West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has elected a new chair of its transport group.
Sara Gilmore, a Legal Director at Addleshaw Goddard, has ten years’ experience in specialising in transport matters, and succeeds Nigel Foster of Fore Consulting.
Transport continues to be cited by businesses in the region as a major concern, and the group is expected to be kept busy during 2017. Sara will be assisted by the group’s new vice-chair, Adrian Kemp of WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff. Both were elected at a recent Chamber meeting.
Sara said of her appointment:
“The Chamber transport forum is fundamental in collating the requirements of the business community and assimilating these with public sector aims and constraints. I want to use my role to help push the Chamber’s transport agenda. I can draw on a wealth of wider experience from others within my firm, although I already have a broad base of influence, acting for stakeholders like Network Rail, the Department for Transport and Keolis UK, but also in the wider business community.”
It is expected that, in the coming year, the group will focus on issues including lobbying for investment in infrastructure (e.g. HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail, trans-Pennine electrification and road upgrades) but also monitoring projects that have begun.
Sara qualified at Addleshaw Goddard in 2006. She specialises in transport sector deals but has considerable experience of PPP and PFI projects. Sara acts as project manager on major transactions, co-ordinating numerous work streams and chairing key multi-disciplinary meetings.
Adrian Kemp is a director at WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff, responsible for strategic growth. He has 25 years’ experience in the public and private sector; his current role enables him to interpret current market conditions for the benefit of the Chamber’s members.
The pair have both paid tribute to Sarah’s predecessor, Nigel Foster, on his “exemplary leadership” of the group.
