Speakers

• 

  Paul Boss

  Chief Executive Officer, RSTA

  Paul Boss, Road Surface Treatments Association, Chief Executive Officer

  Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Highway Engineers, Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, Member of the Institute of Asset Management and Member of the Institute of Asphalt Technology. Member of the UKRLG / ADEPT Asset Management Board.

  Paul is Chief Executive at the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) and prior to this had over 30 years’ experience within local authority highways, both directly with local authorities and with Tier 1 provider Amey. From 2005 to 2020, he was Highway Asset Manager looking after strategic, tactical and operational highway asset management in Staffordshire. He joined Amey in 2014 as part of the Staffordshire County Council / Amey Infrastructure+ Strategic Highway Partnership where he also managed teams responsible for the design of structural, preventative and structures schemes within the Partnership.

• 

  Keith Brett

  Contracts Director, Kiely Bros Limited

  Keith Brett MinstLM , Contracts Director of Kiely Bros Limited, one of the UK’s leading Independent Surface Treatments provider for a one-stop shop solution for Preparatory works, Surface Dressing, Encapsulation , Microsurfacing, Slurry Surfacing, Retread and Road Marking capabilities, all in-house with the most modern fleet in the UK, became Chair of the Road Surface Treatments Association ( RSTA ) in April 2022.

  Keith has been involved with the Road Surface Dressing Association (RSDA) in its initial form and the RSTA since 2008 and is Sector Chair of the Slurry Microsurfacing Committee and an Executive Committee stalwart, who has been involved in many other committees including the Safety, Health & Environmental (SHE), Surface Dressing, High Friction Surfacing (HFS) and in producing Codes of Practice (CoP) documents such as the Guidance Document for Temporary Traffic Management at Surface Dressing sites over the past 20 + years.

  He has been involved in the highway maintenance industry for over 30 years having worked for a variety of Surface Treatment companies over the years settling with the family run business of Mike Kiely’s in 2007 to present day for both father and son, also named Mike.

  He is widely known in the industry to Local Authorities , Clients, Suppliers and Technical Committees, having begun in this Industry in a Technical Capacity in the early days and progressed thereafter from the ground up.

  Keith is passionate about the Surface Treatments business and has spoken on the subject both internally for staff , externally for Clients and for the RSTA at various forums and presentations, recognising that a wider understanding of these important cost effective and sustainable preventative maintenance treatments is paramount for the UK Network.

• 

  Aidan Conway

  Managing Director, Thermal Road Repairs Limited

  Aidan graduated from Coventry University in 1994 with a BSc Hons degree in European Business and Technology.

  He was one of the three founders of Thermal Road Repairs Limited and is now Managing Director. This cutting-edge UK-based company leads the way in providing environmentally-friendly technology and contracting services for infrastructure development. TRR’s pioneering patented technology harnesses controlled heat to repair asphalt surfaces with unparalleled precision, all while eliminating waste generation.

  Their unrivalled services cater to a diverse clientele in the Highways, Utilities, Ports, and Airport sectors. Embracing a global outlook, TRR’s impact extends beyond the UK’s borders, as they proudly export their innovations to Ireland, Malta, France, and Australia, revolutionizing road repairs in these markets.

• 

  Anthony Davies

  Category Management Group Lead for Specialist Surface Treatments (SST), National Highways

  Working as the Category Management Group Lead for Specialist Surface Treatments (SST) within National Highways, I develop and implement National Highways Strategic Procurement Strategy for SST products to ensure our corporate objectives are met.

  I have experience within both regulated and un-regulated procurement environments in Highways, Construction and Service Provision categories, working across a breadth of public sector clients including Central Government, Local Authorities, Housing Associations, Higher Education, and Health and Social Care.

  Procurement Manager for Highways England’s £5bn Collaborative Delivery Framework in 2014

• 

  Graham Horgan

  Managing Director, HUESKER Limited

  Graham Horgan has managed the UK Subsidiary, HUESKER Limited, since 2012. With a degree in Civil and Structural Engineering and Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering, he initially joined HUESKER Synthetic GmbH in 1999 in a technical sales role supporting the UK market, later transferring to the UK subsidiary when it became established in 2004 where he has work in a number of roles progressing from Applications Engineer, Technical Manager and latterly Managing Director of HUESKER Limited. Graham is currently sector chair of the RSTA sector for geosynthetics and Steel meshes for asphalt reinforcement to retard reflective cracking.

• 

  Christina Liassides

  Head of Professional Services, Gaist

  Christina joined Gaist in 2017, bringing extensive knowledge and expertise to the industry leader in roadscape intelligence provision. Formerly Head of Highway Asset and Network Management for Brighton and Hove City Council, she has more than 20 years of local authority management experience across a range of services at senior level. Christina heads up Gaist’s Professional Services, combining highway and data expertise to support local authority and private sector clients in delivering and improving their services. Christina is well placed within Gaist to help bring the best of data into the real world in support of vital highways maintenance, renewal and safety provision.

• 

  Craig Marshall

  Head of Commercial, ASI Solutions and RHiNOPHALT

  Craig Is Head of Commercial for ASI Solutions and RHiNOPHALT® Asphalt Preservation System. He joined the ASI in April 2016 bringing 30 years experience in the Asphalt and Road Construction Industry. His roles at Tarmac and Aggregate Industries have included both Technical and Commercial management, creating bespoke solutions to maximise customer and client value.

• 

  Justin Osborne

  Business Development Manager, Stabilised Pavements Ltd

  Former Contracts Manager for a Commercial Paving & Hard Landscaping Contractor. Justin went on to work as a Construction & Project Manager on a number of varied construction projects for a framework provider at Stansted Airport before joining the SPL team in 2014.

  As Business Development Manager, within our collaborative relationships with clients and contractors throughout the UK, Justin is keen to communicate the sustainable benefits of In Situ Recycling and the connection between environmental and commercial efficiencies.

• 

  Scott Pettit

  Business Manager Recycling & Specialist Surface Treatments, Colas

  With an impressive 35-year career in construction and contracting, including a dedicated 17 years focusing on surface treatments, Scott Pettit has risen as an achiever in his field. Presently holding the position of National Business Manager for Colas Ltd’s specialist process division, Scott’s journey is characterized by remarkable accomplishments and an unwavering dedication to innovation.

  Serving as the Vice Chair of the RSTA Microsurfacing Committee speaks volumes about Scott’s industry influence. This role underscores his commitment to pushing boundaries and fostering advancements that elevate industry standards. As a seasoned leader, Scott adeptly synthesizes his extensive experience to propel Colas’s success, not only driving the company’s growth but also pioneering sustainable practices within the surface treatments realm.

  Scott Pettit’s legacy is an embodiment of ingenuity and environmental consciousness. His visionary strategies not only enhance operational excellence but also prioritize sustainability, leaving an enduring impact on both the industry and the environment.

• 

  Sam Shean

  Highways & Traffic Services Manager, Reading Borough Council

  I started my career back in 1985 at Cape Town City Council within the Roads Department, where I was involved in survey, design and then onto the works depot delivering road & drainage schemes. I emigrated to England at the beginning of 1999 and have been with Reading Borough Council since March of that year and I am now into my 38th year in this industry! I was appointed initially as Highways Engineer and progressed to Senior Engineer, then Assistant Highways Manager, then Streetcare Services Manager and I am currently the Highways & Traffic Services Manager.

  My team includes Highway Asset Management & Maintenance, Highways & Drainage Works/ Operations, Network Management, StreetWorks and Traffic Signal / CCTV / ITS. I love the variety of my work, which has prepared me for the role that I am now in and it certainly keeps me busy. I am a huge supporter of LCRIG, who have facilitated an explosion of exciting Innovation into Reading, as well as providing a platform for collaboration projects.

  I am extremely proud of my teams ‘Best Council service Team’ award at the recent MJ Awards and becoming an APSE Service Award finalist for ‘Best Service Team Highways, Winter Maintenance & Street Lighting Service’. I am a ‘glass half full’ person and I see opportunity in all the challenges thrown our way.

• 

  Steve Spender

  CEO, IHE

  Steve Spender is a Chartered Engineer who worked in Local Government for nearly 30 years, predominantly in highway maintenance, winter maintenance, scheme design, project management, contract management and tender preparation and procurement. In his last role at Hampshire County Council as Head of Highways (Contract Preparation & Retender) he was responsible for leading on the development and procurement of the County Council’s new highways term maintenance contract that commenced on 1st August 2017.

  During his employment with Hampshire County Council, he served on several National bodies, including the UK Roads Board (UKRB), contributing to a number of national initiatives and documents.

  After leaving HCC in July 2017 he set up an independent management consultancy service working with organisations to provide management support and advice.

  Steve is a Past President of the ‘Institute of Highway Engineers’ serving as President between 2010-2012 and was made an Honorary Fellow of the Institute in 2015.

  Steve took up the role of Chief Executive of the IHE in February 2020.

• 

  Trevor Thompson

  Business Manager, Roadtechs

  Trevor came into the highways sector 9 years ago when he joined Roadtechs, one of the UK’s established providers of specialist surface treatment solutions.

  Trevor’s primary focus is surface treatments, in particular preservation and rejuvenation as he strongly believes prevention is better than cure and if we can prevent potholes forming in the first place whilst also saving carbon, we should try to do so. He is responsible for the surface treatments part of the Roadtechs’ portfolio, working with local authorities and contractors to identify where rejuvenation and preservation would be suitable and bring benefit, and then overseeing the application of the Roadtechs solution – Reclamite.

• 

  Dr David Woodward

  Chief Scientific Officer, R3 Ltd & Ulster University

  Dr David Woodward has 41 years’ experience with aggregate and asphalt materials.

  He is Reader in Infrastructure Engineering at Ulster University and Chief Scientific Officer for R3 Ltd who specialise in Roads, Runways and Racing Circuits around the world.

  He teaches highway engineering and geology and has been involved in the supervision of over 30 PhD’s in aggregates, mixes, waste streams, in-service performance, and new product development.

  He has over 250 publications and has travelled extensively around the world.
  He is a member of BSI Committee B/510/5 – Road Surface Characteristics, B/505/4 – Manhole Tops and a member of the committee that prepared BS 8870 – High Friction Surfacing.

  Research interests include what happens at the tyre / road interface, evolution of surface characteristics, new ways of measuring things and how our roads are now responding to change.