Decades ago, I decided against my original career choice of designing and overseeing the construction of dams round the world because I sampled (as a temp) working in a London Borough’s highways team – and quickly realised I could make a big, positive difference to many people at a local level. I was just hooked. I wasn’t interested in personal recognition or accolades – I just wanted to apply myself to the betterment of society at large. At heart, I am an introvert – although the vast majority of people who know me would probably be surprised at that! But it’s never been about ‘me’ – just about what I can do.

Decades later, I am proud with what I have achieved – delivering a multitude of public realm schemes, reconfiguring how local services can be better provided, providing support to and raising the morale and performance of those who work with me and for me, encouraging new talent to develop and blossom, and generally enhancing the environment local to where I work. Along the way, I have tried to be bold and push the boundaries of what might be described as ‘normal, in keeping with the description given to me by someone at Ashridge Business School – a ‘tempered radical’.

When Covid hit in March 2020, we all had to re-think how we lived our lives and how we worked. Although it meant an opportunity for me to change a work/life balance that was far too skewed toward the former, I still looked to engineer the means for the services that I was responsible for to continue to function as best as possible. I just didn’t think that my lead in challenging the norm at that time would be so widely followed by local highway services around the country - and didn’t foresee it would spark international interest too. I simply wanted to do what I felt was right – following the gut instinct that continues to carry me forward.

The time round receiving the Transportation Professional of the Year award was roller-coaster. Hearing I was to receive that award a week after being told that I was surplus to requirements by my employer was both surreal and ironic. The day of the award, I had mixed emotions too. Besides ‘receiving’ the award online, I couldn’t see the award ceremony in real time as I was undergoing an intense health check at my local hospital. I’m glad to say that I was given the all-clear on my health that day after months of uncertainty. Although I came close to thinking about stopping work at the time and going out on the high of my first ever personal award, I’m no quitter! So, instead, I’ve returned to my London roots (albeit north of the river in Haringey rather than my origins south of the Thames in Southwark) and am loving a fresh challenge – but I’m still looking to make a positive difference at a local level for as many people as possible.

I said at the time on social media that I was immensely proud to have received the 2020 CIHT Transportation Professional of the Year – and I still am. It’s a career high that I will never forget.

Mark Stevens
Assistant Director Direct Services
Haringey Council

CIHT Awards 2022: 1 week to go 

The CIHT Awards is an annual global competition that provides the work you are most proud of with the international recognition it deserves. The awards celebrate your innovative work, what it takes to be the best and the incredible benefits your work and the highways and transportation sector bring to society.

You still have time to enter. There are only three questions to answer and you would of done the work already. You can easily adapt presentations, case studies and reports that you have already developed for stakeholders.

We ensure there is no obstacle to enter. Free to enter, no project too big or too small, any location and judged by impartial expert judges with a diversity of experience and opinion.

Transport Professional of the Year Award 2022

Do you know someone like Mark Stevens who is worthy of winning the CIHT Transport Professional of the Year Award 2022?

The award recognises a CIHT member who has made an excellent contribution to the Highways and Transportation profession in the period 01/01/2020 - 21/02/2022 and demonstrates the values of CIHT.

This will be awarded to a member of CIHT who has shown awareness of and engagement with the issues facing the sector and through their actions as a role model has delivered positive change for the profession and society. The award is a celebration of the successful role models progressing the profession through professionalism and innovative thinking.