Sam’s passion for performance improvement and sustainable growth has accelerated over his 25+ years of experience in sectors such as Mining, Oil & Gas and Major Civil Infrastructure across the globe.
Having started as an engineering graduate, Sam has worked his way up to Executive positions in large, complex, international organisations, identifying cultural and behavioural alignment, and inclusion of diversity as two of the key opportunities to improve creativity, innovation and sustainable performance. His focus is on developing growth strategies that truly leverage People, Sustainability and Technology. He considers himself a global citizen.
Sam advises on execution strategies and leadership development for major or mega investments to Boards and the C-suite, and Directors of Projects / Strategy / Engineering in the Mining, Oil and Gas, Energy, Pharmaceutical, Heavy Industrial, Construction, Private Equity and Investment Banking sectors for organisations seeking to harness market conditions and propel their growth agenda.
Sam Houston is a strategic advisor, transformation leader, and former capital projects executive with a proven track record of helping organisations deliver sustainable growth, improved performance, and operational resilience. With deep expertise spanning project delivery, business transformation, and leadership development, Sam works at the intersection of people, strategy, and technology to support clients through periods of complex change and opportunity.
He is the Founder and Principal of Strategist Solutions, an independent advisory practice working with senior leaders and boards across energy, infrastructure, mining, finance, and advanced manufacturing. Sam brings a practical, outcome-oriented approach shaped by decades of executive experience and recent extensive advisory work on digital transformation, operating model transitions, programme assurance, and organisational realignment. He also provides leadership advisory and executive coaching, supporting senior teams to align effectively, lead through uncertainty, and drive high-impact decision-making in complex environments.
His recent advisory accomplishments include:
Led digital transformation and leadership planning for a national energy infrastructure provider in Greece
Redesigned the leadership structure and operating model for a Canadian asset manager
Advised a Nigerian oil and gas firm on its transition from investment to operations
Embedded programme management best practice across a global gigafactory portfolio
In his previous global executive role as Vice President Major Projects, IOC, with Rio Tinto, Sam resurrected key strategic projects, gaining execution approval for over $250M in growth and decarbonisation initiatives, leading to a multibillion-dollar growth portfolio turnaround, and restoring internal and external delivery credibility and confidence in the company’s capital portfolio. He reframed the company’s Digital and Technology strategy to set the business up for improved future success.
As Vice President Engineering and Capital Projects and Company Officer with Eldorado Gold, he turned around delivery underperformance of growth projects, evaluating potential acquisitions and provided engineering oversight and guidance in the formation of a global PMO.
Sam’s most notable recent positions include:
Founder and Principal, Strategist Solutions, Canada, USA, UK, and Portugal, 2021–present
Vice President Major Projects, Iron Ore Company of Canada, Rio Tinto, Canada, 2022–2024
VP Engineering & Projects & Company Officer, Eldorado Gold, Canada, Greece and Turkey, 2020–2021
Programme Director/Principal Consultant, Jacobs, UK and Europe, 2014–2020
Head of Project Services – Potash Major Projects, BHP Billiton, Canada, 2012–2014
Sam is currently developing a portfolio of strategic leadership Board and advisory roles. He is suited to advising Senior Vice Presidents, Directors of Projects / Strategy / Engineering or Partners in the Mining, Oil and Gas, Pharmaceutical, Private Equity, Construction or Investment Banking sectors for organisations seeking to harness market conditions to propel a growth, decarbonisation and digital and technology agenda.
Sam has a Master of Science in Business and Strategic Leadership from Cranfield University UK and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Central Queensland University in Australia and has many certifications including the Chief Technology Officer Program at the prestigious Wharton School and a post-graduate Diploma in Executive Coaching. He is a Qualified, Accredited and experienced Executive and Systemic Team Coach. He is an active Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management, and member of the Association for Coaching, the International Coaching Federation, The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.
Happily married and a true global citizen, he enjoys different cultures, food, a range of sports and the arts, including visiting museums and galleries, the theatre and live music festivals.
Established Global Mining PMO and Delivery of Liberia Mega-Project
Established IOC Major Projects
Planning and Development for Simandou Mega-Project
Execution of Potash Mega-Projects and Established Canadian Project Services
Developed Execution Strategies for and Delivery of Global Engineering and Capital Projects
Notable Expertise
Harness Market Conditions
Strategist Solutions
27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX, United Kingdom
