Darren Capes has taken the reins from Katharine Kelly as President of the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE).

Following the organisation's AGM on 3 July, Mr Capes, who is the Department for Transport's (DfT) head of road infrastructure technology, set out his vision for the Institute.

He said that ensuring highway engineers have the skills to ‘embrace rapidly evolving technology' will be one of his key priorities during his term.

Mr Capes added that he sees a ‘significant opportunity' to align government ambitions around workforce development with the needs of the wider highways sector.

He said: ‘Our vision is to be the institute of choice for highway engineers and a leading advocate for the highways sector, and our mission is to provide professional development opportunities, support and leadership for individuals to achieve and maintain professional recognition.

‘As new technologies change the jobs we do and the sector welcomes an increasingly diverse workforce, we will work to ensure the opportunity for professional growth and development is available to all'.

Some of the technologies Mr Capes wants to help IHE members become more acquainted with during his presidency include advances such as AI-enabled gritting vehicles, connected maintenance equipment and increasingly intelligent construction plant, all of which he argued are becoming ‘commonplace across the sector' and leaving the confines of research.

Mr Capes added that, while innovation is accelerating, the industry's foundations are still the same.

‘The highways sector will always need skilled engineers to design, maintain and operate the network', he said, ‘but those professionals will increasingly be supported by digital tools, automation and data-driven decision-making. My aim is to ensure the Institute helps both existing and future engineers develop the skills needed to thrive in this changing environment.'

Editor's comment:

The celebrations at the President's Dinner this weekend, marking the biannual handover of the IHE presidency, went long into the night, and there was a wonderful atmosphere throughout the room.

Before Darren Capes took his chain of office, the IHE took a moment to acknowledge the brilliant work done by its amazing immediate past President Katharine Kelly, who did so much to help modernise and progress IHE's practice and policy. (See Highways June issue pages 18-19 for the full account of the changes she made during her term.)

Head of road infrastructure technology at the Department for Transport, Mr Capes is an ideal choice to lead the IHE for its next chapter, and his focus on preparing the sector for a new age of technology seems absolutely right. Given the groundbreaking work he is doing on the DfT's emerging Connected Vehicle Services (CVS) Framework, there is no one who could be better suited to take us forward in this area.

Another thing people will have noticed about Mr Capes is his genuine love of the work. He is seldom, if ever, seen without a beaming smile, helped no end by his dry but vivacious sense of humour. Whether it is on stage or in debate, or on a conference floor, he always comes across as a man of curiosity and commitment who is proud and happy of his work and the industry he works in. Sometimes we forget that one of the best attributes a leader can have is simply a genuine love for the work they do. Such passion is always inspiring and contagious. We wish Mr Capes the very best of luck for his term as IHE President. If he can share with newcomers to our industry just part of his fascination and joy with our world…well, that alone will make him a huge success.

Dominic Browne, editor, Highways Magazine