Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for transport, the built environment, cities, and local growth, has announced the appointment of 24 professionals to a new Advisory Board for the Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) programme.
TRIG is the Department for Transport’s (DfT) flagship cross-modal, innovation grant funding competition. Its primary aim is to propel scientific and technological progress within the UK transport sector by providing funding for proof-of-concept projects. The programme, delivered by Connected Places Catapult on behalf of the DfT, has been operational since 2014, having so far supported 434 projects with over £15.6 million in grant funding.
The newly established TRIG Advisory Board will play a crucial role in shaping the future direction of the TRIG programme. Its members will offer strategic guidance, sector-specific insights, and extensive industry expertise. Appointed on a voluntary basis, the Board comprises a diverse group of individuals from industry, academia, and local government, with representation also including vital transport user groups and previous participants of the TRIG programme.
Members of the TRIG Advisory Board will serve as independent industry experts, providing strategic guidance to TRIG-funded projects. Their responsibilities will include reviewing programme challenges, assessing project progress, and offering high-level direction to support effective delivery and maximise impact.
Furthermore, the Board will advise on next steps and potential commercial opportunities for TRIG-funded innovations, participate in showcasing events to amplify the programme’s reach, raise awareness of TRIG among senior decision-makers, and actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the transport sector. It is important to note that members will not be involved in the selection process for grant awards.
Steve Pyer, Highways and Integrated Transport Director at Connected Places Catapult, welcomed the appointments, stating:
“We are pleased to welcome 24 individuals to the new TRIG Advisory Board, which will help to shape the future direction of the programme. This high-calibre group offers a range of perspectives from across the UK’s transport ecosystem and we look forward to benefitting from their expertise. The TRIG programme continues to go from strength to strength in demonstrating the positive impact that innovation can have in improving our transport systems.”
Members of the Transport Research and Innovation Grants Advisory Board are:
- Waleed Ahmed, Transreport
- Aaron Barrett, RSSB
- Jonathan Bean, Materials Nexus
- Zainab Dangana, Wates Group
- Mike Dawson, Belfast Harbour
- Abigail Dombey, Net Zero Associates
- Ben Earl, Hitachi
- Harry Fisher, Motability Foundation
- Pablo Garcia Lopez, McLaren Applied
- Donya Hajializadeh, University of Surrey
- Michael Kitching, Transport for London
- James Lee, Publica Associates
- Matt Lees, Clyde Hydrogen Systems
- Llewelyn Morgan, Systra
- Kirstyn Munro, Ecomotus
- Andrew Murphy, BP
- Yogesh Patel, Vinci Construction
- Bharat Pathania, Midlands Connect
- Sharon Payne, Transport East
- Louise Reardon, University of Birmingham
- James Scott, Cycling UK
- Gyula Torzok, Thames Estuary Growth Board
- Kate Young, Jacobs
- Jinning Zhang, University of Leicester
