Our flagship annual conference, networking event and DfT Special Recognition Awards ceremony, brought together the whole highways community to celebrate the amazing work that is taking place in our sector.
The event provided 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.
Download presentations from each session below.
DAY 1
Registration, Exhibition and Networking
Introduction and Welcome
Kerry Winstanley, Managing Director at LCRIG
Welcome Back to Blackpool for Strictly Highways
Councillor Paula Burdess, Cabinet Member for Highways and Traffic Management at Blackpool Council
An Update on Traffic and Technology
Darren Capes, Head of Roads Infrastructure Technology at the Department for Transport
An Update on the PAS 2161 Demonstration Trial
Laura Murphy, Head of Road Network Condition Statistics at the Department for Transport and Mark Stevens, Principal Consultant (Assets) at TRL
Road Lengths are Changing: Impact of New Methodology for DfT Statistics
Dr Elizabeth Wloch, Road Length Statistics Lead at the Department for Transport
Conference Partner: The 100-year age gap – How the Next Generation are Maintaining the Previous Generations Infrastructure
Dr Ghaith Al-Werikat, Head of Sector Development at National Highways
Mike Barnett, Interim Assistant Director – Highways and Transport Operations at Leicestershire County Council
David Griffiths, Technical Manager at A E Yates Ltd
Sven Till, CEO at A E Yates Ltd
Refreshments, Networking & Exhibition
Plymouth Case Study: Re-imagining and Re-engineering Armada Way: City Centre SUDS on an Epic Scale
Martin Ivatt, City Centre Programme Director at Plymouth City Council
Trenchless Technology: A Safer, Greener Way Forward
Paul Hancock, Head of Business Development at Crown Plus
Somerset Case Study: Winter Service Optimisation. Delivering Net Zero Through Collaborative Innovation
Dorothee Fitzsimmons, Senior Performance, Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Manager at Kier and Jeremy Fry, Service Manager at Somerset County Council
Climate Change Adaptation for Asset and Network Managers of Local Roads
Andy Warrington, Senior Technical Director at Arcadis
Panel Session – Zero Tolerance – Keeping Our People Safe
Stephen Barnfield, Partner – Regulatory / Professional Disciplinary, Insurance at Forbes Solicitors LLP
John Jennings-Wharton, Chief Inspector at Lancashire Constabulary
William Manby, Head of Highway Maintenance at East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Paula Parsons, Director at J McCann & Co
Shaun Webber, Head of Health, Safety & Wellbeing at Balfour Beatty Living Places
Kerry Winstanley, Managing Director at LCRIG
Lunch, Networking & Exhibition
When You Think All Is Well, When It Isnt!
Andrew Sawyer, Key Route Network Manager at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Fox Worx – Creating Opportunity through Skills, Rehabilitation and Employment
Caroline Hurt, Managing Director of Fox Group and Zowi Whittaker, Sustainability and Environmental Director of Fox Group
Panel Session – Career Pathways to success. A sector led conversation
Kev Downer, Highways Asset & Business Manager at Gloucestershire County Council
Paul Haggerty, Learning and Development Manager at Marlborough Highways
Jade Jones, Head of Commercial at Central Bedfordshire Council
Keely Metcalfe, Relationship Manager at LCRIG
Leonie Stephen, Talent Specialist – Early Careers at National Highways
Sarah Turner, Head of Business Development at Salford City College
Why Bigger Isn’t Always Better – The Values of Micro SMEs
Paul Hutton, Owner of Highways News
Do You Trust Your Strategic Partners? The Skills Behind Successful Alliances
Pieter Johnson, XTPMedia
Refreshments, Networking & Exhibition
London Borough of Barnett Case Study: Towards Net Zero Highways Maintenance
Daniela Pometti, Head of Highways Asset Management at London Borough of Barnet
Panel Session: Making the Right Selection: Preventative & Structural Maintenance – The Right Treatment, at the Right Time, for the Right Road
Paul Acock, Technical Applications Manager at Colas
Paul Boss, Asset and Growth Manager at Stabilised Pavements Ltd
Roger Eke, Development Manager – Circularity & Value Engineering at Holcim
Toby Fitzsimmons, Commercial Manager at Miles Macadam Limited
Mike Hansford, Chief Executive at RSTA (The Road Surface Treatments Association)
Joel O’Connor, Technical Sales Manager at Heidelberg Materials UK
Megan Thompson, Technical Product Support Manager at Tarmac
Live Labs 2 – Taking Efficiency and Decarbonisation Learnings into BAU
Giles Perkins, Programme Director of ADEPT Live Labs 2
Closing Remarks
Kerry Winstanley, Managing Director of LCRIG
DAY 2
Registration, Exhibition and Networking
Welcome and Introduction
Kerry Winstanley, Managing Director at LCRIG
An Update on Local Highways Maintenance
Dominik Lengauer, Head of Local Highways at the Department for Transport
2026 Update to the Well Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice
Alex Leslie, Asset Management Senior Consultant at AtkinsRéalis
LCRIG Knowledge & Innovation Network: Unlocking Intelligence and Driving Innovation
Kim Harper, Head of Highways Policy, Innovation & Knowledge at LCRIG
Artificial Intelligence in Transport
Dr Hannah Parker, Public Sector AI Engagement Lead at the Department for Transport
A Digital Twin Programme for UK Transport
Chris Brown, Integrated Transport Digital Twins Engagement Lead at the Department for Transport
Replacing Surveys With Connected Vehicle Data to Improve Efficiency of Highways Maintenance Programmes
Tom Howarth, Head of WJ Sunstone at WJ Group
Refreshments, Networking & Exhibition
Building Better Deterioration Curves: What Five Years of High-Resolution Road Scanning Has Taught Us
Dr Sebastiano Fichera, CEO and Technical Director at Robotiz3d, Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool
Beyond the Hype: Practical Uses of AI and Data in Local Highways Authorities
Angus Spence, Principal Data and Digital Developer at SYSTRA Ltd
Panel Session: Efficiencies through Digital Systems for Highways Asset Management
Mark Aaronson, Head of Highways at Luton Borough Council
Christopher Anousis, Network Strategy Manager at Buckinghamshire Council
Kris Westerby, Head of Highways at Northumberland County Council
Beyond the Chargepoint: What Does the Future of EV Infrastructure Look Like?
Shamala Gadgil, EV Infrastructure Programme Manager at Coventry City Council and Mark MacDonald, Highway Service Manager at Milton Keynes City Council
Application of Dual Distribution Networks (DDN), a case study on Durham Innovation District Project
Anthony Smith, Director of Stainton Lighting Design Services Limited
Case Studies: Berkshire Authorities: Driving Highway Efficiencies through Innovative Procurement & Collaborative Improvement Plans
Chris Founds, Managing Director of Founds Group
Ryan Smith, Highways Delivery Lead at Founds Group
Jon Winstanley, Service Director Environment at West Berkshire Council
Lunch, Networking & Exhibition
Leicestershire County Council Case Study: North and East Melton Distributor Road: Excellence in Collaboration
Mike Barnett, Interim Assistant Director – Highways and Transport Operations at Leicestershire County Council and Jamie Missenden, Contracts Director at Galliford Try
Life After PFI: Turning Contract End into Innovation Beginning
Fiona Horgan, Acting Director of Public Realm, Transport and Climate at London Borough of Islington
From Challenge to Solution: DBIST’s Commercial Innovation Hub & LCRIG Announce a New Highways Innovation Programme
Graeme Jarvie, Commercial Innovation Engagement and Capability Lead at the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) and Amy Richards, Assistant Innovation Lead at DBIST
Closing Remarks – Takeaways from Strictly Highways 2026
Kerry Winstanley, Managing Director of LCRIG