All the latest news from the South West region.
Join other savvy professionals just like you at CIHT. We are committed to fulfilling your professional development needs throughout your career
A warm welcome to all CIHT South West region members.
It has been a busy few months for the region, with the successful hosting of our annual awards and black tie dinner followed by the regional AGM. It has also been a time of success and challenge for the industry with the recent opening of the Elizabeth Line in London, a £19 billion pound investment in the capital’s public transport system swiftly followed by well publicised disruption to various transport networks and record temperatures across the country.
The clock continues to tick on climate change and continued investment in non-car modes will be required to create viable alternatives and persuade users onto greener modes. Our transport system will only achieve that change with suitable and sustained investment in infrastructure and people.
We held our AGM on 25th May 2022, with this event held online. The AGM saw the election of the committee and Regional Officer roles for the next year. In a break with tradition, the region decided to re-elect a chair, this falling into the same arrangement as many of the other regions who elect a two-year term. I therefore write this in a privileged position as the first two-year chair, and I’d like to thank our members for electing me to the post again. I look forward to meeting many of you over the course of the next year.
I would also like to thank a number of members who have stayed on the committee, some taking on new challenges and some continuing in their previous role. A summary of the elected officers for the south west region is provided below, while more information is available on the Regions page of the CIHT website.
Chair: David Watkins (Arup)
Vice Chair: Hannah Clark (Devon County Council)
Events: Sam Wright (Waterman Aspen), supported by Jon Berry (Stantec) & Nik Bowyer (AECOM)
Communications: Joshua Manning (Devon County Council)
Treasurer: Emma Hext (Jacobs)
Secretary: Holly Moon (WSP)
Recruitment: Mike O’Dowd Jones (Somerset County Council)
Bristol Emerging Professionals Chair: Cameron Smith (WSP)
Exeter Emerging Professionals Chair: James Meredith (Jacobs)
As usual the committee has seen some members leave and I would like to thank each of them for their work over the past few years.
Whilst the AGM has taken place, I am keen to see the committee continue to grow and reflect our membership – both geographically and in the range of work that our members are involved with. If you would like to get involved it is not too late – please get in touch – we don’t require much time, just your ideas and enthusiasm.
David Watkins Chair, CIHT South West region
The South West region held its annual awards and black-tie dinner on Thursday 19th May at the Sandy Park, Exeter, with the event kindly sponsored by Atkins. This was our first dinner since 2020 and kept with the recent trend of holding the event in Exeter - a location broadly central in what is one of the largest (geographically) of the CIHT’s regions. We again had a strong turnout with 150 people in attendance creating a great atmosphere with entertainment provided by close-up magician Dan Brazier and multi-award-winning Cartoonist & Caricaturist ‘Luke Warm’. I’m quite happy to confess to being stunned at some of Dan’s tricks and proudly have my caricature framed in my study. The crowd also contributed to some spirted bidding during the charity auction held in support of Props, the Bristol based adult learning charity, who received over £2000 following the event.
Following a welcome speech by regional chair, David Watkins, and CIHT president Deborah Sims, six awards were presented. Thank you to everyone who submitted awards; the high-standard of which shows the South West region in a great light and made life difficult for the committee who had to judge submissions and come to a decision. It was also fantastic that so many nominees and winners were able to be there in person. The winners and runners up are below; congratulations to all of them.
The black-tie dinner and awards ceremony are two of the largest events in the South West region’s annual programme. Organising these is a difficult task and the committee is lucky to be able to call on the support of many from across the region in helping to deliver the event.
The region would like to thank all who continue to help organise the successful event including the speakers, the region’s volunteers, Glen King PR, our headline sponsors Atkins and the support from CIHT Britannia Walk.
Planning will begin shortly for the 2023 conference, so if you have any ideas or wish to contribute please get in touch.
Transportation Project of the Year, sponsored by Atkins
Winner: The Dartmoor Line (Network Rail, GWR, Devon County Council, Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership)
Highly Commended: Tamar Bridge (VolkerLaser), M5 Junction 11 (National Highways, AJ Church, Freyssinet)
Commended: Gravity Link Road (Gravity, Stantec, Alun Griffiths)
Innovation award, sponsored by Aru
Winner: Gravity LDO Future Scenarios Tools (Stantec)
Highly Commended: Bristol Old Street Pedestrianisation (Bristol City Council, Arup)
Commended: Electric Road Systems (City Science)
Sustainability award, sponsored by AECOM
Winner: Net Zero Transport (City Science)
Highly Commended: Gravity Green Bridge (Gravity, Stantec, Alun Griffiths)
Commended: Exeter Modal Filters (Devon County Council)
Collaboration award, sponsored by WSP
Winner: Gravity LDO Delivery Group (Heart of the South West LEP, National Highways, Somerset County Council, Stantec)
Highly Commended: Taunton Rowbarton Traffic Signals Recovery Programme (Somerset County Council, Alun Griffiths)
Commended: South West Freight Strategy (Peninsula Transport, Western Gateway, AECOM, WSP)
Emerging Professional Presentation Award, sponsored by Atkins
Winner: Lauren Allington (Devon County Council)
Highly Commended: Joshua Manning (Devon County Council)
Commended: Chloe Bates (City Science), Lloyd Cole (WSP)
Peter Swain award for Emerging Professional
Winner: Joshua Manning (Devon County Council)
Highly Commended: Victoria Heald (WSP)
Commended: Alex Bertram (AECOM)
Join other savvy professionals just like you at CIHT. We are committed to fulfilling your professional development needs throughout your career
{{item.AuthorName}} {{item.AuthorName}} says on {{item.DateFormattedString}}: