Four of Pell Frischmann’s technical experts have been selected by the United Kingdom’s First Delegate to PIARC, Stephen Fidler (DfT), to represent the UK for the next 4 years on the PIARC Technical Committees.
PIARC is an international forum that explores best practices and research on roads and their networks alongside experts from 148 member countries.
Representing Pell Frischmann and the UK are:
- Mansi Desai for Decarbonisation of Road Construction and Road Maintenance.
- Fiona Wilson for Environmental Sustainability in Road Infrastructure and Transport.
- Andrew Brown for Road Design Standards & BIM.
- Julia Smithard for Bridges.
Representing the United Kingdom on an international committee is a fantastic opportunity for them and Pell Frischmann.
They will not just be contributing their knowledge and experience and the expertise held within Pell Frischmann, but they will also have the platform to co-ordinate UK-wide thinking from peers and, importantly, the UK Road Leadership Group (UKRLG) which is essentially the roads policy and standards in the UK.
The agenda for each committee and task force is set out in the PIARC Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan articulates the key areas of research, policy, and standards development prioritised by the 149 member governments.
Our technical experts will be responsible for the UK’s contribution to the committees and facilitating the dissemination of knowledge back into the UK. This will include briefing UKRLG on international thinking and good practice, highlighting areas where we as a country could change to improve road design standards and operational practices, and taking opportunities to spread knowledge more widely through their respective professional bodies.
Our Head of Technical Excellence, Joe Burns, who is a life member of the PIARC Council, will use his 35 years of international experience to support the Pell Frischmann team to navigate the politics, diplomacy, processes, and procedures of the many different nationalities and cultures that they will encounter.
Ian Bisset said:
“The next 4 years will be a key time as the function of roads changes along with the nature of vehicles using roads and the resilience that existing and new networks require in the face of climate change and focus on sustainability. We are, therefore, proud to support Andrew, Mansi, Julia, and Fiona to represent the UK at this important time. I am also personally pleased to see that the quality and expertise of our technical leaders have been recognised by the UK government.”