Heather Allen joins TRL

Date: 23/8/2011

TRL is delighted to announce that Heather Allen has recently joined their Transportation Division as Programme Director Sustainable Transport. Heather is a recognized international expert in urban transport and sustainable development and brings to TRL nearly 15 years of invaluable experience in this field.

She joins from UITP, the Brussels based international Association of Public Transport where she set up UITP's Charter on Sustainable Development programme which became a gold standard for voluntary commitments. More recently Heather set up the introduction of an internet based reporting tool for the sector.

Her work with international agencies such as the United Nations Environment Programme, UNHABITAT and the UNFCCC climate change programme will also help reinforce TRL's international outreach. Heather is a member of the Transportation Research Board Committee on Transportation in Developing Countries.

At TRL, she will be leading the team on climate change with the multi-stakeholder initiative entitled Bridging the Gap*, as well as developing projects on sustainable urban transport particularly in the developing world.

"TRL is a leading force in many areas of transport, so I am really delighted to be joining them," Heather says. "Transport and particularly urban transport is a hot topic all over the world and there is a huge potential to take TRL's solid scientific research and experience, especially in training, to a wider public. I have already been part of their international climate change work on land transport and it is a great opportunity for me to be able to share my experience in sustainable development and urban transport with them. TRL has an excellent reputation and I am excited to be taking up this new challenge."

Notes to Editors

* Bridging the Gap brings together a group of international experts from transport institutes and research organizations including GIZ, Veolia Transdev, ITDP, UITP and TRL who are looking to encourage recognition of the role that transport can and should play in mitigating GHG emissions. The initiative is strengthened further by contributing to the Sustainable Low Carbon Transport Partnership, of which all Bridging the Gap members are a part.

** A photo of Heather Allen is available on request.

Issued by TRL's Communication Team
For further information, please contact Mary Treen or Sarah Bailey
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 770514/0141
Email: mediaenquiries@trl.co.uk