Our stellar line-up of keynote speakers for TRANSPORT Smart Class, Scotland 2023 includes Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop MSP/BPA, Scottish Road Works Commissioner Kevin Hamilton, and on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Council, Councillor Scott Arthur (Convener of the Transport & Environment Committee and Chair of TfE) and Daisy Narayanan MBE (CEC’s Head of Placemaking and Mobility).
We’re excited to reveal further details on their presentations:
“Digital Innovations Continue to Help Deliver Scotland’s Vision for Transport” – Opening keynote speech from the Scottish Government’s new Minister for Transport/Ministear airson Comhdhail, Fiona Hyslop MSP/BPA:
“Scotland has a dynamic and innovative technology sector and digital mobility innovations continue to play a vital role in delivering a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system.
By supporting enhanced travel data and journey planning, including digital Mobility as a Service apps, and through improvements in smart ticketing payments and technology, fare freezes on our ferry networks and the fantastic uptake of our Young Persons Free Bus Travel scheme, we are working to make sustainable travel choices the preferred option for all.
I want Scotland to continue to be at the forefront in the development of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles, and our support for Project CAVForth demonstrates our belief that a modern transport system is fundamental to sustainable and inclusive economic growth”.
We’re pleased to confirm that Laura McCaig (MaaS Delivery Manager at Transport Scotland) will also be in attendance as the official support for the Minister at the event.
“Circulation Plan – The Opportunities and Challenges of Designing a Truly Integrated Transport System” – Our streets work best when they move people around efficiently and make it easier to get things done. At the same time, streets should provide a more pleasant environment for everyone.
Cities, including Edinburgh, acknowledge that streets are not just travel corridors but important ‘ecosystems’, places and destinations in their own right. They play an important role in adding to the city’s green and blue networks, helping to combat climate change and poor air quality, enhancing biodiversity, and improving wellbeing.
To achieve Edinburgh’s agreed local transport strategy – City Mobility Plan 2030 – the city is in the process of agreeing a new approach to the way streets are planned and designed to reduce modal conflict and create more space for people, businesses and nature to thrive.
Taking learnings from the continent, this co-presented keynote from Councillor Scott Arthur (Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee at The City of Edinburgh Council and Chair of Transport for Edinburgh) and Daisy Narayanan MBE (Head of Placemaking and Mobility at The City of Edinburgh Council) will set out Edinburgh’s emerging vision and key principles for a ‘Future Streets’ network, referred to as Edinburgh’s ‘Circulation Plan’.
“Improving Road Works and the Transition to Net Zero” – Kevin Hamilton was appointed as Scottish Road Works Commissioner in November 2020 for a five year term. He is passionate about improving the management of roads assets, harnessing new technology and minimising the impact of road works activity on people and the environment.
In this keynote, Kevin will cover the role and powers of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner. From that, he will discuss the central Scottish Road Works Register and its importance in assisting roads authorities and utilities to meet their duties in planning and co-ordination of works. The information contained in the register also gives insight into the scale and nature of roads authority and utility works and Kevin will address some of the impacts such works have on road users and the road asset.
Kevin will discuss the national coring programme which monitors reinstatement quality and recent research into the life of reinstatements. He will then look forward to further measures that are needed to continue to improve reinstatement quality with initiatives to achieve lower impact, durable reinstatements as we transition to a net zero world.
TRANSPORT Smart Class, Scotland 2023 takes place at Riddle’s Court, Edinburgh Old Town, on Thursday 7th September (8.30am-2.00pm) and will give key stakeholders a fresh take on deploying the latest digital technology-enabled solutions, data-driven strategies and best practices to tackle transport and mobility challenges faced by the city-regions of Glasgow & Clyde Valley, Edinburgh & South East Scotland, Stirling, Tay, Aberdeen, Inverness & Highlands, and beyond, and deliver a transport system that will allow passengers and citizens to travel efficiently, safely and with minimal impact on the environment.
In addition to our inspirational keynotes, the event will also feature:
- Rapid fire innovator presentations (followed by Q&As) delivered by leading technology experts and thought leaders on behalf of Brightly (a Siemens Infrastructure company), Project Centre (part of Marston Holdings), Siemens Mobility and Padam Mobility, addressing priority transport and mobility innovation themes and associated areas of application. Click on the event website link above to see all the presentation descriptions and speaker profiles!
- Deeper-dive roundtable consultations with speakers and specialists to help hone delegates’ smart strategies and address some of their specific transport and mobility challenges.
- Further networking opportunities with peers and pioneers over breakfast, drinks and cooked lunch, and all at no charge!
Qualifying delegates include commissioning, procurement, trialling, partnering and policy leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers, programme managers and planners from local authorities (e.g. city, borough, metropolitan, district and county councils); public transport operators; regional transport partnerships, sub-regional transport bodies, combined authorities, integrated transport authorities and passenger transport executives; highways authorities and road operators; government and supporting national transport agencies; fleet operators, parking operators, prime contractors etc.
Registration closes on Tuesday September 5th and the majority of seats have already been allocated, so REGISTER NOW if you haven’t secured your free place, or share this final opportunity to participate with an appropriate colleague or team member if you think they might like to join us for what promises to be an insightful half-day of collaboration and knowledge exchange!
Last year’s Scotland edition was hosted at Citation, Glasgow
Interested in sponsoring a Smart Class?
Up to 5 innovators/solution vendors can participate at a Smart Class in an “Innovation Sponsor” capacity: Check out our Event Sponsorship page for full details on “Smart Class Innovation Sponsorship Packages” or contact us by phone or e-mail if you’d like to discuss this option further.
Peruse our Testimonials page, the Smart Class event pages on our website and “Retrospective Round-ups” published on the Smart Classes Knowledge Base for feedback from previous delegates, sponsors and supporters! Browse individual Smart Classes from our Events Schedule & Archive.
Feature Image Source: Yves Alarie on Unsplash
