Deputy transport mayor to reveal top lessons in climate resilience at ICE conference

Seb Dance, London's deputy mayor for transport and the deputy chair of Transport for London, has joined the lineup of experts who will be speaking at a new ICE conference this September.

Taking place in Manchester, ICE Resilient Transport 2026 will bring together infrastructure professionals, asset owners, policymakers and academics to discuss the big challenges facing the sector worldwide.

Dance's keynote address will explore how London's transport network is approaching warmer weather, what this means for the design and improvement of infrastructure, and the impact for people living and working in the city.

Other speakers include:

• Nicola Bell MBE, chief capital delivery officer, National Highways;
• Lisa Constable, head of climate change and resilience and adaptation, Network Rail; and
• Dr Jacob Kam, chairman, MTR Corporation Limited. 

The conference programme is now available, along with information on how to register.

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A spotlight on resilience

With recent ICE reports highlighting the need for transport networks to safely meet growing demands, the conference programme puts the spotlight on resilience. There are over 50 presentations to choose from.

John Donaghy, human centred design lead at consultancy SLC, will argue that transport resilience depends on inclusive and accessible design. He’ll present a new framework that can help create transport systems that better meet the needs of all users, delivering greater social value and long-term resilience.

Université Libre de Bruxelles’ Professor Philippe Bouillard will explore how improving walking and cycling infrastructure can encourage people to choose active travel over cars.

Yu Han, a research associate at the University of Cambridge, will share how graph neural networks (GNN) can better predict commuting patterns, offering a useful way to test future decarbonisation and resilience scenarios.

Global engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald will share how it uses systems mapping to identify climate risks that affect various infrastructure assets in what can be highly complex networks.

AtkinsRéalis, the construction and engineering company, will explore how to embed climate resilience into rural transport infrastructure. And, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) will share insights on adapting the country’s national road network to withstand the impacts of climate change.

Why attend Resilient Transport 2026?

With presentations led by experts from around the world – including the UK, India, Australia, Hong Kong and more – the conference gives attendees the chance to:

• Keep up with advances in the field: discover the latest engineering methods, materials and digital tools being used to improve network resilience.
• Influence the future: shape tomorrow’s transport systems by engaging in discussions that will inform national and regional infrastructure strategies.
• Connect across sectors: build relationships with a range of stakeholders in network resilience that will enable interdisciplinary innovation for lasting benefits.
• Discover global best practice: learn from professionals tackling problems affecting transport networks around the world.

Sam Gould, ICE director of policy and external affairs, said: “Resilience isn’t a nice to have.

“With our changing climate and the pressure that growing demand is placing on ageing assets, it’s imperative that transport networks are making changes now to prepare for those around the corner.

“This conference will bring together experts working on practical solutions to these challenges.” 

Register for the conference