Owen Wilson

Recently retired from role as Head of Major Roads, Transport for the North (TfN)

Manchester Area, United Kingdom

About

An MSc qualified Transport Planner, with a 25 year successful track record in the transport sector securing £Millions for transport projects and delivering high profile nationally recognised projects. Well developed leadership, negotiation and project management skills and have successfully worked for and in close partnership with Cycling England, Sustrans and the Department for Transport. Key Achievements Development of Major Road Network for the North. • Business Case development for Local Growth Funded Transport Schemes, including supporting evidence on economic growth benefits. • Successfully bidding for DfT pinch point funding in 2013 (£2.3M secured) using DfT WebTag appraisal methodology. • Successfully bidding for, planning and delivering National Sustainable Travel Town (£3.24M) and Cycle Demonstration Town projects (£3M). • Delivering significant travel behaviour change, 60% increase in cycle trips and 13% reduction in car trips by Darlington residents. • Securing and project managing representation in a €16M, nine partner city European Union sustainable mobility project. • Development in conjunction with HA, and approval of area wide travel plan for large mixed commercial / residential development, adjacent to A66 (T). • Expert advisor on sustainable travel to the Scottish Government. • Development of a £1M Smarter Travel Choices programme adopted by the five Tees Valley Councils. • Programme management of a wide range of complex transformation projects, delivering £M+ savings, policy and business process change. • Establishing Sustrans Tees Valley Office, development of area wide cycle strategy and delivery of national and local cycle network. • Masters in Transport Planning with Distinction.

Experience

  • Senior Policy & Strategy Officer at Transport for the North (TfN)
    Apr 2016 - Present · 10 yrs 4 mos

    Development of policy and strategy approaches across the Transport for North (TfN) work streams to support the evidence base for improving connectivity across the North.

  • Darlington Borough Council ()
    • Economy Manager
      Feb 2014 - Apr 2016 · 2 yrs 3 mos

      Responsible for policy development through to delivery by creating conditions to: • Attract new inward investment into the area. • Advise on key enabling infrastructure requirements and delivery to meet economic growth needs. • Support and encourage existing businesses to prosper and flourish. • Support and encourage new start up business and their survival. • Improve the match between labour supply and business needs.

    • Principal Policy Officer Strategy & Commissioning
      Jul 2013 - Feb 2014 · 8 mos

      Responsible for Transport, Economic and Housing Strategy

    • Programme Manager
      Jul 2010 - Jul 2013 · 3 yrs 1 mo

      Coordination of a large number of cross cutting business transformation projects, impacting on organisational design, processes and culture. Emphasis on evidence based approach to achieving value for money, process re-design, re-structuring / sharing services.

  • Tees Valley Area Officer at Sustrans
    Aug 2000 - Nov 2003 · 3 yrs 4 mos

    Development of National Cycle Network Safer Routes to School programme Rural Transport project Promoting sustainable travel Fund raising - Lottery, ERDF

  • Countryside Manager at Stockton Borough Council
    Aug 1997 - Jul 2000 · 3 yrs

    Managed Countryside Service including 4 Country Parks and a Community Farm.

  • Countryside Ranger at Cleveland County
    Oct 1993 - Aug 1997 · 3 yrs 11 mos