Mott MacDonald has appointed Professor Glenn Lyons as chair of its future mobility initiative and will also sponsor his position at the University of the West of England Bristol (UWE Bristol). By combining roles at Mott MacDonald and UWE Bristol, Glenn will help develop the consultancy’s transport expertise in relation to understanding and responding to a changing and uncertain mobility landscape, which is shaped by technological possibilities and societal needs and preferences.
Since 2002, Glenn has been professor of transport and society at UWE Bristol and was the founding director of the university’s Centre for Transport and Society. His research has focused on understanding and influencing travel behaviour in the context of continuing social and technological change. Glenn has led major studies into traveller information systems, teleworking, virtual mobility, travel time use, user innovation and road pricing, as well as public and business attitudes to transport, while he has also been involved in many strategic futures initiatives.
With a history of bridging between academia, policy and practice, Glenn has previously been seconded to the Department for Transport, chair of the Transport Planning Society, chair of Bristol City Council’s best value review of integrated transport and a trustee of the London Transport Museum. His international experience includes a secondment to the New Zealand Ministry of Transport, where he was responsible for a major piece of national work examining future travel demand uncertainty and the implications for policy and investment.
Commenting on his appointment, Glenn said: “I cannot recall in my career such a period of significant change facing the transport sector and the profession itself. I am honoured to be joining forces with a company of the calibre and ethos of Mott MacDonald to help respond effectively to that change.”
Mott MacDonald’s managing director for transportation Jol Bates added: “Glenn’s appointment brings additional significant skills, knowledge and experience that will help support our clients and develop our staff as we deliver tomorrow’s transport infrastructure, today. The transport sector is transforming and the interaction between emerging technology, policy and governance and public acceptance will present growing challenges for our clients.”
Meanwhile, UWE Bristol’s vice chancellor Professor Steve West said: “UWE Bristol has an extremely proud tradition of being practice-oriented in its teaching, learning and research. This exciting new initiative with Mott MacDonald underlines a shared commitment to responding to some of the major future challenges and opportunities facing society.”
Glenn is currently a trustee of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, as well as chair of its Membership and Skills Strategy Board. He is also a member of the Department for Transport’s Joint Analysis Development Panel, the RAC Foundation’s Research Advisory Group and a trustee of the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund.
Watch Glenn's views on where society is heading in this rapidly changing world of transport on YouTube.