One of CIHT’s overarching themes is working for equality, diversity and inclusion in the transportation sector. A sector that truly represents the wider community that we serve enables us to deliver the best solutions to the challenges we face. 

CIHT are proactively focussing on having an increased diverse representation within our membership.  With the theme for this year’s Black History Month being “Reclaiming Narratives”, we have taken the opportunity highlight some of the recent activities we are involved in across the highways and transportation sector.

We would like to highlight some of the amazing individuals helping to reclaim the narrative.

In April as part of the Festhub’s Stemfest we spoke to Emmanuel Afolabi, CEO and Founder of the Festhub.   

Emmanuel started his career at Charlton Athletic Football Club but after he did not becomea professional footballer, he started a career in civil engineering.   

He realised he wanted to do more to help other young people find their inner engineer and subsequently founded the Fest Hub in 2021.  

The Fest Hub connects Football, Education and (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Fest Hub uses the power of sport to encourage young people into STEM careers. 

We featured Emmanuel in our Transportation Professional magazine where he spoke about how to build a bond with young people. He also sat down with us for a chat on our podcast Transport Talks, where we talked about his journey into founding the Fest Hub.  

If you would like to become a CIHT STEM Ambassador and take part in the next STEMfest please contact our Professional Development Officer, John Hall e:john.hall@ciht.org.uk

Emmanuel Afolabi, CEO and Founder of the Festhub

We also had the amazing opportunity to talk to Joan Saunders-Reece about her outstanding career in the “My Journey” section of the May/June edition of Transportation Professional magazine. 

Spending time in the Territorial Army, being the Victoria Line’s first female Automatic Train Operator and now Transport for London’s Operational Emergency Planning Manager, Joan’s career is unprecedented.  

 Achieving many things across the span of her career and facing down many challenges working in male dominated fields, Joan manages to remain a beacon of change and resilience. 

Joan Saunders-Reece, Emergency Planning Manager, Transport for London

Beatrice Eke- Agbai, AVK, Sustainability Manager, spoke to us for the July/August edition of Transportation Professional about how she pivoted her initial career ideas to focus on her passion of making a true global impact on environmental sustainability.  

She acknowledges the difficulties surrounding her role as a Sustainability Manager especially that of feeling like a lone wolf yet still finds herself being highly valued. 

Beatrice Eke- Agbai, AVK, Sustainability Manager

The September/ October edition of Transportation Professional Magazine featured a piece about Georgia Yexley, the founder of the sustainable transport innovation agency Loud Mobility on her unique approach to encouraging people to travel more actively. 

Georgia is a vocal, passionate and experienced advocate for inclusive active travel as well as an influential voice in the micromobility industry. This alongside her understanding that generalities will not meet everyone's transportation needs uniquely positions Georgia to make serious change. 

Georgia Yexley, the founder of the sustainable transport innovation agency Loud Mobility

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