Change, innovation and the future of highways is the theme of tomorrow’s CIHT Annual Conference in London, where over 220 delegates will hear from eminent speakers from the UK and America.

 

A breakfast briefing will see Highways England’s executive director of strategy and planning Elliot Shaw speak about ‘The Road to Growth’, its strategic plan to unlock economic growth through development.

 

CIHT chief executive Sue Percy will interview the Institute of Transportation Engineers executive director Jeff Paniati (pictured) about future challenges in America.

 

The one day conference is designed around shared insights from industry leading speakers, knowledge sharing interactive sessions and networking. Attendees will hear from industry leaders across the private and public sectors. CIHT welcomes the participation of leading sponsors and exhibitors Amey Consulting, Beale & Company, Kier, Yotta, WSP and Colas.

 

A morning panel session, chaired by RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding, will invite senior leaders to discuss lessons learned from their own careers.

 

Those taking part include Matthew Lugg OBE, director of public services at consultant WSP. He comments: “I’m really looking forward to speaking alongside Dave Wright of Kier Highways and Dana Skelley of Skanska Civil Engineering about what we’ve learned from our careers to date and the opportunities the sector has in the future.”

 

Dave Wright, an advocate of collaborative working, will warn that there has never been such a shortfall in revenue funding as great as it is today while at the same time technology is playing a more significant role in delivering much needed capacity.

 

The afternoon panel session will focus on managing industry issues arising in the near future and will be chaired by CIHT Past President Sue Sharland. She says: “Our organisation and the industry are changing. Transport, infrastructure and technology should be considered in a much broader context in promoting intelligent transport in a connected world. We will continue highlighting CIHT’s role to everybody involved in transport infrastructure, including complementary sectors such as telecoms and utilities.”

 

CIHT’s director of policy and technical affairs Andrew Hugill says: “Over the last few years there has been a welcome change in how the highway network’s importance has been recognised by Government with new structures for delivery and changes to funding for strategic roads put in place. At the CIHT Annual Conference 2018 we want to build on the positive view of highway infrastructure and understand from a range of high quality speakers and exhibitors how the highways sector is changing, how innovation is changing the sector and how the future highways sector will develop.”

 

♦ CIHT’s Annual Conference falls on International Women’s Day 2018. Looking to develop the talent and skills to match future requirements, CIHT chief executive Sue Percy will encourage conference participants to engage with the Institution’s Diversity & Inclusion Charter.

 

Signatories to this Charter believe that a commitment to diversity and inclusion is essential to reflect the communities we serve. CIHT believes that it makes business sense because it helps organisations attract and retain the best talent, enables them to understand and meet clients’ needs more effectively and so provide a better quality service.

 

Sue Percy says: “As an organisation we strive to encourage best practice in recruitment, retention and career progression practices across our sector. At CIHT we support the development of good diversity and inclusion policy by collecting and sharing examples of practical activities that contribute to progress with CIHT and other signatories. We work together to develop and adopt future protocols and practice that support the implementation of the aims of this Charter. We recognise, respect, capitalise and celebrate contributions from different people to strengthen team performance.”

 

CIHT’s Annual Conference takes place at the Park Plaza Victoria hotel. To book your place visit ciht.org.uk/annualconf