USBS Leaders and Entrepreneurs in Residence: Introducing Mark Coates

The University of Southampton Business School welcomes Mark Coates, Vice President of Infrastructure Policy at Bentley Systems to the team of our distinguished Leaders and Entrepreneurs in Residence Programme.

Mark Coates is a leading figure in infrastructure policy and digital transformation, currently serving as Vice President of Infrastructure Policy Advancement at Bentley. With over 30 years’ experience across major organisations such as Thames Water, Highways England and Crossrail, he has led large-scale projects and, more recently, driven the adoption of digital solutions to improve infrastructure delivery. A Fellow of key professional institutions, Mark plays an active role across industry boards and advisory groups, helping shape innovation, policy, and best practice in the sector.

We are pleased to welcome Mark and are excited to collaborate closely with him on genuinely partnership-driven initiatives, where the exchange of knowledge between academia and practice goes beyond rhetoric and delivers meaningful impact.