Acting CEO of Highways England Nick Harris (pictured) will give a keynote speech at Traffex this June in what is expected to be his first major public address.
Mr Harris took over from Jim O'Sullivan at the start of the year and is expected to give Traffex's virtual delegates an insight into what the future holds for Highways England as part of the 'build back better' agenda.
Taking place across 15-17 June, the Traffex Parkex event is the largest traffic and transport conference in the UK featuring an array of online content and the widest networking opportunities in the industry.
The event's steering committee is made up of senior officers from Highways England, ADEPT, ITS (UK), CIHT, REMA, the Association for Road Traffic Management and Safety, the Institute of Highway Engineers and Highways magazine.
It is now close to finalising an ambitious agenda, focusing on the key issues affecting traffic and transport professionals. Sessions will cover a variety of issues broadly tying in with the event’s main themes: safety, innovation, environment, sustainability, integration and technology.
Within this framework, specific presentations, and panel sessions will address some of the most hotly-debated subjects around the sector.
These include:
- decarbonisation,
- worker safety,
- ITS data and the economy,
- connected and autonomous vehicles,
- software and training for road safety,
- developments in AI from around the globe,
- spatial planning,
- moving traffic violations,
- cycling infrastructure,
- active travel safety
- and a host of further topics in some 40 sessions overall.
Commenting on the conference programme’s progress, Highways magazine editor Dominic Browne said: ‘We are incredibly grateful to our amazing steering committee members, who have helped assemble a cutting-edge conference programme that will challenge, inform and inspire the sector. Our speakers and panel discussions will give technical insights, thematic analysis and the strategic vision to help transport and highways professionals across the UK adapt to the current challenges and shape the sustainable, resilient economy of the future.
'Just as transport and highways kept the nation moving throughout the pandemic so we have to be ready to help the UK bounce back. Traffex is known as the trading floor of British transport and this year we will show the world the UK is open for business. We are looking forward to greeting thousands of visitors in June and providing a networking opportunity like no other.'
Similarly, the British Parking Association are putting together a future-proofing programme for Parkex visitors based around three central themes: mobility on the move, the changing face of parking and innovation, smart journeys, clever destinations.
Both streams will be presented live and in pre-recorded sessions across the three digital ‘open days’ of Traffex Parkex.
Visitors and delegates will be invited to register and attend free of charge and, as well as taking in the conference, they will be able to explore exhibitors via their virtual stands in addition to watching product demonstrations and interacting with stand personnel.