Mum and I had the pleasure of addressing the highways and transportation sector on Friday 13 December 2024. Keywords to watch out for: climate action; equality, diversity and inclusion; professionalism; heavy metal; long hair.

View the video.

It was one of the most memorable moments in my career to be able to stand in front of some 1800 people at the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) Annual Luncheon and deliver my presidential address.

At a time when it should be deeply alarming to all of us that climate action, EDI and professionalism are being challenged in some high profile quarters in society, it seems to me that the three core themes of CIHT matter more than ever since, as a Charity, we are charged with delivering public benefit. I am proud to try and play my part in championing them.

I’m gratified that my address was recorded and has today been made available on YouTube. If you were at the luncheon, please share your views on what you made of it; if you were not there but fancy indulging in the video, let me know what you think. Do the messages within the address resonate with you? Are there points you wish to take issue with? Is there more we could be doing as professionals, as humans?

I’m grateful to my mum who, at 86, didn’t feel ready for hitting London town on 13 December but who did provide a video contribution to my address. It reflects one of my early brushes with the tension between what is expected of you versus what your authentic self believes to be appropriate.

My thanks once again to University of the West of England and Mott MacDonald as my employers for their willing support of my presidential year. Thank you to my family for being willing to see less of me than they should so I am able to try and fulfil my presidential term to the best of my ability. And thank you to the wonderful team at CIHT who work with dedication and enthusiasm to help make our Institution the best that it can be.

As we begin the rollercoaster ride that 2025 may well turn out to be, please consider stepping a little outside your comfort zones in support of your authentic selves and in support of creating an inclusive environment for others to also benefit.

I’m going to end this post with the passage of text I ended my address with:

Well, I think my time is almost up. Which reminds me, actually, of a quote from the gay icon of heavy metal and lead singer of Judas Priest, Rob Halford, “Heavy metal is immortal, but we’re not”. Let’s put the time we have left before us in our careers to good work and be the best versions of ourselves we can be in this wonderful profession of ours.

💚 💙 🤘