Oliver has many years in-country experience for the investigation, study, design and construction of water resources infrastructure and environmental projects. From these experiences he has developed a broad range of technical and managerial skills, providing both specialist technical inputs and team leadership to many projects.

For previous employers, he has been Operations Manager for the Eastern Africa region, responsible for marketing, client liaison and all ongoing project works in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Somalia and Uganda; and has been Business Manager and Project Director for consultancies in the UK and Canada, leading teams of engineers and environmental scientists for projects at home and abroad, particularly Africa and Asia.

Most recently he was Project Director for the institutional strengthening and project management of an integrated irrigation and water management programme in India, for enhancement of rural economic growth and reduction of poverty in four river basins, and a water resources development investment programme in Afghanistan, to improve water resources management and increase agricultural productivity, both funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Recently in West Africa, he was Team Leader/Project Director for the North & South Irrigation Projects (Lot 1 & 3), funded by the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), in Ghana, which involved feasibility studies, detailed design and construction contract supervision for six irrigation schemes, including pumped and gravity-fed water supplies, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), including an Environmental Management Plan, Organisation and Management Systems assessment for a proposed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) joint venture of farmers and private horticulture firms, Financial & Economic Analyses, Operation & Maintenance Manuals and a Resettlement Action Plan. He was responsible for the direction, leadership, operations and management of a team of 25 expatriate and local staff, including engineers, environmental, social and management specialists.