UITP Europe Forum: Policy, Innovation, and the Priorities for Public Transport

Gautier holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the École Spéciale des Travaux Publics (ESTP) and a Master of Science (MSc) in Project Management from the University of Birmingham. 

In addition to his professional achievements, Gautier serves as a lecturer in public transport at École des Ponts ParisTech and Paris Sorbonne University. He is also a board member of CESI, a prominent network of engineering schools with over 8,400 graduates in 2024. 

Mohamed Mezghani is the Secretary General of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) since 2018. He has been working for more than 30 years in public transport and urban mobility related fields in different roles: knowledge manager and director, adviser and consultant as well as researcher. He has led many initiatives including advocacy activities, studies, technical assistance, training programmes and professional events in more than 70 countries on all continents, engaging with international organisations, government officials, mobility professionals and academia.

He has been graduated in Industrial Engineering (1987) from Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Tunis, Tunisia and has a Master in Transport (1988) from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris, France.

Gabrielle Costigan is CEO of Global Rail Group, leading technical growth and workforce development for the rail infrastructure sector.

With 25+ years of experience across rail, energy, infrastructure, consulting, and innovation, she specialises in operational excellence, transformation, and technical leadership.

Holding a Civil Engineering degree and an MBA from London Business School, she is Vice-Chair of the UITP Europe Division and a board member of several international organisations.

Axel Volkery is the Head of Unit B3 ” Innovation and Urban Mobility” in the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission. The Unit is responsible for planning and programming of relevant policies and initiatives for transport research and innovation as well as sustainable urban mobility.

Prior to joining the European Commission, Axel worked in different positions in the public and private sector in Belgium, Denmark and Germany.

Isabelle Vandoorne has been a civil servant at the European Commission since 2001. She is Deputy Head of the Unit in charge of innovation and urban mobility policy at DG MOVE.

She has a mixed background in transport and digitalisation.

Civil Engineer (MSc & PhD) with over 20-year experience in large European Research, Innovation and Deployment projects.

He works at CINEA as project adviser on CEF Transport with a project portfolio covering several topics, including Intelligent Transport Systems and Services, Cooperative Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM); Data Spaces for Multimodal Mobility Services; New Technologies and Innovation (incl. digital mobility services and platforms); Rail Transport infrastructures; Military Mobility; Safe & Secure Parking Areas; Freight, Logistics & Multimodal Hubs; Ports infrastructures and Onshore Power Supply (OPS).

Rolf Riemenschneider drives the research and innovation agenda under the programme Horizon Europe where he coordinates the R&I programme related to the strategy on Cloud-Edge Computing, Applied AI and Internet of Things.

As senior expert, he leads the research, innovation and deployment of the next generation of the AI, IoT and edge platforms with strong computing capacity at the edge exploring features like Software-defined systems, programmable platforms and open source, interoperability and standards, and distributed intelligence and in particular the integration of energy-efficient artificial intelligence at the edge. He also contributes to the unit’s implementation strategy of data spaces for farming, mobility and energy. Jointly with DG ENER and DG MOVE, he co-chairs the Digital for Energy expert group, including the subgroup on e-mobility.

Current work is centered around fostering emerging paradigms of an open source industrial SW stack as part of the Commission’s forthcoming sovereign package in areas like SW-defined Vehicles, SW-driven charging or SW-defined defence and drones.

Marzena Jougounoux since January 2026 is a Policy Officer at the European Commission DG RTD (Clean Transport Transitions unit) focusing on the areas of CCAM, road safety and urban mobility research and innovation.

Before, she has led the Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) Association, gathering together more than 230 stakeholders: industry, research community and public authorities to create safer, smarter, and more sustainable European mobility.

Marzena, a European Studies graduate from Maastricht University, refined her expertise during four years at the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Region I office in Brussels, where she organised international events and nurtured a network of 100+ organisations dealing with everyday mobility.

In Warsaw, Marzena championed road safety initiatives at the Polish Automobile and Motorcycling Federation (PZM), introducing programs like the FIA Best Young Driver contest and FIA Smart Driving Challenge.

Innovation and change driven by technology has always been at the core of Endre’s work. He started as co-founder of a startup, and later worked for both large and small organisations with technology, development and innovation. He came to Ruter 8 years ago, where he now works with radical innovations, trying to bring new opportunities and services to the market. By nature he is a technology optimist, and thinks it is more important to create the future we want, than to wait for it to arrive.

As head of autonomous mobility at Keolis, Clémentine Barbier specializes in enhancing urban mobility services through automated vehicle integration and remote management. With over six years of expertise in public transit operations and optimization (‘regular’ buses and coaches), she focuses on safety, service enhancement, and sustainability, in order to provide efficient and innovative transportation solutions that align with evolving industry demands and traveler expectations.”

At the Île-de-France Representation to the EU, she promotes integrated strategies aimed at advancing regional transport and urban mobility. She also encourages cooperation between public authorities, industry, competitiveness clusters, and research centres.

As leader of the ‘Urban Nodes’ sub-group within the European Commission’s Expert Group on Urban Mobility (EGUM), she plays a key role in the development of sustainable urban transport.

She is also co-leader of the report on the Tourism and Mobility Nexus within EGUM. She sits on the management committees of POLIS, ERTRAC, and the European CCAM Partnership. And she is the co-leader of the transport and innovation ERRIN working group. As rapporteur for the EU’s ‘Cities’ mission, she supports innovation and carbon-neutral urban transformation.

Representing Île-de-France Mobilités, the regional public transport authority for the Paris region, and EMTA (European Metropolitan Transport Authorities) at the European level, she works on issues related to innovation in public transport as well as the development and deployment of automated mobility solutions.

Managing a 30 people Team developing Knowledge services and products about Public Transport and Urban Mobility. Long experience in Research and Innovation Projects Management, in particular in the Transport domain.

Director of several successful Knowledge projects funded by different Institutions (European Union, Eurocontrol, European Space Agency) and private partners (Boeing, Teledesic, UAE, ENAV…).
Business development, identification and creation of business opportunities, and preparation of project proposals for funding (with a success rate higher than 95%).

Sound understanding of large industries, SMEs, service providers, institutions, public entities strategies and priorities. Capability to lead processes involving different stakeholders’ categories and mediate their different strategies.

Large experience in System Engineering techniques and Complex Systems development.
High knowledge of Public Transport technologies, services and strategies, in particular related to buses, and including electromobility.

Independent expert consultant for GNSS with more than 10 years expertise in Galileo and EGNOS technologies and applications, including extension of services in South Mediterranean and other world regions

As Commissioner of TfL, Andy is responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe and reliable transport services to keep London moving, growing and to make life in the Capital better for residents, visitors and businesses. He is responsible for delivering the priorities and objectives set out in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and TfL Business Plan.

Andy joined TfL in November 2019, as MD London Underground having started his career with British Airways as a sponsored undergraduate in 1989, gaining an honours degree in mechanical engineering from Manchester Uni. His career saw him take on roles across engineering, operations and customer service, culminating as Director of Operations and member of the Executive Leadership Team for just over seven years.

Prior to joining TfL, Andy was Executive Vice President at Menzies Aviation leading the business and operations for the UK, EMEAI.

Andy is a Non-Executive Director of the National Armaments Director Group of the UK Ministry of Defence where he chairs the safety and security committee.

Grégory Malet is the CSR Director at RATP Dev, steering the global operator’s sustainability strategy across transit networks in hundreds of cities across 15 countries.

Drawing on 25 years of operational and engineering leadership, including running major rail systems in Doha and Algiers, his mission centers on translating complex policies into concrete, daily action alongside key stakeholders.

He is currently leading RATP Dev’s alignment with the CSRD, orchestrating the collection of primary operational data from over 50 locations worldwide. By anchoring regulatory compliance in robust data governance, Grégory ensures that RATP Dev’s environmental and fleet transitions are backed by verifiable, ground-level insights.

Sónia Páscoa, born in 1977, holds a Law degree from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon (2001) and has been a member of the Portuguese Bar Association since 2004.

In 2021, she completed the 20th Postgraduate Programme in Public Regulation and Competition at the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra (CEDIPRE).

Since 2024, she has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of AMOLIS – Lisbon Metropolitan Association of Transport Operators. In parallel, she is a Member of the Board of Directors of Metropolitano de Lisboa, E.P.E., METROCOM – Gestão de Espaços Comerciais, S.A., and FERCONSULT – Consultoria e Projetos de Engenharia de Transportes, S.A. She is also a senior staff member at Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa, E.M.T., S.A., where she has held positions in strategic management and advisory roles.

Prior to these roles, she led the Mobility and Transport Observatory Project at the Mobility and Transport Authority (2021–2023). Between 2015 and 2020, she served in several ministerial cabinets, including as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State for Planning and Chief of Staff to the Secretary of State for Mobility.

Her career also includes extensive legal practice as a legal adviser and lawyer, with positions at the Secretariat-General of the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications, and Garcia de Orta Hospital.

She currently serves as Co-Vice-Chair of the European Union Committee and represents Metropolitano de Lisboa in Metro Division of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP).

In his capacity as Deputy Director Europe, Artur supports the management and strategy of the UITP Europe Department, a unit in charge of EU regulatory and advocacy affairs. In this role, Artur also acts as the thematic lead on EU funds and financing matters. Previously, he managed all of UITP’s operations and activities in the Central Eastern Europe region. Before joining UITP in 2013, Artur gained public affairs and corporate experience from London-based research consultancy ComRes, and from trade association AmCham Belgium. Earlier, Artur worked as PhD researcher at the Ghent University.

Jens Plambeck has served as Head of Strategic Development at the Public Transport Administration within Region Stockholm since 2011, providing strategic planning and development for public transportation in its early stages.

His responsibilities include strategic transport planning, trend analysis, research and innovation, strategic policy and governance documents, studies in preparation for the procurement of transport service contracts, infrastructure development, real estate development, and sustainability development.

Prior to this role, Jens served in the Swedish Armed Forces as a naval officer, including as commanding officer of a submarine, and was responsible for the Armed Forces’ long-term strategic and capability planning.

Emanuele Proia is General Manager of ASSTRA and Head of Economic, financial and statistical Department.

He got a degree in Economics, University of Rome “La Sapienza” with a specialisation in public finance.

After an experience as economist for ICE (America institute of foreign affairs) he got Master in business and administration with a specific specialisation in public transport system and management of PT companies.

He is a member of Economic Commission of UITP, he has carried out several studies about public transport and he coordinated different working group of the association related with fares, fraud, cost structure, financing, social responsibility.

Karine is supporting the structural activities of UITP, working closely with managers of over 20 committees and a wide variety of urban mobility stakeholders. She is managing the Service Excellence Unit and the work of the UITP COVID-19 task force. She has been the project manager of the Urban Mobility Innovation index, supporting cities to assess their level of maturity to foster innovation (UMii). As a former Secretary General of the European Electric Vehicles Association, Karine has good knowledge on e-mobility and a strong experience in collaborating with cities on the thematic of innovation.

Jaspal Singh has 16+ years of experience in mobility, innovation, and technology space. He is currently serving as the Senior Director of Membership and Global Operations (MGO) at UITP (International Association of Public Transport). His earlier roles include serving as the Manager of the IT and Innovation Committee and as the Head of the UITP India Office.

He is also the host of Mobility Innovators Podcast. He has a 360-degree view of the sector as he has worked with the public agencies, operator, startups, and consulting firms.

He is also Principal at Valoriser Consultants, Inc. specializing in new mobility, cleantech, startups, electric mobility, and ITS. Previously, he was working with a public transit authority, reforming the urban transport system in India. In past, he also worked with Uber India’s early team to navigate the regulatory challenges and build partnerships.

He has received several awards for his contribution in the field of public transport and social work, as well as has been widely quoted in publications. He completed his Master of Management and Innovation (MMIE) at Queen’s University, Canada and received his master’s in business administration specialized in International Business.

He is actively working with startups in mobility and logistics space as an advisor, mentor, and investor. Jaspal is an avid traveller and travelled to around 55 countries around the world and counting.

Jonas Wigger leads Public Affairs at HOLON, the BENTELER Group company building purpose-built SAE Level 4 autonomous movers for public transport.

He is responsible for HOLON’s public affairs strategy at national and European level, advises the executive board on regulatory and political developments, and represents the company in industry associations such as Bitkom and UITP.

His focus is on scaling the regulatory frameworks that let Level 4 vehicles enter regular public transit — and on building the political and societal trust autonomous mobility depends on. Before joining HOLON, he shaped autonomous-driving public affairs at MOIA (Volkswagen Group) and advised on mobility and energy policy in two German consulting firms.