Page 19 - Linkline Spring 2017

Head of the International Transport Forum Addresses Special CILT Event
In February, José Viegas, Secretary-General of the ITF, spoke to industry leaders about the future for global transport governance and the need to reduce carbon emissions.
From left to right: Paddy Doherty President of CILT, Aoife O'Grady Principal O cer with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, José Viegas Secretary-General of the International Transport Forum, Deirdre O'Keefe Assistant Secretary at the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport, Ray O'Leary Assistant Secretary at the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport and Pat Treacy, CEO of CILT.
It was with great pleasure that the Institute welcomed José Viegas, Secretary-General of the International Transport Forum, to Dublin earlier this year. Mr Viegas was in Ireland to give a
speech at the Transport and Climate Summit in Dublin Castle and, despite a busy schedule, we were fortunate to have him address a small gathering in The Alexander Hotel.
The event, organised by CILT Skillnet and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, was heavily attended by Irish industry leaders who were keen to hear one of the world’s foremost transport experts.
Mr Viegas began by briefly explaining the role of the International Transport Forum and the research, statistics and policy work that it is undertaking. An intergovernmental organisation with 57 member countries, the ITF acts as a think tank for transport policy. It is the only global body that covers all transport modes and while it is administratively integrated with the OECD it remains politically autonomous. He told the gathering that the ITF acts as a platform for discussion and pre-negotiation of policy issues and highlighted its work in analysing trends, sharing knowledge and promoting exchange among transport decision-makers and civil society.
The ITF motto is ‘global dialogue for better transport’ and so each year it organises a summit of the world’s transport ministers. This year’s talks, to be held at the end of May, will explore the trends shaping transport governance, focusing on infrastructure, global connectivity, the right regulation for innovation, and urban access and mobility.
Looking to the future of transport and mobility across Europe, the secretary general discussed the technological advancements being made not least in the area of automated vehicles. He told the audience that driverless trucks are inevitable and that it isn’t a case of if at this stage but when and how. “They will change the landscape of transport and logistics”, Mr Viegas said.
The ITF chief also briefly touched on Brexit and, while acknowledging it will have a major effect on the European transport and logistics industry, he predicted that it will be “a big earthquake but a positive one”.
A Portuguese national, José Viegas had a distinguished career in academia and the private sector before becoming head of the ITF in 2012. He was Professor of Transport at the Technical University of Lisbon, served as Director of MIT-Portugal’s Transport Systems focus area and as chairman of TIS.pt Consultants, advised governments and international institutions on key transport projects and policies.
Since taking the helm at the international transport body, Mr Viegas has implemented new initiatives to increase value for member countries. However, it is the organisation’s
José Viegas speaking to gathering
The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport 19
JOSÉ VIEGAS