Robust program planned for U.K. transport conference

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, England — New details have been released about the school transportation conference, Interchangeability 2014, that will be held here June 15-18.

Attendees will be able to choose from more than 35 seminars and workshops and a selection of technical tours where they will have the opportunity to explore new ideas and practices in a number of transferable disciplines.

Sessions and workshops will cover such topics as how to work with the media and handle crisis communications, planning for the future and developing service that meets future needs, how to deliver more with less, and how to include young people with special needs in transportation planning.

The lineup of industry experts who will speak at the conference continues to grow; several more speakers have been added to the program.

Eleonora Pazos, head of the Latin American division of the International Association of Public Transport, will examine the role of public transportation in the education of children in Latin America during her session “Designing for the Future.”

Aris Venetikidis is a communications expert and graphic designer who will be leading a workshop on effective communication and visualization in service design.

Rebecca Fuller will head a workshop on engaging with young people. Fuller is the author of "Moving On," which explores how transportation authorities can work toward a better public transportation offering for young people. Fuller is also policy and research manager for pteg (Passenger Transport Executive Group).

Another workshop will cover tools and techniques to measure success, and it will be run by Margarita Isoraite, an associated professor at Vilnius College in Lithuania. Her research field is efficiency and effectiveness, human resource management, strategy, marketing and marketing management.   

Sarah Vize will address parental and state responsibility for school transportation in her workshop “Renegotiating Responsibility.” Vize is currently leading a review of school transportation in Hertfordshire, England.

In a workshop called "Education First," Adam Hughes will provide insight into the development and implementation of special education and related services in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Hughes is special advisor to the Abu Dhabi Education Council.

Ruth Steiner, a professor at the University of Florida, will discuss policy-driven choices, and Andrew Fish will be running a workshop on the role that technology can play in enabling strategic buisness change. Fish is an industry specialist for Trapeze Group U.K. 

(As previously reported, broadcast journalist Charlotte Hume; Nellie Kirschner-Timmer, founder of TO BE WORLDWIDE; and Judy Shanley, the director of student engagement and mobility management at Easter Seals Transportation Group; are also scheduled to speak at the conference.)

Organizers said that U.S. and Canadian pupil transportation delegates are encouraged to attend the conference.

For more information on Interchangeability 2014, go to www.interchange-ability.com, and check out the conference program here.