Sandy Sykes, executive director of the Institute of Asphalt Technology (IAT), argues that the key challenges in highways - an ageing network, climate pressures, constrained funding and a widening skills gap - need a sector-wide conversation on the subject that ties them all together: resilience.
Resilience has become the defining theme across infrastructure, but turning that ambition into action requires more than strategy. It demands collaboration, innovation and, crucially, a shared understanding across the sector.
It is within this context that the Institute of Asphalt Technology (IAT) will host its 60th Anniversary Annual Conference on 14 May 2026 at The Milner Hotel, York, bringing together a cross-section of the industry to explore what resilience really looks like in practice.
From strategy to delivery
What sets this year's conference apart is not just its theme 'Resilience in Action' but the depth and breadth of expertise brought together to address it.
Dr Helen Bailey, President of the IAT, will open proceedings framing the challenge ahead, before Mark Stevens (TRL) delivers a keynote examining the realities facing the UK road network.
His focus on both challenges and opportunities reflects a wider shift in the sector recognising that resilience is as much about innovation and mindset as it is about funding.
That balance between strategic thinking and practical delivery runs throughout the programme.
The international dimension is introduced by Dr Geoff Rowe (Abatech Inc), whose global perspective on materials, markets and minds reinforces a key message: the UK is not alone in facing these challenges, but it must be proactive in how it responds.
Meanwhile, Professor Gordon Airey (University of Nottingham) brings a research-led lens to the discussion, focusing on materials innovation and how advancements in asphalt technology can support longer-lasting, more resilient pavements.
But resilience is not just about materials. It is increasingly about how the network is understood and managed.
Sessions from Steve Isaacs and Claire O'Riordan (Lexra Highways) highlight the growing role of digital tools in shaping smarter, more adaptive infrastructure, while Jonathan Munslow (Viasulis) addresses the urgent need to design and maintain roads that can withstand the realities of climate change.
Alongside this, the sector's long-term sustainability is brought into focus through Lisa Saunders and Ian Cross, whose work on engaging the next generation through initiatives such as Minerals Matter and the Asphalt Teachers Encounter underlines a simple truth: resilience depends on people as much as it does on engineering.
The Workforce Challenge and Opportunity
If there is one issue consistently raised across the industry, it is the challenge of workforce resilience. The first panel of the day, facilitated by Dr Martin Baxter (ISEP), brings together leaders from across key organisations including the Institute of Quarrying, IHE, RSTA and the IAT to address this head-on.
With contributions from Ben Williams, Lyle Andrew, Mike Hansford and Mark Wood, the discussion will move beyond identifying the problem to exploring practical solutions: how the sector attracts new talent, retains experience, and adapts to changing expectations.
This is not simply an HR issue it is fundamental to the sector's ability to deliver.
A whole-system view of resilience
The second panel, led by Dr Miles Watkins, broadens the lens.
Bringing together voices from media, contracting, materials and national infrastructure including Dominic Browne (Highways Magazine), Guy Woodford (Agg-Net), Toby Pyper (Tarmac), Richard Taylor (VARADIGM) and Paul Edwards (National Highways) the discussion will explore resilience at a system level. This is where the complexity of the challenge becomes most apparent.
Resilience is not just about better materials or smarter design. It is about how decisions are made, how projects are delivered, how performance is measured, and how the industry responds collectively to long-term pressures.
The inclusion of perspectives from across the supply chain reflects a growing recognition that no single organisation or discipline can solve these challenges alone.
Why this matters now
The timing of this conversation is critical. Industry data continues to highlight the scale of the maintenance backlog, while climate impacts are becoming more visible and more frequent. At the same time, the push towards net zero and greater efficiency is reshaping how projects are specified, delivered and assessed.
Against this backdrop, the value of bringing the sector together cannot be overstated. Events such as the IAT Annual Conference provide more than technical insight. They create space for alignment for shared understanding, challenge and collaboration.
And in a sector where fragmentation can slow progress, that alignment is essential.
A platform for the industry
As the IAT marks 60 years, this conference is not simply a celebration, it is a platform. A platform for ideas, for debate, and for the practical steps needed to build a more resilient future.
For organisations looking to position themselves within that conversation, there are also a limited number of trade stand and sponsorship opportunities remaining providing direct engagement with a highly relevant and influential audience.
At a time when the sector is being asked to deliver more, adapt faster and think longer-term, the need for shared insight and collaboration has never been greater.
The IAT 60th Anniversary Conference offers a rare opportunity to hear from and engage with those shaping the future of the industry across research, policy, delivery and innovation.
The challenges are clear. The expertise is in the room.
The only question is who will be part of the conversation?
