Sarah Varghese

Sarah Varghese is currently KPMG’s Global Head of Cities in KPMG’s infrastructure business. She is an architect, urban designer, and city strategist with 25+ years of experience in the infrastructure sector across the globe, including Australia, the UK, the Middle East, Africa, and India. Her leadership contribution across geographies and cultures, particularly to other female leaders, is nothing short of commendable.

“I was pleased to appoint Sarah as KPMG’s Global Head of Cities. She is one of the most impressive leaders I know of the hundreds of Partners in our Global Infrastructure business. It says a lot to me that she is a woman who embraced taking on a senior role in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and has rapidly made such an impact with clients and colleagues. She has also embraced relaunching and galvanizing our global cities network from scratch, most recently through orchestrating our presence at the Barcelona Smart Cities Conference. The qualities that I see daily in Sarah are first a breathtaking level of drive and energy, inspiring both junior and senior colleagues. Second, a deep knowledge of the infrastructure sector, that combines both a broad visionary perspective and the technical depth where required. And third, the interpersonal skills, integrity, and humanity which draw her (nearly all female) team to perform so strongly. She is an inspiration to me, as well as to so many others.”

Richard Threlfall, Global Head of Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare, KPMG International