Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
Head of Bus Franchising Transition at Transport for West Midlands - developing the future transport network for the UK's largest city region outside of London. I'm leading our work to transform the delivery of bus services in our region and embedding innovation within our future transport network. This includes the transition to zero-emission public transport, development of shared Demand Responsive Transport and supporting a data-led approach to wider transport challenges. My career began with Oxfordshire County Council. Excellent public transport was essential to ensure the historic city remained accessible and attractive. Working in partnership with the proactive bus operators we ensured services met the high expectations of customers, including real time info, bus priority and quality waiting facilities. I worked on the Major Scheme Business Case for Access to Oxford; an £80m programme to upgrade ring-road junctions and increase rail capacity. For Centro (now Transport for West Midlands) I worked on various initiatives to transform bus travel, including network reviews, smart ticketing, infrastructure, improved marketing and information, culminating in the award winning West Midlands Bus Alliance (National Transport Awards 2016). I then spent three years as Head of Transport at Milton Keynes Council, ensuring the city's transport infrastructure can accommodate planned super-growth and enabling half a million people to travel around the city quickly, easily and safely. This included managing 21,000 on-street parking spaces, regulation of taxis, managing community transport, transforming the public transport system and developing and promoting active travel - including the UK's largest off-street cycle network. Innovation was at the forefront of our approach, working with private sector partners to support development of Mobility as a Service, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, transport electrification and demand responsive solutions - notably MK Connect, Tech and Innovation scheme of the year in the 2021 UK Bus Awards. It also required development of strong relations with Highways England and Network Rail to secure the role of Milton Keynes in national connectivity.
Trustee of the Community Transport Association. Providing guidance and advice to a charity which supports community transport providers across the UK with leadership, training and operational support.
Leading a smooth transition into the new bus franchising operating model in the West Midlands, ensuring the Authority is a centre of excellence for delivering bus services in the future and that great customer outcomes are achieved and wider Combined Authority policy objectives can be secured
Developing the future transport network for the UK's second largest city region.
Head of Transport for Milton Keynes Council - the UK's fastest growing city and leading city for transport innovation*. The role includes the development and delivery of the city's transport strategy and policies, management and regulation of parking and taxis, and promotion of sustainable transport services through fostering strong partnerships and innovation with stakeholders. *UK Smart Cities Index 2017