New Board members for Transport Focus

14 August 2018

The Department for Transport has today announced the appointment of three new Transport Focus board members, Kate Denham, Keith Richards and Rob Wilson.

All three members will start a four-year term from 14 August 2018.

Jeff Halliwell, Chair of Transport Focus, said:

“I am delighted that Kate Denham, Keith Richards and Rob Wilson are joining our Board. Each of them brings a range of skills and experiences that complement those we already have among our excellent board team. I am looking forward to working with them to ensure Transport Focus continues to deliver on its important mission to represent the interests of transport users now and in the future.”

All members of the Transport Focus board are appointed in accordance with the code of practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Further information about the Secretary of State for Transport’s appointment is available on the Cabinet Office’s website.

Notes to editors

For further information please contact:

Kieran Watkins, Senior communications officer

Tel: 0300 123 0836 or e-mail: kieran.watkins@transportfocus.org.uk

Transport Focus is the independent consumer organisation representing the interests of:

• rail passengers in Great Britain
• bus, coach and tram users across England outside London
• all users of England’s motorways and major ‘A’ roads (the Strategic Road Network).

We work to make a difference for all transport users.

Transport Focus has a Board of non-executive members appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport (Chair and five members – including these three latest appointments), the Welsh Government (one member), Scottish Ministers (one member) and the London Assembly (one member). Their biographies can be found on the Transport Focus website.

Kate Denham is the former Head of Strategy and Performance, Royal National Institute of the Blind (2015-2017) and Senior Strategy Adviser, Monitor (now NHS Improvement), (2013-2015). She is currently Managing Director, The Public Good Company, advising particularly on strategy, building long-term business models, income generation, commercialisation, growth and service modernisation through technology throughout the public and third sectors. Kate is an experienced board member. She is Vice-Chair of Accelerate, an award winning social enterprise (2016-Present), and was previously a Board Member for St Martin of Tours, providing long term placements for individuals with complex mental health needs (2016-2018) and Healthwatch Croydon, a consumer champion for health and social care (2013-2015).

Keith Richards is the former Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority’s Consumer Panel (2012-2017). He is currently Chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, advising the Secretary of State and DfT on access, equality and vulnerability issues across all modes of transport and the related built environment. He is a Panel Member at the Competition and Markets Authority, and a member of the Financial Services Consumer Panel at the FCA. Keith is a barrister, arbitrator and commercial mediator and has particular expertise in alternative dispute resolution and Ombudsman schemes.

Rob Wilson is a former Member of Parliament and Minister at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (2016-2017) and was Parliamentary Private Secretary to George Osborne, Chancellor (2013-2014). He is currently an Independent Director of the Consumer Council for Water (July 2018+) and a Non-executive director of the Marine Management Organisation (May 2018+). He is also a Daily Telegraph columnist.