Leadership, management and strategic advice
I am currently the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales advisor on the re-regulation of all bus services in Wales.
I am currently providing strategic advice to the emerging North East Mayoral Combined Authority on the use of their transport powers
Former Director of the Urban Transport Group (the network of public sector transport authorities which serve more than 20 million people) Urban Transport Group for fifteen years.
Former Coordinator of the national campaign against rail privatisation (Save our Railways).
Advised the M10 City Region Mayors group on transport.
Ran an all party parliamentary group for fifteen years at Urban Transport Group.
Ran and led networks of community groups and organisations in relation to local, regional and national transport issues.
Extensive experience of liaison, lobbying and networking with Government Ministers and senior officials, parliamentarians; as well as Directors of NGOs and trade bodies.
Policy and research
Currently a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Transport Studies at Leeds University.
A former Senior Visiting Fellow at LSE Cities.
Advised the M10 City Region Mayors group on transport.
Initiated, devised, researched and wrote a wide range of briefings and policy reports.
Media and public speaking
Made many media appearances as an expert or organisational representative at the international level (eg CNN), national level (Today programme and BBC national TV news), local level (including local radio, TV and newspapers) as well as the trade and professional press.
Extensive experience of briefing journalists in relation to documentaries and features at the international, national and local level.
Given oral evidence to a wide range of parliamentary select committees.
Devised and implemented effective comms strategies for organisations and specific campaigns and policy reports.
Chaired and spoken at many national and international conferences, on-line events as well as public meetings and rallies.
Legal
Coordinated high profile and successful legal challenges to the rail privatisation process
Led successful multi-faceted operations around new Westminster primary legislation
Commissioned legal advice on a wide range of issues and chaired meetings of in-house legal teams from across the membership of the Urban Transport Group
International
I am on a panel of UITP’s international experts for their training and city peer review programmes.
Represented UTG on key committees of the UITP including the Policy Board and authored a report for UITP on the case for city region transport authorities.
Coordinated Urban Transport Group’s European work – including liaison with MEPs and European officials, and our Brussels office.
Spoken and chaired sessions at international conferences and events.
Chairing
During my career I have chaired: national policy conferences; numerous standing and working groups of Urban Transport Group; policy seminars and webinars; local community organisations; public meetings; parliamentary events; events at political party conferences.
Financing
Overseen making the economic case for public transport including working with inhouse and external economists and liaison with, and lobbying of, Government (including liaison with Treasury)
Comment
I have written many opinion pieces for professional and trade media and currently write a regular two pager for Passenger Transport magazine.