local coordination for the new regional road safety strategy and action plan. The work covers stakeholder liaison with territorial authorities, Police, KiwiRail and NZTA, facilitated Road Safety Forums, elected-member workshops, and a coordinated action plan that draws in initiatives already planned by councils.

Waikato Regional Council2026–27Waikato, New Zealand
Public Transport · Policy Review

Waikato Public Transport Fares Policy Review

Led the review of regional fare policy covering fare zones, youth fares and fare capping, SuperGold, Te Huia, on-demand services, transfers and readiness for the National Ticketing Solution. Delivered the consultation programme, engagement material and statutory timeline, and analysed public submissions to support Council's decisions.

Waikato Regional Council2026Waikato, New Zealand
Options Assessment · Freight & Road Safety

Stock Truck Effluent Disposal Site Option Assessment

Assessed the region's six stock truck effluent disposal facilities, tracing history, funding and legal arrangements, current and forecast operating costs, and operational gaps. Developed and compared four future management options and a recommendations pathway, alongside contract management and funding-agreement support with NZTA and territorial authorities.

Waikato Regional Council2026Waikato, New Zealand
Traffic Impact Assessment · Resilience

Coes Ford Traffic Impact Assessment

Lead traffic engineer for the traffic study and options assessment on recurring closures of a rural river ford on The Lake Road, Canterbury. Assessed users and destinations, detour routes, additional travel, emissions and fuel use, and network resilience, building the transport case for improving the crossing's reliability within the district council's options assessment.

Selwyn District Council2026Canterbury, New Zealand
Traffic Impact Assessment · SIDRA Modelling

Logistics Command Camp, Suva — Traffic Impact Assessment

Traffic modelling and trip generation for a Traffic Impact Assessment prepared under Fiji Roads Authority guidance. Scope includes the survey brief, a trip generation method combining published rates with a first-principles build-up, SIDRA models for three junctions across opening and future-year scenarios, a gate queue-storage assessment, and SIDRA training for the local team.

Confidential client2026Suva, Fiji
Feasibility · Multi-Criteria Analysis

Rarotonga Airport Feasibility Study

Andrew leads the multi-criteria analysis of airport upgrade options for the feasibility study, supporting a transparent, evidence-based comparison of options against the funder's investment criteria.

Asian Development Bank2026 · OngoingCook Islands
National Strategy · Pacific Transport

Tuvalu National Transportation Strategy

Andrew prepared a national transport strategy covering airports, maritime access and modal shift, using multi-criteria optioneering and community engagement to set priorities for a small island state with high dependence on air and sea links.

Australian Government (DFAT)2022–23Tuvalu
Bridge Engineering · Design Verification

Bayfair to Baypark Link — Super-T Bridge Design Verification

Anandu carried out the construction design check and independent structural verification of a 27.5 m single-span bridge carrying State Highway 29A over the East Coast Main Trunk rail line. The work covered flexural, shear, torsion and serviceability checks on 12 precast pretensioned Super-T girders and the deck slab to the NZTA Bridge Manual, AS/NZS 5100 and NZS 3101.

NZ Transport Agency2021–22Tauranga, New Zealand
Tunnels · Structural Design

Qiddiya Mega-Project Cut-and-Cover Tunnels

Anandu led the structural design of cut-and-cover tunnels for a major leisure and entertainment destination, including 3D plate finite element models of multi-cell box tunnels with skewed junctions. The work included hydrocarbon fire-resistance checks on concrete thickness and cover.

Qiddiya Investment Company2023Saudi Arabia
Major Infrastructure · Systems Engineering

City Rail Link — NZ's Largest Transport Infrastructure Project

Major infrastructure delivery experience on New Zealand's largest transport project, supporting systems engineering requirements across multiple design packages. Developed seven system specification documents, verification registers, and design compliance reviews that strengthened assurance, traceability, and delivery confidence.

City Rail Link Ltd2021Auckland, New Zealand
Business Case · Public Transport

Queenstown 30-Year Public Transport Business Case

Led client-side delivery of a 30-year public transport investment business case for one of New Zealand's most complex tourism-driven transport environments. Coordinated multi-disciplinary consultants, reviewed option development, managed quality and budget, and prepared board and public consultation material to support long-term investment decisions.

Otago Regional Council2024Queenstown, New Zealand
Strategy · Regional Planning

Otago Southland Regional Land Transport Plan

Directed the statutory mid-term review of the 10-year Regional Land Transport Plan, aligning councils, partner agencies, workshops, hearing processes, and legislative requirements. Delivered an adopted regional investment roadmap that supports prioritisation and future NZTA funding access across Otago and Southland.

Otago Regional Council2024Dunedin, New Zealand
Business Case · Programme

Auckland Rail Programme Business Case

Supported the strategic investment case for Auckland's rail network to 2050, providing project management, document control, data coordination, and multi-agency liaison. Helped progress a programme business case that established the strategic justification for prioritised rail investment across the region.

Auckland Transport2022Auckland, New Zealand
Advisory · Strategy

Waikato Regional Council — RLTP & Contract Management Support

Provided integrated advisory and project management support across regional transport planning, public transport policy review, statutory compliance, procurement guidance, contract management, stakeholder workshops, and funding agreement development, helping translate policy obligations into practical delivery actions.

Waikato Regional CouncilOngoingWaikato, New Zealand
Alliance · Owner Interface

Te Tupu Ngātahi — Supporting Growth Alliance

Acted as owner interface for major Auckland growth corridor business cases, reviewing engineering and planning outputs, aligning alliance delivery with client objectives, and managing scope, contracts, and board reporting. Supported decision-ready business case material for complex multi-party growth infrastructure programmes.

Auckland Transport2023Auckland, New Zealand
Transport Planning · Traffic Engineering

Aura Development

Provided traffic engineering advisory for Australia's largest single-owner residential development, a 2,310-hectare masterplanned community. Delivered SIDRA modelling, first-principles trip generation, staging analysis, and intersection performance assessments to inform infrastructure sequencing and development approvals.

Stockland2026Queensland, Australia
Strategy · Integrated Transport

Ovens Murray Integrated Transport Strategy

Led development of a 20-30 year integrated transport strategy for the Ovens Murray region, translating regional growth, access, safety, freight, and land-use needs into strategic options and implementation direction. Balanced state and regional partner priorities to produce decision-ready strategy documentation.

Department of Transport & Planning2024Victoria, Australia
Procurement · Tender Management

Dunedin Bus Stop Audit — Full Procurement Lifecycle

Managed end-to-end procurement for a 200-stop public transport infrastructure audit, from scope definition and governance setup through RFT documentation, technical specifications, NZTA-qualified tender evaluation, supplier negotiation, and contract award. Delivered a defensible procurement process aligned with public sector requirements.

Otago Regional Council2024Dunedin, New Zealand
Our People

Directors & Specialist Network

Two directors lead every engagement. Senior specialists from our trusted network join where a project needs deeper expertise, which lets us scale without losing senior attention.

Varghese Thomas

Varghese Thomas

Director & Principal Consultant

Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and NZTA Qualified Tender Evaluator with senior client-side and consultancy experience across major infrastructure, public transport, procurement and asset planning in New Zealand and Australia.

Anandu U

Anandu U

Director & Lead Structural and Bridge Engineer

Structural and bridge engineer with Tier-1 consultancy experience on bridges, viaducts, tunnels, rail structures and stations across New Zealand, Australia, the Middle East, India and the USA.

International Experience Across Our Specialist Network

Vidhi

Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Line 5 Feasibility

Transport economist for due diligence on a 17.2 km metro line in Bangladesh.

ADB · Bangladesh
Vidhi

Tbilisi Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan

Led development of the city's mobility plan and BRT, cycling and urban rail schemes.

AFD / ADB · Georgia
Jerry

Fiji National Transport Policy & 20-Year Investment Plan

Team Leader for national land and maritime transport policy, leading a team of twelve specialists.

ADB · Fiji
Jerry

TISSP: 40 Bridges and 3 Jetties

Lead transport economist on climate-resilient bridge and jetty reconstruction.

World Bank / ADB · Fiji
Anandu

Qiddiya & NEOM Cut-and-Cover Tunnels

Structural design of arch and box tunnels for mega-project infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia
Elliot

City Rail Link Systems Integration

Led systems engineering and integration across multiple organisations and contracts.

Auckland, New Zealand
Vidhi

Chennai Metro Phase 1 Upgrade

Financial and economic lead for a US$300 million upgrade of rolling stock, signalling, stations and depots.

ADB · India
Vidhi

Green Cities Transport Advisory

Technical advice on bus, BRT, active and e-mobility schemes across 15 countries.

EBRD · 15 countries
Andrew

Qatar National Master Plan & BRT

Led the land use and transport team, and took the region's first BRT scheme from feasibility to Ministerial approval.

Qatar
Anandu

California High-Speed Rail Structural Verification

Independent verification of high-speed rail viaducts, multi-span superstructures and foundations.

California High-Speed Rail Authority · USA
Andy

Fifteenth Avenue Smart Transit

Compared bus rapid transit, light rail and trackless tram options for a rapid transit link to Western Sydney Airport.

Liverpool City Council · NSW, Australia
Yasir

Aramoho Rail Bridge Walkway

Design lead for a 200 m clip-on walkway, with Level 1–3 assessment of the existing rail bridge.

Whanganui District Council / KiwiRail · New Zealand
Get In Touch

Let's Talk About Your Project

Whether you have a specific project in mind or want to explore how we might help, we'd like to hear from you. We work with councils, government agencies, developers, development partners and consulting firms across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific.

LocationNew Zealand & Australia
FocusAdvisory · Strategy · Delivery

Send a Message

We aim to respond within 1–2 business days.