Birmingham’s Transport Development Plans 2014

FOUR West Midlands top Transport Executives presenting their development plans for the next couple of years, all on the stage together!

Event Sponsored by:         Programme Sponsored by:

Event Format

• 1530 – 1645; Networking with Wine, Beer and Soft Drinks
• 1645 – 1815; Speaker Presentations
• 1815 – 1900; Networking with Hot Food, Wine, Beer and Soft Drinks

 Speakers

Maria-Pilar Machancoses; Economic Development Manager, Centro

With a first degree in Law and a MSc in International Transport, Maria has spent the last 12 years working in the UK for the public transport industry. She currently heads a team of planners and regeneration practitioners dealing with land use planning, economic development and social inclusion issues.

Maria has been actively involved with the three LEPs operating in the West Midlands metropolitan area, leading on strategic case-making and advocacy activities including infrastructure prioritisation so to achieve best economic impacts, infrastructure delivery plans for a range of local authorities, and master-plan work for mixed public private consortia.

Maria is Chair of the West Midlands HS2 Local Connectivity Group comprising representatives from local authorities and key partners from across the region and aimed at underpinning HS2’s potential to be a truly transformational project stimulating growth and future economic activity across the whole region. The work of the Local Connectivity Group has led to the “WM HS2 Local Connectivity Package” a £2billion transport package to reap maximum economic benefits from HS2 currently being championed by Leaders and LEPs across the WM.

She is currently leading on the WM ITA’s input into the HS2 Hybrid Bill and it is actively involved in master-planning activities around the two proposed HS2 Stations in the West Midlands (Curzon St. and Birmingham Interchange).

Maria is also a member of EMTA (European Metropolitan Transport Association) and is currently working closely with Government bodies and the European Commission on key aspects of the European Transport White Paper such the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPS) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

Michelle Thurgood; Transport Specialist, Birmingham Airport

Michelle Thurgood is Birmingham Airport’s Transport Specialist. Michelle graduated from Loughborough University in Air Transport Management before going into consultancy, where she was responsible for setting up the West Midlands Business and Consultants Travel Group and played a key role in the Republic of Ireland’s Smarter Travel Workplaces programme, working with companies such as Apple, PWC and Siemens. In 2011, Michelle joined Birmingham Airport, where she is now responsible for onsite accessibility and ensuring that Birmingham Airport remains the best connected Airport in the UK.

David Golding; Principal Strategic Planner, Network Rail

David Golding is the principal strategic planner for Network Rail’s London North Western Route. His key area of responsibility is to plan the long term future of the rail network. David has worked in the rail industry since 1985 in a range of operational, commercial and rail freight roles, including a period responsible for the operation of the rail network in the West Midlands. Since 2000 he has focussed on planning and project sponsorship, including recently leading for Network Rail for North West Electrification. This has included involvement in the Northern Hub, a programme of enhancements with the objective of boosting the economy of the North. David lives in Birmingham.

Jamie Kerr; Head of Regeneration Company Development, HS2

Jamie recently joined HS2 to head up formation of a regeneration company to maximise growth and development around HS2 stations. Jamie is a Chartered Surveyor and before HS2, Jamie was running his won consultancy business matching pension fund money with public sector infrastructure and property projects. Until early 2013, Jamie was director of Strategic Partnerships at John Laing, where he headed up their activities in Health, Housing, Education and Regeneration. As well as PFI projects, Jamie was responsible for setting up a number of property partnerships with the public sector, the most notable being the Croydon Council Urban Regeneration Vehicle (CCURV). Until John Laing sold Chiltern Railways, Jamie was involved in a number of rail infrastructure and property projects.

Prior to John Laing, Jamie was responsible for a number of major regeneration projects, principally in the retail and leisure sectors, working for Sun Alliance, THI and Thornfield.