The biggest job in UK urban transport: TfL Commissioner to speak about leading through a global crisis and towards a green and just recovery
Transport for London Commissioner Andy Byford will be in conversation with Jo Field, Chief Executive of JFG Communications and President of Women in Transport for the seventh in the Urban Transport Next series of events, hosted by Urban Transport Group.
Having stepped into his new role as Commissioner during a global pandemic, this event will explore how Andy steered his team of 27 thousand direct employees, and another 60 thousand contracted employees through the largest peacetime crisis the organisation has seen.
Taking place on Thursday 8th July, 1pm-2pm, this free event will also explore how London’s public transport can bounce back from this uniquely challenging time and what will be needed to support a green and just recovery for the capital.
Andy will also be speaking about his vision to create a more diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the people it serves, something that Interviewer, Jo Field – a former TfL employee and passionate advocate for diversity in the transport sector - will be keen to explore.
Andy Byford, London’s Transport Commissioner, said:
“The last year has been a huge challenge for everyone around the country, and has been very hard for everyone working in a transport industry that has had to constantly adapt to keep people safe and keep the country moving."
“Although it is clear that the pandemic is not yet at an end, we can now look to the future and contemplate how transport can and must play a central role in the country’s recovery from the pandemic."
“The choices made over transport investment will define the extent to which we achieve a green recovery that is safe and equitable and that helps create new jobs and opportunities for all. Despite the huge challenges facing us, we have the opportunity to build towns and cities – and the connections between them – even better than before.”
Jo Field, Chief Executive of JFG Communications and President of Women in Transport, said:
“I’m very much looking forward to my conversation with Andy Byford. Having worked for Transport for London for many years myself, I fully appreciate the amazing job the organisation does to move millions of people around London every day."
“As the President of Women in Transport, I’m hugely passionate about creating a more diverse and inclusive transport industry workforce and I’m really keen to hear Andy’s plans surrounding this and how it fits with TfL’s green recovery.”
Jonathan Bray, Director of the Urban Transport Group, added:
“With a career in transport spanning three decades and three continents, Andy took on the biggest job in UK urban transport during an unprecedented global crisis. This conversation will uncover what that meant in practice and just how he was able to guide Transport for London through this immensely challenging time. The event offers a chance to look back over the past year, but also forwards towards a green, just recovery for the capital.”
Registration details for Urban Transport Next 07: London Calling can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/urban-transport-next-07-london-calling-tickets-157658822783
For further information contact: Jonathan Bray at jonathan.bray@urbantransportgroup.org / 0781 804 1485
Notes to editors
About Urban Transport Next
Urban Transport Next is a series of one-hour, online events hosted by the Urban Transport Group.
Typically held at lunchtime, each event is a conversation about the future of urban transport, covering topics ranging from active travel and climate change to diversity and COVID-19.
About Urban Transport Group
The Urban Transport Group (UTG) is the UK’s network of city region transport authorities.
UTG represents the seven strategic transport authorities which between them serve more than twenty million people in Greater Manchester (Transport for Greater Manchester), Liverpool City Region (Merseytravel), London (Transport for London), Sheffield City Region (South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive), Tyne and Wear (Nexus), West Midlands (Transport for West Midlands) and West Yorkshire (West Yorkshire Combined Authority). The Urban Transport Group is also a wider professional network with associate members in Strathclyde, West of England, Tees Valley, Nottingham, Northern Ireland and Wales.
About Transport for London
Transport for London (TfL) is London’s integrated transport authority and is responsible for most aspects of the transport system in London, including buses, the Underground and London Overground rail networks, the Docklands Light Railway, river services, the Congestion Charge, Low Emission Zone and Ultra Low Emission Zone, the main road network, taxis and private hire, the Oyster and contactless smartcard ticketing system and the Santander Cycle Hire scheme. It also works with all 33 London Boroughs to actively promote walking and cycling across the city.