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John Blackledge
Director of Community and Environmental Services at Blackpool CouncilI joined Blackpool Council in 1988 as Sports Development Officer. I had been involved in local sport for a number of years at the time, finishing 7th in the 800m in the final of the 1984 Olympic trials, with Steve Ovett and Seb Coe making the team.
The role presented me with a fantastic opportunity to develop Blackpool’s leisure offer. I have applied my passion and hard work over the years and now have wide ranging responsibility including Public Protection, Highways and Traffic Management, Waste and Cleansing Services, Integrated Transport, Leisure and Parks, School Catering and Coastal Defences.
Elizabeth Bower
Partner at Forbes SolicitorsElizabeth is a Partner with over 30 years’ experience in defending public liability claims and is Head of both the Casualty and Insurance Housing Teams and a member of the Large Loss and Complex Claims Team. She handles a wide variety of public and employers’ liability claims for commercial clients and the public sector including Local Authorities, Housing Associations and Further Education Establishments. Elizabeth is a member of FOIL and has been recognised by Legal 500.
Susan Brant
Head of Preconstruction at A E YatesHead of Pre-construction, for A.E Yates Ltd. With over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry across a variety of sectors, as both consultant and contractor. She started her construction life, working as a consultant pre-construction on major urban regeneration projects in London, including education, commercial and residential construction. Through to her passion for highways and major infrastructure. Su is a champion for change, supporting her team to work smarter not harder!
Paula Burdess
Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Street Scene and Neighbourhoods at Blackpool CouncilMaster of Business Administration (MBA) with earliest management experience with HSBC Insurance Services in Commercial Insurance Broking. Moved to Blackpool and changed career direction, and in the 20 plus years that followed worked in Education as a Youth Worker and in Pastoral Leadership in High schools and becoming more actively involved in local politics was elected on first attempt as a Ward Councillor in 2019. Since then, I have served as the Deputy Mayor between 2020 – 2022, Non-Executive Director (Vice Chair) of Blackpool Transport Services, Chair of both the Adult Social Care & Health and Children and Young People’s Committees and currently hold the position of portfolio holder for Highways & Traffic Management.
Katie Burnell
Associate Director - Local Authority of AmeyKatie is a Chartered Manager with over 13 years of experience in leadership, program, and change management within civil engineering consultancy and the highways industry. She began her journey with Amey in 2011 as a graduate, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the company’s diverse portfolio through rotational placements. Currently, Katie leads Amey’s Local Authority business, managing a team of over 300 professionals. She excels in stakeholder engagement, strategic business planning, and driving client satisfaction and business growth. Katie is dedicated to delivering optimal solutions, supported by robust processes and governance, while prioritising safety for both the public and her team.
Simon Butt
Operations Director of Essex HighwaysAs Ringway Jacobs’ Operations Director for Essex Highways, Simon oversees one of the largest outsourced local authority highway contracts in the UK that comprises over 5000 miles of carriageway, 4000 miles of footway and 130,000 streetlights. With 700 staff and a substantial supply chain he manages all aspects of a service that turns over circa £150m per year. Previously as an Operations Director, for Capita he had overall responsibility for highway services in their four main local authority partnerships; namely Blackburn with Darwen, Salford, North Tyneside and the London Borough of Barnet, along with a UKAS laboratory in Warrington. Prior to this he worked at A-one+, overseeing a programme of National Highways projects; and has previously worked as a civil engineer in the public sector managing design, procurement and construction services for both Bolton and Trafford Councils. Simon is a chartered civil engineer with over 25 years’ experience in highways, asset management, street lighting and drainage.
Darren Capes
ITS Policy Lead at Department for TransportDarren Capes FIET FIHE is Intelligent Transport Systems Policy Lead at the Department for Transport and focuses on the adoption of emerging vehicle, infrastructure and data technologies by the UK’s highway authorities.
A qualified civil engineer, his current role involves leading ITS policy and supporting local authorities in engaging with the Future of Transport agenda and ensuring the UK’s road authorities are prepared for the challenges to come.
A Fellow of both the IHE and IET, Darren manages the UK’s Transport Technology Forum on behalf of the DfT and is a member of the ITS World Congress Programme Committee. As well as sitting on the Board of LCRIG, Darren is Senior Vice President of the IHE, Chair the IET’s National Transport Policy Panel and a board member of ITS(UK).
Thomas Clarkson-Williams
Highways Asset Manager at Birmingham City CouncilHighways Asset Manager, Highway Services at the Birmingham City Council. A chartered engineer with over 33 years’ experience in Highway Engineering.
His experience covers the lifecycle of projects, from conception to delivery, in the private and public sectors, working with contractors, consultants, road authorities, a bank and an oil company.
Currently, he oversees the client’s technical asset management matters on the Highways Management Contract through a diverse technical team on a range of projects & maintenance activities, which included the collaborative delivery of our £140m network interventions through the Integrated Programme Alliance.
Paula Claytonsmith
Chief Executive at LCRIGPaula is LCRIG’s Chief Executive and formerly its Director, Government and Strategy. Paula has had a career spanning a range of sectors including leading local government frontline services in councils, Assistant Director for a national public sector improvement agency tasked with performance improvement in councils, KPMG Government Advisory, international consulting assignments, political lobbying sector, and independent national government advisory roles as a strategist and policy advisor. Paula has also worked in executive leadership roles in the charitable sector including a major stem cell cancer charity leading their operations department and a strategic policy and lobbying role in a leading environmental charity focused on behaviour change to improve local environmental quality.
In 2015 Paula joined the Highways sector working at a Highways Technology company, she didn’t previously have a highways background but is now a passionate advocate for the industry and wonders why she never became an Engineer!
Working in the Highways sector Paula has been a guest on several BBC Radio4 programmes relating to Infrastructure, international radio and TV programmes, quoted in The Sunday Times, authored articles for IHE, CIHT, RSMA, LCRIG Insights and spoken regularly at national industry conferences both in the UK and internationally. In 2018, Paula was an expert witness to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee on Local Roads Funding and Governance with acknowledgement by the Committee Chair in the House of Commons and Hansards. Paula is a Steering Group Member for several industry groups including Road Condition Statistics (PAS 2161), NIC CAM expert group, NAO Reports, Industry think papers and provides policy advisory support the DfT Transport Technology Forum which LCRIG manages. Paula is part of the National Highways strategic Research and Innovation Advisory Board (RIAB), was a technical committee member for PIARC (World Roads Association), and latterly appointed to the Institute Highways Engineer Council.
Paula is well known for her Friday Vlogs on LinkedIn where she gets distracted by her love of nature but enjoys providing lively updates on her weekly LCRIG activities supporting members in councils, the private sector, the government, and policy and strategy arenas.
Rob Cook
Managing Director - Civils & Infrastructure of Winvic ConstructionRobert Cook is a seasoned civil engineering professional with 24 years of industry experience. He began his career at his father's civil engineering business before advancing his expertise with Tier 1 & 2 contractors. Specializing in highways, complex structures, and drainage, Robert has held roles from Site Agent to Contract Manager, focusing on building effective teams and ensuring first-time-right delivery. Now Managing Director at Winvic Construction, Robert leads the development of their Civil Engineering division. With 20+ years in the highways sector, he continues to deliver complex projects and has been mentored by some of the industry's most respected leaders
Lucy Cox
Framework Manager Medium Schemes and Professional Services at MHA Plus (Midlands Highways Alliance)Lucy has 10+ years’ experience within the private sector. Beginning life as an events manager at a Polo Club, she branched out into construction project coordination, health and safety coordination and supplier management. The past 5 years were spent within IT procurement and supplier management specifically looking after applications and IT infrastructure projects.
Lucy has assisted in collating and presenting evidence in the House of Lords in order to negotiate more favourable terms with HS2.
Lucy is passionate about DEI ( Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ) within the workplace (leading on
DEI based projects and the steering group), career development for young people and colleagues.
Benjamin Crossley
Essex HighwaysI joined Ringway Jacobs 6 years ago as a Level 3 Apprentice; after completing my Apprenticeship, I gained a professional qualification with the ICE at EngTech Level. After completion I progressed onto a Level 6 Apprenticeship and have just started my fourth and final year and looking to graduate next summer and gain IEng with the ICE next Autum. I am currently working in Development Management delivering large S278 and S38 works.
James Dance
Highways Policy & Performance Team Leader at Oxfordshire County CouncilJames Dance is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of dedicated service at Oxfordshire County Council, where he has held various roles in highways asset management. In his current position, James is responsible for determining highways policy and performance, ensuring that the county’s transportation infrastructure meets the highest standards of safety and efficiency. He works closely with the council’s Carbon Reduction Team, playing a crucial role in advancing the authority’s Net-zero commitments.
James’s extensive experience in the field is complemented by his previous decade-long tenure as a design engineer for several civil engineering consultancies, this period provided him with a solid foundation in civil engineering design and project execution, skills that he has effectively leveraged in his public service career.
Throughout his time at Oxfordshire, James has been instrumental in implementing innovative solutions to enhance the county’s highways network. His strategic vision and technical expertise have driven forward a data-led and customer-centric approach to highways asset management.
David Denner
Highways Technology Manager at Welsh GovernmentDavid has over 30 years’ experience working in the transport industry, specialising in Lighting and Intelligent Transport Systems. David has worked for various local authorities, consultants and lighting contractors and now leads the technology team at Welsh Government transport. David is passionate on ensuring good lighting for all road users by having the right light, in the right place on for the right time. David also promotes high quality technology solutions that can be used to keep everyone safe. David has been active within a number of professional institutions and has presented on a number of related topics and is keen to ensure both the lighting and highway sectors understand each other’s issues. David is Chairman of the UK STREETWISE ITS group which has the aim of coordinating the collective requirements of the UK national road operators. David is also Chairman of the UK Lighting & Technology Board providing all governments across the UK with comment, guidance, and advice on strategic policy and management of transport electrical assets.
David Giles
UK General Manager at AIA (Asphalt Industry Alliance)- The surprising findings of the AIA ALARM Survey on how the industry is decarbonising
- Panel Session: AIA additional questions - Discussing the findings and concerns it reveals for the industry
David Giles is UK Director at Continental Bitumen, part of the Colas group of companies. He became Chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, a partnership between the Mineral Products Association and Eurobitume, in June 2024.
David has extensive experience in the bitumen sector, starting his career with Shell in 1981 and working for the company for more than 36 years in a number of different roles.
Between 2018 and 2021 he was UK General Manager of trade association Eurobitume, when he played an active role in the AIA, helping to shape its work with policy makers and key stakeholders.
Greg Haigh
Head of Data Science at Department for TransportGreg Haigh is the Head of Data Science at the Department for Transport, where he has led the organisation’s data science function for the past two years. With over 20 years of experience in the UK government, Greg has expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing (including large language models), and computer vision.
As technical lead for DfT’s AI programme, Greg oversees 20 projects that drive innovation across the department. His leadership is focused on leveraging advanced technologies to address key transport challenges and enhance decision-making.
Greg remains committed to applying data science to solve complex problems and support evidence-based policymaking.
James Haluch
Managing Director of Breedon Group PlcJames Haluch is the Managing Director of Breedon Group's Surfacing Solutions division. We has over 35 years of experience in the highways sector, working on capital and maintenance contracts in the UK and the Far East. Previously, he was the Managing Director of Amey’s Highways and Waste Collections Business Unit.
A Chartered Civil Engineer, James represents the industry on various groups, including the Highways Sector Council. He also chairs the National Highways Incursions & IPV Working Group and is a passionate advocate for road worker health, safety, and wellbeing.
Michael Hansford
Chief Executive Officer at The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA).Mike is Chief Executive Officer at the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA).
He previously worked for Dorset Council for 29 years, and held a senior highways asset management position. Mike developed and embedded a preventative maintenance strategy, and oversaw the adoption of many surface treatments and trials of alternative methods and materials. This approach became a key part of Dorset Highway’s carbon reduction strategy.
Throughout his career, Mike has worked in other areas of Highways, including highways data (SCRIM/SCANNER) and systems, streetworks, enforcement, routine maintenance, structural maintenance, and asset management (to include benchmarking and performance).
Mike was previously Chair of the South West Regional Asset Management Group and sits on the UKRLG Asset Management Board.
John Ingle
Highways Asset Manager at Westmorland & Furness CouncilI have worked within local authority highways for 17 years, most recently for the newly created Westmorland and Furness Council. As Highway Asset Manager I am responsible for the Asset Team, Road Lighting, Countryside Access and Highway Inspections and Claims. I have specialised in the area of highway inspections and claims, where I’ve looked to innovate with the use of technology to develop and improve highway safety and condition inspections. I’ve been part of LCRIG for a number of years since working with Will Britain at Blackpool Council and I am currently joint vice chair of the LCRIG North West Group.
Jade Jones
Head of Commercial and Business Improvement at Central Bedfordshire CouncilJade started her career on the National Graduate Development Programme for Local Government which gave her the opportunity to work across local government before settling in the Highways sector. With over a decade of experience as a problem solver for local authorities, Jade is ready to take on the challenges faced by the sector, including, budget pressures, the climate emergency, and the growing skills gap. Jade will set out how CBC has shaped its Highways Service to make best use of resources and support engineers to focus on delivery.
John Lamb
Consultant - Live Labs 2 Project - Decarbonising Street Lighting at East Riding of Yorkshire CouncilJohn has held over a dozen Chief Officer roles across Local Government, prior to that John led major engineering projects and operations at Heathrow and Stansted Airports, where he dealt with diverse challenges including 747 Air Freighter crash, Hijack, and fuel crisis. As Chief Officer in Calderdale he witnessed first-hand the massive impact of the Boxing Day floods in 2015.
Since Calderdale, he has championed the need to better understand Resilience and Response across the Civil Resilience community. His determination, with DfT and across the sector led to the influential DfT Deeming report published in 2021. A key element of this is world leading approaches to Rapid Impact Assessment Stormchain which has won UK awards and Ministerial accolades. He is always working with and through the DfT Live Lab Project to decarbonise UK Highways.
Covering all UK roads, John Chairs the UK Adaptation, Biodiversity and Climate Board (ABC Board). Representing motorways that carry over 30% of UK freight as well as the 98% of roads where people live, shop and work John is building new traction around the need for Councils to better understand the risk associated with all Climatic Hazards, including a mind shift from ‘snow & ice and ploughs & grit’ to face wider impacts such as urban underpasses, road crossings at river fords, and stone masonry arch bridges.
Through the new UK ABC Board, John is focussed on forging links across emergency planning, logistics, engineering, water management, highways and the communities they serve to create resilient transport systems. John has also recently been appointed by the DfT as the UK representative on to the World Road Association ‘Disaster Management Committee’
Mark Lesley
Performance and Compliance Manager at A E YatesAfter working as a front line manager in both the Public and Private sector, Mark has been tackling the performance, quality and compliance world for 15 years. Mark joined the construction industry just under 7 years ago and is passionate about driving improvements around safety, wellbeing, quality, performance and customer.
Jenny Moten
Managing Director - Regions of Core Highways
Jonathan Munslow
Past President at Local Government Technical Advisers Group (LGTAG)Jon is passionate about Climate Adaptation for Highways, providing sector leadership in his role as Chair - UKRLG Climate Change Adaptation SubBoard. Jon has extensive experience in Local Government, leading Highways and Place based Services. As President of LGTAG 2021/22 Jon’s prioritised 'Greening the Black' - making local highways cleaner, greener and fit for Society's Net Zero future. Jon now continues his drive to make things better by providing support, advice and leadership through his Consultancy - Viasulis. When not trying to change the world one road at a time Jon is dedicated to family, pets, kayaking and Classic Cars.
Laura Murphy
Head of Road Network Statistics at Department for Transport- PAS 2161: The next steps in road condition monitoring
- Panel Session: PAS 2161: Views from the industry
Laura is head of the road network statistics team in the Department for Transport. She is responsible for the production and publications of statistics related to road condition and road lengths. This includes the R199b road length consultation and items under 130 on the single data list (road condition and maintenance treatment information). Laura and her team are responsible for the delivery and implementation of the new BSI standard for road condition monitoring, with the aim of the new standard to open up the market for road condition monitoring technologies and encourage innovation in the sector. To deliver the work strands of the team she regularly engages with a variety of stakeholders, including all local authorities in England, National Highways, Ordnance Survey, the devolved government and wider road maintenance industry.
Ian Newport
Highways Asset Manager at Dorset CouncilIan has recently been appointed as the highway’s asset manager for Dorset Council. He has 36 years of local authority service, with 34 years spent in the highways service. His background includes safety and condition inspections, surveying, and asset management. He also has recent experience in managing the Community Highways Team and winter service delivery. Ian understands the importance of consistent messaging through all strategic documents to support stakeholder collaboration and achieve optimal outcomes. He has experience in managing highway data systems, lifecycle planning, and driving digital transformation and sustainability initiatives. Ian is committed to further embedding asset management into the organisation, fostering innovation, and supporting Dorset Council's vision for a sustainable, resilient highway network that meets national standards and our carbon-neutral goals by 2035.
Sean Rooney
Head of Service Highway Maintenance at Oxfordshire County CouncilSean Rooney is a distinguished professional in the field of Highway and infrastructure maintenance and management, with a career spanning over three decades. He currently serves as a key member of the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) Board, where he contributes his extensive expertise to drive innovation and excellence in local road networks.
Sean’s career began with a strong foundation in civil engineering, having earned his degree from a prestigious university. He quickly rose through the ranks, demonstrating exceptional leadership and technical skills. His early career saw him taking on various roles in both the public and private sectors, where he managed significant infrastructure projects and developed a reputation for delivering high-quality results.
In addition to his professional achievements, Sean has been an active member of several influential industry organizations. He has served as a Council member of the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE), where he plays a pivotal role in advancing the profession and advocating for the highest standards of practice.
His leadership extended to the Local Government Technical Advisers Group (LGTAG), where he currently holds the position of President, contributing to the development of policies and strategies that have shaped the future of local government engineering. A key focus for his Presidential theme is “Collaborative Research- From Research to Reality” is to work with sector colleagues to promote research and raise awareness of research funding and academic opportunities and to connect organisations to drive research forward in the Highways Sector.
Sean’s commitment to the industry is further exemplified by his involvement with LCRIG. As a Board member, he has been instrumental in fostering collaboration and innovation among local councils, ensuring that road networks are safe, efficient, and sustainable. His vision and dedication have made a significant impact on the way local infrastructure is managed and maintained.
Throughout his career, Sean has been recognized for his contributions to the field, his continued passion for the highways sector and his unwavering commitment to excellence continue to inspire those around him.
Sean Rooney remains a respected leader and a driving force in the advancement, development of all things great related to the Highways Sector.
Tim Rowland-Deverell
Head of Local Highways Strategy and Environment at Department for TransportTim is Head of Local Highways Strategy and Environment at the Department for Transport – working on responding to some of the big strategic challenges facing the sector like funding, climate change adaptation, skills and the environment.
He is a Civil and Environmental Engineer by training, and has extensive previous experience in environmental policy and delivery, including leading DfT’s response to the Environment Act 2021, and its work on biodiversity strategy.
Susan Scurlock MBE
CEO and Founder of Primary EngineerIn 2005, Susan launched Primary Engineer to boost student engagement with learning. As a teacher, she saw how primary pupils lost interest in secondary school and believed engineering could spark curiosity early on. Her plan? Train teachers to lead hands-on, engineering-themed projects. The initiative expanded to include teacher training, national competitions, and qualifications, embedding engineering into UK curricula. Engineers soon joined to bring real-world insights into classrooms, showing students exciting career paths. Today, Primary Engineer operates across the UK, reaching thousands of schools and pupils, making engineering fun, engaging, and a key part of education for young learners.
Katie Sherrell
Road Condition Statistics Lead at Department for TransportKatie is the lead for road condition statistics in the department for transport. She contributes to and oversees the production of the annual road condition statistics publication; this includes items under 130 on the single data list (road condition and maintenance treatment information). Katie contributes to the delivery and implementation of the new BSI standard for road condition monitoring, with the aim of the new standard to open up the market for road condition monitoring technologies and encourage innovation in the sector. Katie joined the department earlier this year and has since engaged with local authorities in England and other stakeholders in the wider road maintenance industry.
Karla Shorrock
Researcher at LCRIGKarla has been working at LCRIG since July 2020, working alongside Paula and Dan to produce research and insights for LCRIG and other organisations. Alongside this, Karla is also studying Marine and Freshwater Biology at the University of Glasgow where she has just begun her fourth year. Through her degree and work with LCRIG, Karla has developed a passion around climate change and what we can do to mitigate our carbon footprint.
Andy Stevenson
Associate Director of Road Services at W.D.M. LimitedAndy started his career as a Marine Engineer before moving into Civil Engineering.
After time in the private sector as a Materials Engineer, he moved into local Government as Materials Engineer for Cornwall County Council, subsequently moving to Surfacing Manager, then Infrastructure Asset Manager, before becoming Head of Highways and Infrastructure for Cornwall Council. A member of CSS (ADEPT) Soils and Materials, Design and Specification Group and past member of UKRLG’s Asset Management Board he has a strong history and knowledge of asphalt pavements and materials. He has been a member of BSi Technical Committees B510/1 (Asphalt) and B 510/2 (Surface Treatments) since 1996.
Joining WDM in 2018 as Associate Director of Road Services, Andy is responsible for overseeing surveying operations, including Scanner, SCRIM®, Deflectograph and the Data Processing team. He works closely with clients and contracts management across the UK and overseas.
Andy is heavily involved in Research and Development for the company and has close relationships with national industry bodies such as ADEPT, UKRLG and RSTA.
Outside of work, he is a keen sailor having been in and around boats all his life. Andy is also an ordained minister in the Church of England and has been a Canon of Truro Cathedral, since 2015.
Sven Till
Managing Director of A E YatesSven Till’s career has taken him across the UK, with a brief period spent in the Falkland Islands as an Engineer. Sven joined A E Yates Group in 2004 as a Site Manager and, through his dedication and commitment, steadily advanced to Contracts Manager, Associate Director, and Director. In April 2023, he was appointed Group Managing Director. Since then, Sven's extensive construction knowledge and strong leadership have been instrumental in driving the company's recent growth.
In addition to his professional achievements, Sven has made significant contributions to society. He regularly visits both male and female prisons, offering construction workshops and job opportunities to inmates. As the driving force behind the company’s apprenticeship program, Sven actively supports the development of future leaders, ensuring they have access to leadership courses and career progression opportunities
Glen Westmore
SAB Implementation Manager at Surrey County CouncilGlen Westmore is the Flood Risk Planning and Consenting Team Leader at Surrey County Council. An Environmental Engineer by training, he heads up the team assessing planning applications and providing SuDS design and retrofit advice. He has worked across Environmental Assessment, Flood Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation within local government and the Environment Agency.
Glen is co-chair of the Association of SuDS Authorities (ASA); a member organisation whose aim is to promote and develop the use of sustainable drainage systems in England. The ASA provide advice to central government on SuDS Policy, as well as supporting its members in training, best practice and innovation.
Dr Joanna White
Research, Development & Innovation Director of National Highways- Innovation readiness level and how National Highways learns from both future and near view innovations
- PANEL SESSION: Insights from national, strategic and local authority perspectives on using AI & the successes/challenges being faced
Dr Joanna White is Director for Research, Development and Innovation at National Highways, where her teams provide technical advice, assurance and leadership on research, innovation, intelligent transport systems, connected and automated vehicles, energy and road design. As a Chartered Engineer with the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jo is the National Highways professional lead for this capability.
Jo is a huge advocate of STEM activities with schools and is passionate about inspiring people to get into the transport industry. Outside of her work at National Highways, Jo is a Trustee of the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund.
Simon Wilson
Research Programme Director of Future Highways Research GroupSimon Wilson is Research Programme Director for the Future Highways Research Group (FHRG). With 38 local authority members and a 5-year exclusive Research Partnership with ADEPT, Simon currently leads four key research programmes within the highways sector; Standardised Carbon Measurement & Carbon Footprint Reduction, AI for Services Transformation, Future Procurement & Services Delivery Models, and Delivering Social Value Through Highways Services.