Speakers

We are delighted to announce the speakers for the Better Transport Conference 2026. More speakers are being added daily, so do check back to see the latest.

See the conference agenda.

Thomas Ableman

Freewheeling, Founder

Thomas Ableman has spent 20 years working across Britain’s public transport system, including as Commercial Director at Chiltern Railways, Director of Strategy and Innovation at Transport for London, and founder of transport startup Sn-ap. He now advises and supports chief executives of combined authorities, transport operators and government. He originated the Mini Switzerland project, a national demonstrator for integrated rural transport, and writes and hosts the Freewheeling blog and podcast.

Devon Barrett

Podaris, Co-Founder

Devon Barrett is the co-founder of Podaris, a collaborative platform for transport planning. At Podaris, Devon combines his passion for making cities more liveable places with his software engineering expertise to deliver an innovative solution for helping plan the cities of tomorrow, today.

Silviya Barrett

Director of Policy and Campaigns, Campaign for Better Transport

Silviya Barrett is Director of Policy and Campaigns at Campaign for Better Transport – the national charity championing high quality, affordable sustainable transport. Silviya joined the charity in February 2020. She is responsible for building the organisation’s policy, research and campaigns programme and managing external engagement. She also leads project delivery and local engagement. Prior to that, she was Research Manager at think tank Centre for London.

Mike Batheram

Market Director for Local Transport, AtkinsRéalis

Mike Batheram is Market Director for Local Transport at AtkinsRéalis, leading a £100m+ business supporting public sector clients to plan and deliver highways infrastructure and transport services across the UK. With 35 years’ experience spanning the public and private sector, he works as a strategic partner to local authorities, Mayoral Combined Authorities and central government to translate devolved powers and funding into transport outcomes on the ground.

Nicholas Boys Smith

Create Streets, Founder and Chair

Nicholas Boys Smith is founder and chair of Create Streets, an award-winning social enterprise pioneering research, design coding and community co-design to develop beautiful, people-centred places. He is a visiting professor of architecture at the University of Strathclyde and was co-chair of the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission alongside the late Sir Roger Scruton and chair of the Office for Place. He was awarded an MBE in 2024 for services to planning and design.

Neil Chapman

Bauer Media Outdoor, Product Design Director

Neil leads product design and development across 12 European markets at Bauer Media Outdoor, bringing nearly 25 years of experience in innovation and technology. Since joining in 2010, his remit has spanned bus shelters, advertising screens, wayfinding and smart city services, with a focus on reducing carbon impact and delivering value for communities. He is particularly interested in how infrastructure can support more liveable, nature-integrated urban environments.

Robert Cook

Railway Industry Association, Policy Director

Robert leads policy at the Railway Industry Association, spanning infrastructure, rail reform and public and private investment. Prior to joining RIA, he was Head of Strategic and Policy Projects at the Office of Rail and Road, where he worked on proposals for Great British Railways. He has also led value for money studies at the National Audit Office and began his career in international development, including a posting to the Ministry of Finance Rwanda.

Cyriel Diels

Intelligent Mobility Design Centre, Deputy Director

Professor Cyriel Diels is the Deputy Director of the Intelligent Mobility Design Centre (IMDC) at the Royal College of Art (RCA). With a background in psychology and over 20 years of experience spanning industry and academia, his work is situated at the intersection of people, technology, and mobility. Motivated by the transitioning towards more sustainable mobility, his research is driven by a people-centred participatory design philosophy. The IMDC is a partner in the INFUZE (Inspiring Futures for Zero Carbon Mobility) project, a multimillion pound project aiming to encourage people in Leeds to try an alternative to private vehicle ownership.

Isobel Duxfield

Campaign for Better Transport, Research and Policy Manager

Isobel joined Campaign for Better Transport in November 2025 and has worked in transportation policy in Brussels and Canada. She has previously led fundraising, policy, research and communications for the Pedal Society and Polis Network, where her work focused on tackling gender divisions in transportation and improving sustainable transport options in smaller and more rural communities.

Helen Ellerton

West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Head of Transport Policy

Helen joined the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in 2017 and has led its Transport Policy team since 2021, following almost a decade in transport consultancy, where she worked on major funding bids and helped establish Transport for the North. She now leads policy and strategy across the full transport portfolio, working with political members, district partners and government officials, and is passionate about transport’s role in delivering sustainable and inclusive city regions.

Olly Glover

Didcot and Wantage MP

Olly was elected as the Liberal Democrat MP for Didcot and Wantage in 2024, bringing a career background in senior operational roles at Network Rail and train operating companies. In Parliament, he serves on the Transport Select Committee and is the Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson, contributing to debates on rail affordability, sustainable aviation and road safety. A committed advocate for greener travel, he is the first Honorary President of Liberal Democrat Friends of Cycling, Walking and Wheeling.

Lord Peter Hendy

Minister of State for Rail

Lord Peter Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE is Minister of State for Rail, appointed following the 2024 General Election. Created a life peer in 2022, he previously chaired Network Rail from 2015 to 2024 and served as Commissioner of Transport for London from 2006 to 2015. He is the keynote speaker at the Better Transport Conference 2026.

Anna-jane Hunter

Winder Phillips Associates, Rail Operations Professional and Partner | Chair of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

Anna-jane is a Rail Operations Professional, Partner at Winder Phillips Associates and Chair of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) and a passionate advocate for public transport. Having led teams in Network Rail, Train Operating Companies, and as part of multi-agency industry groups she has an expertise in complex stakeholder relations as well as a wealth of operations knowledge. She is an energetic communicator who regularly contributes to podcasts, media coverage and at conferences.

Rob Johnson

Centre for Cities, Senior Analyst

Rob is a Senior Analyst in the research team at Centre for Cities, where he leads work on skills, work, transport, and living standards. His overarching interest is getting insights from analysing ‘big data’. Before joining in October 2023, Rob worked as an economic consultant specialising in education, labour markets, and public policy.

Rajesh Kungur

British Standards Institute, Sector Lead, Transport

Rajesh is Sector Lead for Transport & Mobility at BSI (British Standards Institution). Rajesh holds a Master’s Degree in Transport Planning & Management and has over 15 years’ experience in strategic transport, leading on shaping the future of transport innovations through strategy, planning, policy and management. Rajesh leads on strategic engagement and delivery of projects, and standards programmes, working across emerging technologies with the automotive and transport industry.

Sarah Nankivell

Common Wealth, Deputy Director

Sarah Nankivell is Deputy Director of Common Wealth, a think tank reimagining ownership to build an economy that works for everyone. Before joining Common Wealth, Sarah was Assistant Director of Operations at Forensic Architecture and is currently an Advisory Board member at Forensis, and a founding Trustee of Equidem. Sarah is a graduate of the University of Toronto (BSc) and the University of Cambridge (MPhil).

Dr Emma Partlow

National Centre for Accessible Transport, Chief Executive

Dr Emma Partlow is Chief Executive of the National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat) and a leading voice in accessible travel. She brings industry expertise, policy insight and lived experience to making transport fairer for disabled people, shaping practice through an evidence-led, people-first approach. Her contributions have been recognised through several awards, including a place on the 2024 Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list and Global Accessibility and Inclusion Leader of the Year in 2025.

Ben Plowden

Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport

Ben Plowden is Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, with over 30 years’ experience in transport and the charity sector. Prior to this role, he was an Associate at PA Consulting and spent almost 20 years at Transport for London in senior positions, including founding Director of the Smarter Travel Unit. Ben is also a visiting professor at University College London and a Senior Associate at the London School of Economics.

Jason Prince

Urban Transport Group, Director

Jason is Director of the Urban Transport Group, responsible for its strategic direction and representing members’ interests to government and external stakeholders. He brings over 15 years’ experience in local and national government, with a focus on transport and devolution. Prior to joining UTG in 2023, he was Head of Public Affairs at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and also held roles at Transport for Greater Manchester and in Westminster.

Michael Solomon Williams

Campaign for Better Transport, Head of External Affairs

Michael Solomon Williams is Head of External Affairs at Campaign for Better Transport, leading its campaigning, public affairs and communications since 2022. His work spans rail, bus, trams and local transport, working with parliamentarians, combined authorities and industry partners to advocate for integrated transport that supports economic opportunity, social inclusion and climate goals. He previously founded a multi-award-winning community rail partnership and brings a people-centred perspective to transport policy.

Elliott Swallow

Transport for Wales, Strategic Programme Lead

Elliott Swallow is Strategic Programme Lead at Transport for Wales, with almost a decade in the bus and rail industry. He leads the Bus Stop Infrastructure workstream, developing nationally consistent, accessible and inclusive bus stop standards ahead of bus franchising rolling out across Wales in 2028. Working collaboratively with 22 Local Authorities, four Corporate Joint Committees, Welsh Government and industry partners, Elliott’s work is underpinned by a survey of over 26,000 stops and aligned to TfW’s “One Network, One Timetable, One Ticket” approach.

Steve White

South Eastern Railway, Managing Director

Steve White is Managing Director of South Eastern Railway, leading the first integrated railway under public ownership. Steve White is Managing Director of South Eastern Railway, leading the first integrated railway under public ownership. A Chartered Engineer with over 30 years in transport, he has held senior roles at Transport for London, Siemens, Eurostar, and Govia Thameslink Railway. Since joining Southeastern in October 2021, Steve has driven an ambitious programme focused on safety, reliability, and customer experience.

Catherine Woodhead

Living Streets, Chief Executive

Catherine has worked in the charity sector since 2000, with strategic and operational roles spanning organisations from Save the Children to Muscular Dystrophy UK. She joined Living Streets in August 2024, bringing seven years’ experience at The Prince’s Foundation for Building Communities across projects from London to New Orleans. With a lifelong passion for walking, she is committed to putting pedestrians at the heart of healthier, cleaner and safer communities.