Due to illness, the committee were unable to present Gordon with the award earlier this year at the CIHT Scotland Annual Awards Dinner.

Instead, Iain Goldie, representing the award sponsor, Sweco, presented Gordon with his award at the CIHT Scotland Christmas Quiz and Meet the President event which took place in Glasgow City Centre on Tuesday 10 December. 

With over 40 years' experience in the transport industry, Gordon Baker is currently the Chair of the CIHT Board of Trustees, having previously been the Managing Director of JMP Consultants, responsible for successfully integrating the JMP business with SYSTRA Limited.

Gordon graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering from the University of Glasgow in 1978 and began working life with Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick then moving to Strathclyde Regional Council Roads Department.

Gordon rejoined the private sector in 1983, moving to JMP then Halcrow Fox, SIAS and returning to JMP as Regional Director (Scotland) in 2004. Also finding time to be the Honorary Chair of Sustainable Development with Heriot Watt University. Gordon became the Managing Director of JMP in 2010 until his retirement from the transport industry in 2017.

Gordon has been a supporter of CIHT from the outset, working as a committee member for the CIHT Central and Southern branch, becoming Branch Chair in 2008. Gordon was on the Working Group responsible for the IHT Traffic Impact Assessment Guidelines (1994) and a contributing author to the CIHT Transport in the Urban Environment (1997). Through Gordon, JMP sponsored the CIHT FUTURES initiative, providing a platform for Glenn Lyons to introduce “scenario planning” to the transport profession in the UK.

Gordon has continued to support CIHT, initially undertaking a governance review of the CIHT Board structure. He has been Chair of the Appian Trading Board and is currently serving as Chair of the CIHT Board of Trustees.

Gordon has been a driving force behind the CIHT 2022+ Strategy, passionately pursuing the over-arching themes of Climate Action, Professionalism and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion throughout the organisation and wider transport sector.

Gordon’s nomination for this award makes clear that he is highly respected for his professionalism, integrity, and commitment to whatever challenge he is addressing. Gordon’s defining capability is his ability to create a working environment of positive leadership and respect.

Well done Gordon, a very worthy winner.

Find out more about the CIHT Scotland Awards: https://www.ciht.org.uk/about-us/uk-nations-regions/scotland/ciht-scotland-awards/