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Portugal takes transport gong

The global policy arm of public transport, of which Australia is a member, has a new secretary-general

August 17, 2012

Internationally renowned academic José Viegas of Portugal is the new secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development-sanctioned global transport policy body the International Transport Forum.

The OECD’s International Transport Forum is an intergovernmental organisation with 54 member countries, of which Australia is a member represented by Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese.

Based in Paris, the ITF acts as a strategic think tank for global transport policy and organises an annual summit of transport ministers.

Viegas was elected by Ministers from forum member countries at their summit in May, and joins the International Transport Forum from an internationally recognised career as an academic and consultant.

As a professor of civil engineering at the University of Lisbon and chairman of TIS.pt, a transport consultancy firm, Viegas has worked in all transport modes and managed collaborative networks across countries and economic sectors to advance better solutions in transport.

Viegas started in the position on August 13, saying he is ‘delighted’ to come to this job at this moment.

“There are new and significant challenges for all transport modes across the world,” he says.

“The knowledge production at the forum and the policy discussions among ministers are very much relevant to address these challenges.

“The International Transport Forum faces great opportunities for a strategic reorientation, based on its existing strengths and its expanding membership, to further strengthen its role as the foremost platform for a global dialogue on transport policy.

“I will work hard to provide engaging and successful leadership in these processes.”

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