Arup’s global transport leader, Isabel Dedring, is one of four senior figures to become part of a new advisory panel, Active Travel England.

She will be working alongside England’s chief medical officer, Sir Chris Whitty, West Midlands’ mayor, Andy Street and chair of the Office of Rail and Road, Declan Collier, to support Active Travel England’s aim to make walking, wheeling and cycling the first choice for everyday trips.

National Active Travel commissioner, Chris Boardman, said: “Active travel is a key part of achieving so many of the government’s top priorities, so we want to link up with those agendas from the very start. 

“Providing low-cost, healthy travel options to get to schools, shops and workplaces will revitalise high streets across the country and help us decarbonise at the same time. 

“Active Travel England was created to deliver healthy, sustainable transport growth, and I’m delighted we now have such incredible experts to help us get the job done.”

The advisory panel will meet quarterly with a mix of online and in-person meetings. 

The appointments have been made on a voluntary basis and the first meeting with take place in late October.

Dedring said: “Delivering a step change in active travel requires focus and determination, but it also requires attention to detail, meaningful engagement with communities and their real needs and integration with the wider transport network. 

“The UK is seen as a leader in many aspects of progressive transport policy and has a fantastic chance through Active Travel England to retain its position as a leader in this rapidly developing area.”

As global transport leader for Arup, Dedring works with cities and governments around the world in developing transport infrastructure projects and policies.

Before Arup, she was deputy mayor for transport and deputy chair of Transport for London, where she was responsible for designing and delivering a range of progressive transport policies and projects. 

This included driving the transition to zero-emission black cabs, the decarbonisation of the city’s bus fleet, London’s £1bn cycling investment programme and TfL’s wider £4bn roads investment strategy and delivery programme.

Before her time at City Hall, she was chief of staff and policy director at TfL. 

With a background in management consulting, she is a qualified US lawyer and a fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers.