Our flagship annual conference, networking event and DfT Special Recognition Awards ceremony, brings together the whole highways community and celebrates the amazing work that is taking place in our sector.
The event provides an opportunity to learn about new innovations and technology, share experiences, receive updates from the DfT and network across two days in the glittering setting of the Ballroom at the Winter Gardens.
It is important to us to ensure our events are accessible to the whole highways community. We do this by offering fully funded places for public sector delegates. Fully funded places include accommodation, transport to and from the hotel to the venue, catering and refreshments. This is funded by revenue generated through sponsorship and exhibitor sales.
And it works. Strictly Highways 2025 saw more than 550 delegates attend over the three days, with representation from more than 80 different highway authorities from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as the Department for Transport (DfT), academia, industry associations, the supply chain and media.
Join us next year and be part of Strictly Highways 2026! Bookings are now open.
Download presentations of each session below.
DAY 1
Registration, Exhibition & Networking
Introduction & Welcome
Paula Burdess, Cabinet Member for Highways & Traffic Management at Blackpool Council
Welcome & Introduction to the Conference
5 Years of Collaboration, Progress & Impact
Kerry Winstanley, Managing Director at LCRIG
TTF & Infrastructure Technology
Darren Capes, Head of Roads Infrastructure Technology at Department for Transport
PAS 2161: Technology Approvals & Beyond
Laura Murphy, Head of Road Condition Statistics at Department for Transport
Adam Gothorp, Higher Statistical Officer at Department for Transport
A E Yates – Innovation & Skills
Sven Till, Managing Director at A E Yates
David Griffiths, Technical Manager at A E Yates
Lorna Stratton, Apprentice Civil Engineer at A E Yates
Coffee Break, Exhibition & Networking
How TSOG Improved Travel, Energy & Future Readiness in Rotherham
James Drinkall, Project Engineer at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Mick Powell, Traffic Signals Manager at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Greenprint – A Carbon Negative Systems Model for Green Infrastructure Management
Matt Davey, Assistant Director of Highways, Transport & Planning at West Sussex City Council
Unlocking the Power of Asset Data for Smarter Flood Management
Andrew Brett, Flood Risk Team Leader at Staffordshire County Council
Graeme Forward, Managing Director at KaarbonTech
The Road Ahead: Shaping Digital Transformation
Theresa Mackin, Strategic Business Manager at Ayrshire Council/Ayrshire Roads Alliance
Neil McArdle, Highways Asset Management Lead Officer at Blackpool Council
Co-Piloting Progress: Rethinking Skid Resistance Prioritisation Together
Kully Boden, Service Manager for Highway Maintenance at Derby City Council
Lunch, Exhibition & Networking
LCRIG Impact on Skills
Keely Metcalfe, Relationship Manager at LCRIG
Highways & Transport Technology in a Box (HAAT)
Leanna Dinnegan, Senior Engineer at London Borough of Islington
Wiltshire Council’s Wellbeing & Inclusion Programme – Creating a Culture of Care
Grish Lohani, Highways Engineer at Wiltshire Council
Building Roads, Building Futures – Are Apprenticeships the Answer?
Andy Bithell, Head of Highways Management at Liverpool City Council
Coffee Break, Exhibition & Networking
DynaCoV – A Collaborative Innovation Advancing Transport Decarbonisation
Shamala Gadgil, Senior Programme/Project Manager – Transportation and Innovation at Coventry City Council
Destination Innovation. My Journey with Lane Rental
Laura Villanueva, Strategic Planning & Delivery Manager at Transport for London
Delivering Innovation Through Collaboration
Sam Shean, Highways & Traffic Services Manager at Reading Borough Council
Bidhen Brahmbhatt, Business Development Manager at Solaris Lighting
Evening Networking and DfT Special Recognition Awards
DAY 2
Registration, Exhibition & Networking
Innovation in Focus: What the Data Tells Us
Kerry Winstanley, Managing Director at LCRIG
Panel Session: Incremental to Disruptive & Beyond… Innovations that Matter
Chair: Kerry Winstanley, Managing Director at LCRIG
Sam Li, Senior Innovation Officer at Transport for Greater Manchester
Grish Lohani, Highways Engineer at Wiltshire Council
Sean Rooney, Head of Service – Highway Maintenance at Oxfordshire County Council
Matt Townsend, Director of Transport at Lancashire County Council
Innovation & Collaboration to Enable Future Smart Cities
Sunil Budhdeo, Transport Innovation Manager at Coventry City Council
Connected Vehicle Opportunities – A Policy Insight
Danial Naqvi, Head of Connected Vehicles Opportunities Policy at Department for Transport
Coffee Break, Exhibition & Networking
Panel Session: Sustainability by Design – Material Choices for Climate-Ready Councils
Chair: Jon Munslow, Climate Adaptation Sub Board at UKRLG
Megan Thompson, Technical Product Support Manager at Tarmac
David Giles, UK General Manager at Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA)
Brendon Colarossi, Principal Engineer at Hartlepool Borough Council
Mark Macdonald, Highway Service Manager, Milton Keynes City Council
Demystifying AI with LCRIG – Past, Present, & Future
Karla Shorrock, Researcher at LCRIG
Surrey’s Journey to Automate Pothole Detection Using AI
Amanda Richards, Assistant Director of Highways, Network & Asset Management at Surrey County Council
Legal Implications of AI for the Sector
Chris Booth, Partner & Head of Public Sector Division at Forbes Solicitors LLP
Lunch, Exhibition & Networking
Panel Session: The Procurement Balancing Act
Chair: Jo Britton, PACE Development
David Civil, Senior Procurement Manager at National Highways
Tina Holland, Programme Manager, Procurement and Commissioning at Local Government Association (LGA)
Susanne Ingham, Relationship Director at LCRIG
DfT Transparency Reports – Reporting Realities
Susanne Ingham, Relationship Director, LCRIG
Bookings are now open for 2026. Click here to book your place.
FIND OUT MORE & BOOK NOW
