Let me start by wishing you seasonal greetings. The last 12 months has been another successful year of CIHT. In a personal capacity, it was a great honour to receive a CBE earlier this year for Services to Transport. I feel privileged to be heading up an organisation that represents people and organisations working in highways and transportation, who through their work, make a real difference to society and the economy. I am proud to be part of this and I look forward in continuing to support you through the work of the Institution.

Whilst we often look forwards, especially at this time of year, I want to take the time to highlight a few of CIHT’s achievements during the last year.

Throughout 2019, CIHT’s role, influence and reputation has expanded and grown. We have more members – individuals and organisations and we have made our Institution more diverse and inclusive. For example, this year 27% of our new members joining are female. This highlights how we are increasing the range of people across our membership to encourage greater diversity of thinking and ideas.

We value and encourage our next generation of members and have a vibrant and impressive network of emerging professionals who are active and influential within CIHT. This year our 2nd Annual Young Professional conference was a sell-out event, with great speakers and contributions.

In the last few years alone, we have grown our external influence through meetings with national ministers, representatives from the devolved nations, and key public and private sector stakeholders. We have become an organisation that is trusted, respected and sought out, for its views and representations.

For example, this year we have:

• Been recognised for our policy and practice by the Cabinet Office through Manual for Streets and the Transport Select Committee for our review of local highways.
• Played a key role in helping to shape the National Transport Strategy for Scotland.
• Supported a Connected and Automated Mobility Roadmap
• Responded to the HS2 Review
• And are playing a key role in the emerging Highway Sector Deal discussions.

We have shown leadership through:

• Gaining traction for the need to improve the integration between planning and transport through our work, in collaboration with others, on - Better Planning, Better Transport, Better Places.
• Working with organisations including Highways England and the Royal Academy of Engineering to push forward the Diversity & Inclusion agenda. Our Diversity and Inclusion Charter now has over 60 signatories and continues to grow.

We have developed Strategic Alliances through:

• Being invited by the Department for Trade and Industry to take part in an International Trade mission to Hong Kong and China to promote professional qualifications, institutions and to raise awareness of CIHT.
• Providing a strong UK presence at the 2019 World Road Congress in Abu Dhabi where we profiled UK Skills and the important role played by our highways and transportation professionals

And we have been Investing in the UK’s current and future workforce through:

• Launching our new suite of career guidance materials and our approved training provider scheme.
• Creating a dual track route to qualifications for engineering and transport planners to support professional development across the whole transportation spectrum. The number of members applying for CEng, IEng and EngTech in 2019 is up by 55% on the 2018 total.

We have a growing number of Apprentice Members and support them on the first rung of their professional ladder through appropriate qualifications and are involving them and graduates in the governance of our organisation.

And our growing presence in the Transport Planning sector led to the Privy Council supporting our application to award the Chartered Transport Planning Professional title to eligible professionals this year.

Additional exclusive member resources developed on our website have included:

• An increased selection of technical articles
• Downloadable technical publications
• Accessible conference presentations and videos
• And an updated CIHT Options website

We do need, however, as a sector to speak more consistently, more powerfully; more persuasively about the contribution that highways and transportation plays in our society and in supporting our economy. The recent Queen’s Speech has outlined some key legislation where we will be looking to work with the UK government on issues that affect highways and transportation.

Last week we released a series of calls to the new government, are working with the Royal Academy of Engineering on engineering priorities and we will be working hard to push these through.

Looking forward to 2020, CIHT is in good shape and we will be launching several key initiatives early in the year. These will include a new CPD offering for members, our Improving Local Highways report, our re-freshed Spring Conference – Vision 2030 and delivering on our climate change pledges.

And finally, I wish you all a great holiday period and a prosperous 2020.