Geoff Allister and Dana Skelley are among high profile transportation professionals to have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.

 

CIHT Past President Geoff Allister, who is currently executive director of the Highways Term Maintenance Association (HTMA), received an OBE for services to highway engineering in Northern Ireland.

 

He said: “I am surprised and delighted to receive this award. I have been privileged to work with a number of inspirational and dedicated professionals across the UK in CIHT, Roads Service and the HTMA.

 

“I believe this award recognises both their achievements and the importance of highways and transportation to our society.”

 

Transport for London director of asset management for surface transport Dana Skelley was also awarded an OBE for her services to transport in the capital.

 

Ms Skelley leads the team responsible for maintaining London’s arterial roads including 6200 traffic lights, around 1800 bridges, 12 tunnels and more than 1600km of footway.

 

She said: “It’s an immense privilege to receive this honour, which I hope will encourage more women to consider a career in transport, including engineering.”

 

Other notable recipients of honours included RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding and former director general of the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) Rail Executive Clare Moriarty, who were named Companions of the Order of the Bath.

 

Former DfT Permanent Secretaries Robert Devereux and Lin Homer were named Knight and Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath respectively.

 

High Speed 1 chief executive officer Nicola Shaw, who has been asked to advise Government on the longer term future shape and financing of Network Rail, received a CBE for services to transport.

 

OBEs were also awarded to AA President Edmund King for services to road safety; Cornwall Council head of strategy, enterprise and environment Nigel Blackler for services to transport in the county; and Rod MacDonald for services to consultancy and engineering.

 

MBEs went to Network Rail’s access and inclusion manager Margaret Hickish for services to disabled people and architect John Worthington of the Independent Transport Commission for services to urban regeneration and transport.

 

(Photos: Geoff Allister - Highways Term Maintenance Association, Dana Skelley - Transport for London)