England's Economic Heartland's fifth annual conference took place at Silverstone on October 20, 2021.
Speakers and panellists covered a diverse range of topics on the day, from EEH's transport strategy to social inclusivity, and local authority initiatives to the wicked challenges facing the region.
We were delighted that Baroness Vere addressed the conference via video link, having been introduced by Cllr Steve Broadbent, Chair of the East West Main Line Partnership. Mayor of Bedford Borough Dave Hodgson presented EEH's transport strategy to delegates, while Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Dr Nik Johnson spoke on stage with Swindon leader Cllr David Renard on the importance of regional collaboration. Cllr Leffman, Vice-Chair of EEH, closed the conference with a keynote speech on 'what success looks like'.
Thank you to our speakers and delegates, and our gold event partners: Atkins, Kier and Jacobs.
Survey feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and all the comments provided will only strengthen next year's event. See you in 2022!
Session by session: Video and slides
Click on speaker's name to view their slides.
Welcome and Ministerial address with short Q&A
Cllr Steven Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport, Buckinghamshire Council and Baroness Vere, Roads Minister, Department for Transport
Implementing the Heartland’s transport strategy
Priorities for the Heartland’s major transport infrastructure
- Will Gallagher, Strategy Director, East West Railway Company
- Nick Harris, Chief Executive, National Highways
Cross examining the wicked challenges
- Rural connectivity: Dr Scott Copsey, Smart Mobility Research Unit Director, University of Hertfordshire
- Supporting freight while reducing its environmental impact: Dr Andrew Gough, Freight and Logistics Policy Group, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
- Tackling inequality in transport: Silviya Barrett, Head of Policy, Research and Projects, Campaign for Better Transport
Stakeholder panel:
- James Golding-Graham, Innovation Lead Officer, EEH
- Roz Bird, Chair, Silverstone Technology Cluster Board (representing technology companies in and around Silverstone)
- Phil Southall, Managing Director, Oxford Bus Company (representing the Heartland’s Bus Operators' Association)
- Lucy Ellis, Section Engineer, East West Rail Phase 2 (offering a young professional’s perspective)
Delivering with and for social inclusivity
- Streets as Green Infrastructure, Ludo Pittie, Director of Landscaping, Lorna Gribbin, WSP
- Social Value, James Birch, Managing Director, Local Highways, Kier Highways
- Transport Appraisal through a gender lens, Katie Pearce and Sherin Francis, Jacobs
Transport enabling place making
- East West Rail transforming connectivity in Bletchley/Milton Keynes, Neil Sainsbury Head of Place, Milton Keynes Council
- The Hertfordshire - Essex Rapid Transit (HERT), Mark Kemp, Director of Environment and Infrastructure, Hertfordshire County Council
- The redevelopment and expansion of Oxford station, Cllr Duncan Enright, Cabinet Member for Travel & Development Strategy, Oxfordshire County Council
Getting things done – importance of regional collaboration
- Mayor Dr Nik Johnson, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
- Cllr David Renard, Leader, Swindon Council