CIHT Chief Executive, Sue Percy CBE FCIHT, attended the B.E. Inclusive event marking International Women’s Day.

The event brought together leading voices from across the built environment sector to discuss inclusive design, policymaking and leadership, and to explore how the industry can move beyond conversation to deliver measurable change.

The built environment shapes how people live, work and move through the world. Yet the voices leading and designing these spaces have not always reflected the diversity of the communities they serve.

The B.E. Inclusive event created space for open discussion, shared learning and meaningful action to address this challenge and support a more representative profession.

Sue Percy CBE FCIHT, Chief Executive of CIHT, said:

“Creating an inclusive built environment starts with ensuring that the profession itself reflects the diversity of the people and communities it serves. International Women’s Day provides an important opportunity to challenge ourselves, share experience and commit to practical action that drives lasting change across our sector.”

CIHT Chief Executive Sue Perch CBE FCIHT, travelled to Belfast to attend the CIHT Northern Ireland Gala Dinner and Awards (5^th March), one of the region’s key industry events. The evening celebrated the achievements of professionals and organisations across Northern Ireland who are delivering innovative transport and infrastructure projects and supporting the next generation of talent within the profession.

Sue congratulated the award winners and reflected on the strength of the CIHT community across the region, noting the critical role collaboration plays in advancing safe, sustainable and efficient transport networks.

Interchange

CIHT Chief Executive, Sue Percy CBE attended Interchange 2026 (3^rd – 4^th March), the major transport infrastructure conference hosted in Manchester, where she contributed to a series of panel discussions exploring the evolving challenges facing the sector.

One of the key themes of Sue’s participation was skills for the future, widely recognised as one of the most important challenges facing the transport and infrastructure sector.

Sue participated on a keynote panel on skills, featuring:

·         Bobbie Perks CMgr MCMI – Kier

·         Donna Howard CMgr MCMI – Kier

·         Andrew Stephenson – National Highways

·         Sophie Radford – Zero Gravity

·         Steph Tickle – LTSB

The discussion highlighted the need to create a compelling and differentiated narrative that attracts young people. Sue also explored how the industry can build a stronger, more inclusive and future-ready workforce.

Panelists also stressed the importance of showcasing the diversity and breadth of opportunities available across the sector, while ensuring there are clear and exciting career progression pathways for those entering the profession.

The conversation also addressed the need for honesty and reflection within the industry, recognising that there are still areas where workplace culture must improve so that everyone feels welcome, safe and able to thrive.

Across the two-day conference, Sue also contributed to panel discussions examining how a systems-thinking approach to transport can support great places for people and drive economic growth, and how the industry can make better decisions and deliver greater value from transport investments.

CIHT Chief Executive, Sue Percy CBE FCIHT, attended the launch of the London Assembly Transport Committee’s report on Accessibility and Inclusion at London City Hall on Friday 13 February 2026. The event brought together stakeholders from across the transport sector to hear key findings and recommendations aimed at improving accessibility across the capital, with proposals directed to the Transport for London, the Greater London Authority, and central government. The session featured remarks from Committee Chair Elly Baker, who outlined priority actions identified through extensive evidence gathering, followed by a networking reception for attendees.

CIHT Chief Executive Sue Percy CBE FCIHT attended the London Construction Academy Graduation on 20 February 2026 at the London Construction Academy’s training facility at Earls Court Skills Centre. The event celebrated learners completing the Academy’s industry-focused programmes delivered in partnership with The Skills Centre and supported by FM Conway and the Worshipful Company of Paviors. Following the graduation ceremony, an intimate job fair connected graduates with leading employers, highlighting career opportunities across the construction and highways sector while recognising the achievements of the latest cohort.

CIHT Chief Executive Sue Percy CBE FCIHT attended a high-level roundtable convened by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Chartered Institute of Building, bringing together senior stakeholders from across the highways infrastructure sector to discuss the transition to net zero. Held under Chatham House rules, the session explored key challenges in reducing carbon emissions, including funding constraints, supply chain readiness, and the need for consistent policy direction. Participants examined practical strategies to accelerate decarbonisation, alongside the opportunities for innovation and improved project outcomes, while also considering associated risks. The discussion highlighted the importance of collaboration across industry and government, with a strong focus on the support required, from policy frameworks to investment and skills development, to enable the sector to deliver on its net zero ambitions.

Sue Percy CBE, Chief Executive CIHT met with Ben Brittain Director of Public Affairs and Connor Bartlett Public Affairs Executive to discuss synergies between Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and CIHT and possible avenues for future collaboration. 

CIHT looks forward to continuing to work with Transport East, Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE), and Octavius Infrastructure. Ensuring an open and collaborative dialogue between the UK Government, key stakeholders, and industry is vital to ensuring that the UK’s transport network works for all.

Sue Percy CBE, Chief Executive and Liberty Hibberd MA, MCIPR, Public Affairs Manager at CIHT met with CIHT Affiliate Partner David Beddell at Octavius Infrastructure to discuss the emerging trends in highways and infrastructure and the role of contractors in delivering the UK Government’s missions.

CIHT looks forward to continuing to work with Octavius Infrastructure. Ensuring an open and collaborative dialogue between the UK Government, key stakeholders, and industry is vital to ensuring that the UK’s transport network works for all.

The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) is pleased to announce an invitation to be involved in a new cross- sector working group focused on improving the accessibility of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The group has been established following a BSI-led review of the PAS 1899:2022 standard for accessible chargepoints, co-sponsored by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and the Motability Foundation. 

The working group brings together cross-sector expertise to help revise how the standards set in the current PAS 1899:2022 can better address the needs of disabled users.  

The invitation comes at a timely moment for CIHT, as the Institution is currently undertaking work focused on the rollout of EV charging infrastructure. CIHT’s work aims at developing a practical, comprehensive report designed to serve as a “go-to” resource for local authorities and other stakeholders involved in the rollout of public EV charging infrastructure. CIHT’s report will be published later in the autumn here.  

CIHT is delighted to be part of this important collaboration to ensure our EV infrastructure is inclusive and accessible for all. Creating a transport system that works for everyone is a central goal for CIHT and we explored this issue in more detail in our 2024 report Creating a Public Realm for All. We welcome the opportunity to support the development of ambitious yet practical updates to PAS 1899. 

We look forward to collaborating with OZEV, the Motability Foundation, and our peers across the sector to make sure accessibility remains a core priority in the EV transition.