It’s a theme that seems to have struck a chord with many judging by the reactions I’ve received so far: in all honesty I’ve been quite overwhelmed by the good wishes from so many of you – and I would like to say a very public thank you to everyone who’s taken the time to make comment.

This year marks 30 years since I joined what was then the Institution of Highways and Transportation. It was – so I was told – a fabulous environment in which to meet peers from across the profession. The friendships that have been forged as a consequence of being part of the CIHT family are truly quite special.

For me the programme of events put on by the members for the members remains right at the heart of what makes the Institution so special.

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the annual CIHT East of England conference in Cambridge. The regional committee always put together a programme that is both informative and thought provoking: Keith McWilliams and his colleagues yet again upheld that reputation. This year’s theme “Achieving Better Value through Transforming Service and Delivery” brought together speakers from a wide range of backgrounds and the energy this created in the debates (in the room and over coffee) was clearly on show.

A few days later it was an absolute delight to be able to attend the SoRSA annual conference. A change of venue this year reflected the need for a bigger venue to meet the demand for spaces – truly a measure of the value placed on the conference by the membership. Listening to the sessions on changes to the way accident statistics are recorded and the way the Police approach their investigations after a fatal accident were timely reminders of how all of our work is interconnected: of how the consequences of our decisions during the design and delivery of investment has a legacy that extends well into the future through the use of that investment.

As a start to the year ahead both conferences served to remind me both of the richness that is CIHT, and how learning and sharing knowledge is at the very heart of what we do.