Meet the Driving for Better Business team

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Anne-Marie Penny – Senior Road Safety Policy Adviser, National Highways

Anne-Marie has worked in road safety for 16 years.  She was involved in a life-threatening motorbike crash in 1995 and her passion to reduce road crash casualties and the physical and mental trauma that results, stems from this experience. After 14 years in the private sector Anne-Marie joined Kent County Council’s road safety team where she was the Road Safety Development Manager, and led on motorcycle safety, moving on to manage the Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership.

She has received Prince Michael of Kent International Road Safety Awards for the Save 478 Lives casualty reduction programme and the Driving Business – Safely partnership initiative, and has been a volunteer for Inspiring the Future, a trustee of the Eastern Alliance of Safe and Sustainable Transport (www.easst.co.uk) She hosted the FIA Foundation International Road Safety Scholarship & currently sits on the Association for Road Risk Management Council. Now with National Highways, Anne-Marie leads on Driving for Better Business, the key strategic programme in the National Incident and Casualty Reduction Plan.

Adrian Walsh – Executive Director, RoadSafe

Adrian Walsh is the Executive Director of RoadSafe – a high level forum which brings together private sector with government and road safety professionals to promote the safe system, sharing knowledge, encouraging innovation and recognising achievement and provides strategic support and consultancy services for Driving for Better Business.

RoadSafe works in the UK and internationally where it delivers the renown Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards scheme and is a member of the UN Road Safety Collaboration where Adrian is co-chair of the Road Safety Management Project Group and chaired the Driving for Work Working Group. He also chaired the UK Road Safety Observatory Programme Board and developed the original Driving for Better Business campaign – as a business to business network.

Simon Turner – Campaign Manager, Driving for Better Business

Simon is a strategic marketing and communications specialist, working with Driving for Better Business to make a real impact in the reduction of work-related road risk. His objectives as Campaign Manager are focused on the safety and wellbeing of those who drive for work, the performance of those who manage them, and the impact their activities have on the environment.

Simon is also Chairman of the Trustees, Association for Road Risk Management and a member of the Rail Industry Road Risk Group, National Highways Work-Related Road Risk Delivery Group, PACTS Road User Behaviour Working Party as well as sitting on the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards Judging Panel.

Laura Foxon – Campaign Coordinator, Driving for Better Business

Laura joined the team from the Private sector with a background in Project Management, Relationship Management and Business Development. Before Driving for Better Business, Laura oversaw Partner Relations for the UK entity of an International parent education company, during which she managed a Highways England campaign to educate new and expecting parents about the importance of regular vehicle safety checks. She was proud to achieve both the Highways England ‘Championing Safety’ and Prince Michael Awards in 2019.

Laura supports the team in the delivery of the Driving for Better Business programme and is also responsible for growing awareness of the programme in the Public Sector.

Jim Magner FCILT – Programme Development Manager

Jim has held a number of senior roles within the Freight Transport Association (now known as Logistics UK) for over 30 years, prior to joining the Driving for Better Business Programme. His roles have included private and public sector, including General Manager of Membership Relations and Sector Head for Retail & Manufacturing at the FTA, being both a member of the Business Board and Senior Commercial teams. Previously he was at Nottinghamshire County Council as a Technical officer in the Highways & Transportation team. He joins Driving for Better Business to develop links with the business sector.

Jim is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and a member of the Association of Road Risk Management.

Sharon Mitchell – Programme Development Manager

Sharon joins the team after more than 30 years working in the Logistics industry. Initially, Sharon worked in operational roles managing large vehicle and driver fleets, moving on to championing compliance and safety through auditing and advisory roles. She has managed a consultancy and auditing department for a large trade association, raising awareness and supporting operators to remain safe and compliant, while ensuring road safety and the safety and welfare of drivers.

Sharon has supported the Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention Team in National Highways to create the successful Van Driver Toolkit, and will be working on increasing awareness of the Driving for Better Business Programme and engagement across the business sector.

Nigel Holmes – Programme Development Manager

Nigel has held several roles within the Freight Transport Association (now known as Logistics UK) including Head of Membership Relations and Key Account Manager managing a number of top 100 Members.

He joins Driving for Better Business to help broaden contact with the business sector. Nigel is a keen advocate of road safety and Information technology.

The programme is delivered in partnership with RoadSafe, a charitable partnership which brings together private sector with government and road safety professionals. Our mission is to reduce road deaths and injuries by supporting and encouraging partnerships between private sector businesses, traffic engineers, the police, public health authorities and road safety professionals to promote the safe design and use of vehicles and roads by sharing knowledge and encouraging innovation.