Oxfordshire County Council's Sean Rooney has taken over as president of the Local Government Technical Advisers Group (LGTAG), vowing to translate research into practical solutions for the highways sector.
Mr Rooney (pictured) took over the group’s leadership from Amanda Richards of Surrey CC at a conference in Oxford titled ‘Collaborative Research – From Research to Reality’. He paid tribute to his predecessor, the organisation’s first female president, whom he described as ‘a trailblazer’.
He said: ‘She has been breaking barriers and setting new standards for excellence in leadership. During her tenure, she has worked tirelessly to promote skills in the highways sector, ensuring that our organisation remains at the forefront of the important conversations across the country.
‘Her dedication to this cause has been unwavering and her efforts have yielded remarkable results.’
Looking at the theme of his presidential year, Mr Rooney announced a £20,000 research grant from the Institute of Highway Engineers to be managed by LGTAG, with more details due in the coming weeks.
He said: ‘As we convene under the theme of collaborative research, we underscore our unwavering commitment to transforming theoretical research into actionable solutions that enhance the quality of the sector’s life as a whole.
‘In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and evolving societal expectations, research equips us with the foresight to adapt and make informed decisions for the present but more importantly for future.
‘It is through our shared exertions across the sector that we can explore innovative solutions, test new ideas and implement best practices, making collaborative resources at our disposal tackle the challenges we all face.’
Mr Rooney also expressed his ‘genuine gratitude’ to his employer for allowing him to participate in LGTAG and other organisations and paid tribute to LGTAG stalwart John Elliott, who he said had stepped back from the ‘frontline’ after decades of involvement.
He set out Mr Elliott’s involvement in the group’s predecessor organisations, going back to 1988.
He said: ‘I would like to thank John personally for his service, to not only LGTAG but the sector as a whole. I have offered him a comfy seat at the back of meetings and I hope that that spot will be filled by his irreplaceable presence for some time to come.’
Mr Rooney said he was ‘fully aware of the reputation of those I have to follow’ but ‘genuinely excited about the opportunity to build on the solid foundations that have been laid’.
Picture credit: Keira Richards
