Executive Breakfast: AI and the future of the road network

The need for smarter, safer, and more efficient transport systems has never been greater. Killed or seriously injured incidents (KSIs) on the road network are plateauing year-on-year, congestion is rising across city regions and a tough fiscal environment at all levels of government means increasing pressures to deliver cost-effectively.

Meanwhile, with RIS3 currently under discussion, and the Spending Review confirming £15.6 billion for city regions, as well as further funding for towns and rural areas, decisions will soon be made as to how these funding pots can best be used to tackle the challenges listed above.

In the UK, the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and increased use of data analytics is helping offer new ways to address congestion, reduce emissions, and enhance road safety. A new Tranport AI Action Plan, published over the summer, has set out key steps the Government will be taking with industry to embed AI tools across the transport network.

This breakfast, held on the second day of Highways UK, invites ITS UK Executive Members to a morning roundtable discussing how AI will transform our road network. Held in the NEC’s Piazza 1, a short walk from the show, the roundtable will explore how transport authorities across the UK are utilising AI technology to deliver better outcomes for road users.

We offer one place per Executive Member on a first come, first served basis. To register, please email contact@its-uk.org.

Keynote

Davin Crowley-Sweet
Director of Digital Technical Competence, National Highways

Davin Crowley-Sweet is an internationally recognised data and technology leader, currently serving as the Director of Digital Technical Competence at National Highways, where he is responsible for transforming how the UK’s Strategic Road Network is designed, built, operated, and experienced through the power of data & technology.

Appointed as National Highways’ first Chief Data Officer, Davin pioneered the UK’s first public sector enterprise-wide data valuation, evidencing that the organisation’s data is worth over £60 billion—equivalent to half the value of the physical road network itself. This work has reshaped how data is governed, valued, and invested in across the public sector, positioning data not just as a support function, but as a strategic asset in its own right.

In recognition of his contributions, Davin was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the King’s Birthday Honours 2025 for services to road safety.

He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Digital Twin Hub at Connected Places Catapult, where he helps shape the UK’s national strategy for federated digital twins. His work in this space focuses on using connected digital twins to reimagine the built environment from the perspective of the businesses and society, enabling more integrated, responsive, and intelligent infrastructure.

With a background spanning rail and road infrastructure, Davin has and led award-winning programmes in data that include nationwide data improvement, business transformation and leading the England wide deployment of Connected Vehicle Services. His work has consistently focused on embedding data into the heart of decision-making, risk assurance, and customer experience.

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