Reinvigorating and rejuvenating the South West economy will have a lasting positive impact on both people within the region and the UK as a whole. With Transportation being at the heart of the economy, this conference will look at how Transport can influence regional prosperity.
Speakers from across the industry will be giving insights into how they are influencing the economy and what else could be done to drive further prosperity.
For delegates attending the conference, please see the latest delegate pack for further information.
Welcome and Introduction
Keynote Address
Transforming Cities Fund - a South West Focus
Nik Bowyer CIHT South West Region Chair
Martin Tugwell CIHT President
Ian Beavis WSP and Marc Griffin WSP
Richard Banner Plymouth City Council
Sub-national Transport Bodies
A) Past Performance and Future Decisions
B) Peninsula Transport: Securing Investment and Developing a Transport Strategy for the Future
Dr Ian Harrison Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership
Nick Woollett AECOM
Q&A
Morning Coffee Break
Plane Talking
A) The South West's Airport Connecting the Peninsula
B) Heathrow and its impacts on the West Country
Matt Roach Exeter Airport
John Siraut Jacobs
Does Transport Investment Make Any Difference to the Economy?
Dr Steve Melia University of the West of England
Q&A
Buffet Lunch
Unconference
Nik Bowyer and Chris Shipway
Future Proofing the Dawlish Railway
Julie Gregory Network Rail
Q&A
Afternoon Devonshire Cream Tea
Highways to Growth
Mark Clements Highways England
TBC: Western Powerhouse
Ben Lucas Metro Dynamics
Q&A
Closing Remarks
Close
Nik Bowyer CIHT South West Region Chair
Nik Bowyer, Chair, CIHT South West
Nik is the Chair of the CIHT South West region and a chartered transport planner (CTPP) with over 13 years’ experience in the transportation sector. Nik graduated from the University of Exeter in 2006 with a BSc in Geography, having specialised in palaeoclimates, climate change and sustainability.
Nik joined AECOM in 2006 and spent six-and-a-half years’ working in the London area before relocating to the South West in 2013, where he now works as an Associate Director managing projects across the South West. Nik works with public and private sector clients and has an interest in the modelling, appraisal and delivery of major infrastructure schemes.
Nik is currently the transport expert for the Net-Zero Task Force established by the Devon Climate Emergency Response Group (DCERG) tasked with the delivery of an evidence-led Carbon Plan for Devon, considering the earliest credible date that the county should set for net-zero emissions.
Martin Tugwell, CIHT President
Martin Tugwell is the Programme Director at England’s Economic Heartland (EEH), which brings political and business leaders together in a strategic collaborative partnership committed to realising the economic potential of the Heartland, including the Oxford – Milton Keynes – Cambridge Arc.
Stretching from Swindon to Cambridgshire and Northamptonshire to Hertfordshire, EEH provides leadership on strategic infrastructure issues, in particular those relating to transport, digital connectivity and utilities. As the region’s Sub-national Transport Body, EEH is producing an over-arching Transport Strategy - a 30 year strategic vision for the transport system that puts the needs of businesses and individuals at the forefront of investment decisions.
Martin is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transport (CIHT) and a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He is President of the CIHT for 2019/20, having previously chaired the Institution’s Learned Society and Technical Board. He is a past Chairman of the Transport Planning Society and a Council member for the National Infrastructure Planning Association.
Mark Clements, Highways England
Dr Ian Harrison, Heart of the South West LEP
Ian is a chartered civil engineer and town planner, with a research background in transport modelling and over 40 years’ experience in the fields of transport planning, highway management, framing land-use and transport policy, and economic development.
After 17 years in transport and highways at Kent County Council, Ian joined Devon County Council in 1991. There he served in a variety of roles including Deputy Environment Director, and Director of Environment, Economy and Culture.
He was particularly involved in development of the Local Transport Plan, in the growth agenda including the development of two new communities, and latterly in securing powers and funding for major transport schemes. In addition Ian was involved in development of the Regional Spatial Strategy with the South West Regional Assembly and the Regional Development Agency.
Since leaving Devon at Director in 2013, Ian has been an independent consultant, and has worked with a number of authorities and agencies across the South West. He is currently transport advisor to the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and Independent Transport Adviser to the Local Transport Board.
Julie Gregory, Network Rail
Dr Steve Melia, University of the West of England
Dr Steve Melia lectures in transport and planning at the University of the West of England. In April 2019, he joined Extinction Rebellion protesters in London. He has been a parliamentary candidate, environmental campaigner and freelance journalist, writing and speaking on transport in cities. His research has mainly focussed on how to make transport in urban areas more sustainable. He has advised government departments, local authorities and political parties on this. He is currently writing a book on transport, protest and politics over the past 30 years.
Matthew Roach, Exeter Airport
Matt is Managing Director of Exeter Airport and a Chartered Accountant with over 12 years’ experience in the Aviation sector.
Exeter born and bred, Matt studied at Exeter College and attended Cardiff University before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte. His first senior role was at Whitbread where he held the Director of Finance position for a number of Marriott hotels. Matt moved back to Exeter in 2005 and progressed through several roles at Exeter Airport before becoming Managing Director in 2011.
Exeter Airport is the home of Flybe and a key economic asset to the South West, supporting 3,000 jobs and contributing over £150m GVA into the South West economy. In excess of 1m passengers travelled through the Airport last year, and it is critical to business in the South West as both a Regional Transport and Royal Mail hub. The Airport currently serves around 40 destinations including daily flights to London City Airport as well as key international hubs.
Matt is Chairman of the Exeter Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also sitting on the Board of Exeter College, and the Advisory Board of South West Business Council.
Ben Lucas, Metro-Dynamics
Ben is a Founding Director and Managing Director of Metro Dynamics, leading major strategy projects for clients across the UK. He is an expert on the political and economic drivers that are needed for growth and how to shape narratives that best reflect these. He advises places on governance, inclusive growth and how best to work with Westminster and Whitehall.
Before becoming a Founding Director of Metro Dynamics, Ben had a long career in public policy and communications, advising cities, businesses and charities on how best to achieve their public affairs objectives. He has worked with Ministers, Officials and Local Government Leaders on a range of public policy issues, has set up and run a public affairs consultancy and two highly influential Commissions, the 2020 Public Services Commission and the RSA City Growth Commission.
He is an adviser to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, a member of the Post Office Advisory Council and a Trustee of the Early Intervention Foundation. Ben is a graduate of Liverpool University, with a Joint Honours BA in History and Politics.
John Siraut, Jacobs
John Siraut, BSc (Hons) Economics, MSc Economics, Diploma Transport, Director of Economics at Jacobs specialises in the wider economic and social impact of infrastructure, and policy and economic development issues generally.
John has worked across all modes of transport including advice on the impacts of Stansted and Heathrow airports, London Gateway Port, London’s Crossrail, High Speed 2, tram schemes, PRT, bus schemes and road projects including toll issues. He has acted as expert witness at public inquiries on retail, employment and economic issues, and adviser to transport and finance scrutiny committees and examinations in public. John is author of over seventy articles, has given TV and radio interviews on a range of topics and is a regular speaker at conferences
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