PIARC UK in 2024 saw the launch of the PIARC UK Young Professionals network and over 70 international experts joining for sessions at Highways UK
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At the start of 2024 there were over 50 UK experts appointed to serve on the PIARC Technical Committees. Hosted by the Department for Transport, the UK representatives to PIARC were invited to a session to share knowledge and meet other UK representatives. There were presentations by a number of the representatives.
This included a handover from Stephen Fidler, Director Local Transport at the Department for Transport as the UK First Delegate to David Buttery, Director of Roads Strategy at the Department for Transport. Stephen welcomed David, and David said he was looking forward to the taking on the role at the UK First Delegate
Hugh Gillies OBE from Transport Scotland and UK representative to PIARC's Executive Committee gave an interesting overview of how engagement with PIARC has been helpful from winter service operations to resilience planning.
The plans for establishing the PIARC UK Young Professional Network were outlined by Zahraa Kadri, CMath MIMA MCIHT and Federico Perrotta.
Zahraa gave an insightful look at Imposter Syndrome highlighting the importance of the reality being: "we deserve to be in this role, we’re all on the same journey" and the need to turn “negative” feelings into positive actions. Importantly Zahraa highlighted the need to make sure there is psychological safety in meetings.
There was a presentation from Mansi Desai who was taking on the role as the UK expert to TC 4.5 Decarbonization of Road Construction and Road Maintenance. Mansi gave an insight into the opportunities and challenges of international working offering a perspective on how this can be really exciting for enhancing creativity, bringing in different perspectives and sharing learning and knowledge.
Photo of PIARC UK May 2024 event
Highways UK saw the launch of the PIARC UK emerging professionals network by Zahraa Kadri, CMath MIMA MCIHT and Federico Perrotta.
This is the first young professional network in PIARC and will be looked at carefully as a model for wider international engagement by PIARC.
David Ogden, Fellow of CIHT and Chair of PIARC UK and David Buttery, UK First Delegate to PIARC introduced Lilian Greenwood MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Future of Roads) Minister to members of PIARC including a global delegation that attended the event. The introduction included a meeting with Zahraa Kandri, CIHT member who has been leading on establishing the PIARC UK young professional network.
The benefits of establishing the PIARC UK Young Professionals Network will be: this will provide a support network, an opportunity to learn from others and allow collaboration between TCs and Strategic Themes.
Left to right, David Ogden, Chair PIARC UK; Lilian Greenwood, Minister for Roads; David Buttery, UK First Delegate to PIARC; Zahraa Kandri, PIARC UK Technical Representative
At the PIARC UK event in Birmingham in October 2024 there were more than 70 international road experts with senior leaders from the UK Roads Leadership Group and UK reps from across the technical committees. Thanks to AtkinsRéalis, Breedon Group plc, Clearview Intelligence and Colas for their sponsorship of the event, and David Ogden, Dave Buttery, Hugh Gillies OBE, Yukio ADACHI, Gerardo Flintsch and Mansi Desai (PhD) for their presentations.
The event provided a great warm-up for Highways UK, and has enhanced links between PIARC and the wider UK sector, with a view to improving how we share and embed good practice both domestically and internationally.
Two international committees were hosted in the UK, the hosting of the Asset Management Committee was led by John Paterson, Vice Chair PIARC UK alongside members from the TC. John Lamb led on hosting the PIARC Technical Committee on Disaster Management.
There were three presentations at the event - see below for the slides
Overview of TC and some insights from their country on disaster management
Decarbonisation of road network Role and importance of carbon
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