Hosts &
Speakers
FVI Conference Hosts & Speakers
2026
CONFERENCE HOSTS
Ann-Marie Knegt MCIJ, Creative Director Visie Communications, Editor Fleet Vision International magazine
Ann-Marie has over 20 years of experience editing several B2B magazine titles in the municipal transport, firefighting and industrial fire protection industries. Ann-Marie launched the successful Fleet Vision International magazine, Fleet Vision International – THE SHOW and the Fleet Vision International Awards.
Ann-Marie has organised multiple other events and regularly leads industry panel discussions worldwide. Fleet Vision International magazine is a double award-winning publication aimed at the specialist fleet industry.
Ann-Marie set up Visie Communications with her Business Partner Jason Pidgeon in 2020. Visie means vision in Dutch, and this dynamic agency specialises in highly targeted thought-leadership events for the B2B sector, public relations, media liaisons, and business consultancy. Visie organises the well-established Optimised Waste and Logistics (OWL) Roadshows.
Ann-Marie has an expansive knowledge of air quality, transport and firefighting practices worldwide. She was also a six-time judge member for the International Firefighting Team of the Year Award (Conrad Dietrich Magirus Award) and has been head of the Fleet Vision International Awards judging panel since 2022.
Ann-Marie is a member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists, and in 2023, she was admitted into the prestigious Freedom of the City of London. Recently, she joined the Worshipful Company of Carmen as a Liveryman.
Vince Dignam, Business Performance & Transport Group Manager, City of London Corporation
Vince Dignam has been in the transport industry for over thirty years and has been in the transport industry for over 30 years. His main duties involve coordinating the cleansing, waste, and transport contracts. He is also the ‘O’ licence holder and is responsible for implementing the Corporate Transport Policy. Vince has been involved in three competitive procurement processes for cleansing, waste, and transport contracts and has managed a DSO.
Vince is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), a member of the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (CIWM), a Carmen Liveryman and a Freeman of the City of London.
Since 2008, he has been involved with the Fleet Operators Recognition Scheme (FORS), and the City of London Corporation was one of the first local authorities to gain gold accreditation. Vince is part of the FORS Governance Group (GSAG) and, in 2017, became Chairman of the FORS Executive Group. He is also a CLOCS Champion promoting work-related Road Risk Strategy.
Keith Kerman, Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)/ NYC's first Chief Fleet Officer
Keith serves 50 agencies, including NYPD, FDNY and DSNY. NYC's fleet comprises 28,500 units, with annual expenditures of $1+ billion and 1,800 staff. NYC Fleet is a national leader in biofuel, renewable diesel, EV adoption and charging, telematics, fleet safety through Vision Zero, and shared services.
Keith is a permanent civil servant in his 32nd year, including 17 years with NYC Parks, where he managed Citywide Operations. Keith has now served in senior roles under four NYC Mayors. In 2019, Keith received the Sloan Public Service Award from the Fund for the City of NY. This award is often called the Nobel Prize of NY Public Service. In 2021, Keith received a national Climate Leadership Award from the Climate Registry, C2ES, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. In 2022, Keith received a Legendary Lifetime Achievement Award from Government Fleet Magazine. Keith was named to City & State's NY Transportation 100 list in 2022 and 2023.
Peter Goldwasser, Esq, Executive Director, Together for Safer Roads
Peter has two decades of experience in the public and private sectors, helping companies and nonprofits address pressing social issues and positively impact the world. Before TSR, Peter founded the PNG Group, a mission-driven consultancy.
He served as Deputy Director at Cities of Service, a national nonprofit of Bloomberg Philanthropies that helps mayors amplify the knowledge and service of their citizens. He was Chief Program Officer in the Office of Policy and Strategic Planning under former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, directing multi-agency efforts addressing transportation, education, and immigration.
PANEL DISCUSSION PARTICIPANTS
Anne-Marie Penney, Senior Road Safety Policy Adviser, Driving for Better Business/ Programme Lead Road Safety Division, Safety, Engineering and Standards, National Highways
Anne-Marie has worked in road safety for over two decades. She was involved in a life-threatening motorbike crash in 1995, and her passion for reducing road crash casualties and the physical and mental trauma that results stems from this experience.
After 14 years in the private sector working in project management and customer delivery, Anne-Marie joined Kent County Council’s road safety team, where she was the Road Safety Development Manager and led motorcycle safety before managing the Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership.
She holds an HND in Accident and Safety Management and has received Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards for the Save 478 Lives casualty reduction programme, the Driving Business – Safely partnership initiative in Kent County Council, and the Driving for Better Business Programme in National Highways.
She has been a trustee of the Eastern Alliance of Safe and Sustainable Transport, facilitating cross-border projects on sustainable transport and road safety. She has hosted the FIA International Road Safety Scholarship in Kent for three years. Anne-Marie sits on the Council of Management for the Association for Road Risk Management.
Working for National Highways since 2017, Anne-Marie leads the Driving for Better Business Programme to raise the standard of work-related road risk management and is the primary contact for the Roads Policing Review work on motorcycling
Geraint Davies, Concession Director, FORS
Geraint leads FORS with a strong commitment to road safety and sustainability. His role involves driving operational excellence and spearheading new business development initiatives. A collaborative approach has been essential for executing projects that improve fleet management and operational efficiency. As a Board Member at CLOCS, he advocates for safer road transport systems. His expertise in vehicle and operations management enables his team to set benchmarks and contribute to safer, greener road transport operations across sectors.
The most valuable tool in Geraint's leadership toolbox is effective communication. This skill has proven crucial in his current role as FORS Director and in his previous position as Chief Operating Officer at John Raymond Transport Limited, particularly when handling commercial aspects at a technical level, such as contracts that require the FORS Standard. Effective communication has also been key in selling concepts and ideas to the team, engaging everyone at all levels and taking them on the journey together.
Chris Demetriou, Head of Corporate Fleet, London Borough of Islington
Chris heads up Islington's Transport & Accessible Community Transport team, is the council's operator's licence holder, and is responsible for their fleet electrification programme strategy. This includes transitioning more than 500 existing vehicles to full battery-electric power in line with the council's 2030 net-zero commitment.
With over 20 years public service experience within local government, Islington is phasing out fossil-fuelled vehicles and is already setting the benchmark in new and innovative technology, which includes the award-winning 'end of life diesel to electric refuse collection vehicle conversions' and being the first local authority to run 6 x 7.5t electric cage tippers, a fully accessible community transport bus as well as many other electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes.
Chris is an innovative, forward-thinking, pragmatic and strategic leader and is involved in many related projects, including Vehicle to Grid, Solar PV and Energy Storage Systems, as well as the vast power upgrade of the council's Re-use & Recycling depot, which will provide up to 75 rapid and rapid and ultra-rapid chargers for some of the council's larger fleet and HGV vehicles
TBC
CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Keith Kerman, Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)/ NYC's first Chief Fleet Officer
Keith serves 50 agencies, including NYPD, FDNY and DSNY. NYC's fleet is 28,500 units, with $1+ billion in annual expenditures and 1,800 staff. NYC Fleet is a national leader in biofuel, renewable diesel, EV adoption and charging, telematics, fleet safety through Vision Zero, and shared services.
Keith is a permanent civil servant in his 30th year, including 17 with NYC Parks managing Citywide Operations. Keith has now served in senior roles under four NYC Mayors.
2019 Keith received the Sloan Public Service Award from the Fund for the City of NY. This award is often called the Nobel Prize of NY Public Service. In 2021, Keith received a national Climate Leadership Award from the Climate Registry, C2ES, and Bloomberg Philanthropies. In 2022, Keith received a Legendary Lifetime Achievement Award from Government Fleet Magazine. Keith was named to City & State's NY Transportation 100 list in 2022 and 2023.
Chris Demetriou, Head of Corporate Fleet, London Borough of Islington
Chris heads up Islington's Transport & Accessible Community Transport team, is the council's operator's licence holder, and is responsible for their fleet electrification programme strategy. This includes transitioning more than 500 existing vehicles to full battery-electric power in line with the council's 2030 net-zero commitment.
With over 20 years public service experience within local government, Islington is phasing out fossil-fuelled vehicles and is already setting the benchmark in new and innovative technology, which includes the award-winning 'end of life diesel to electric refuse collection vehicle conversions' and being the first local authority to run 6 x 7.5t electric cage tippers, a fully accessible community transport bus as well as many other electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes.
Chris is an innovative, forward-thinking, pragmatic and strategic leader and is involved in many related projects, including Vehicle to Grid, Solar PV and Energy Storage Systems, as well as the vast power upgrade of the council's Re-use & Recycling depot, which will provide up to 75 rapid and rapid and ultra-rapid chargers for some of the council's larger fleet and HGV vehicles
Nicola Bernardini, Fleet Operations Specialist, Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026
Nicola is a young professional specialised in transport and fleet operations within major international sporting events. Over the past two years, he has contributed to globally recognised competitions, including the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, Special Olympics, European Athletics Championships, the Nitto ATP Finals, and more.
Nicola is passionate about large-scale events and logistics innovation, and eager to embrace new challenges. He aims to continue growing in the international events landscape, where coordination and sustainability are key to future success.
James Hendry, Assistant Director, Environment, Climate Change and Open Spaces, Basildon Borough Council
James Hendry is an MSc-qualified strategic leader with 20 years of experience in Environmental Services and Waste Management, who enjoys leading by inspiring and empowering people, with a focus on building strong relationships.
James holds a Fleet Operator's License and COTC, is a Chartered Waste Manager with MCIWM accreditation, and is experienced in Local Government, dedicated to delivering excellence, driving change, and advocating for the positive impact we can all make on our immediate and broader environment.
In James' current role, he is responsible for delivering Basildon Council's Corporate Plan ambitions in Environment and Climate Change. He is currently working to provide an in-house Grounds Maintenance Service and to achieve Green Flag status for the Borough's first-ever Park.
Alan Underdown, Head of Borough Operations, Environmental Services, Basildon Borough Council
Alan Underdown is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in operational management and public service delivery. As Head of Borough Operations, he oversees strategic planning, service coordination, and performance improvement across key borough functions.
Known for his collaborative approach and commitment to excellence, Alan drives innovation and efficiency while upholding high service standards for residents. With a strong background in operational services and stakeholder engagement, he leads teams with clarity and purpose. Alan is passionate about building resilient communities and fostering a culture of continuous improvement within local government operations.
Aly Lewis, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry, University of York
Alastair Lewis is a professor of atmospheric chemistry at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the University of York. He is currently Chair of the Defra Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG) and the Department for Transport Science Advisory Council.
Prof Lewis is an experimental scientist who has studied the composition of the atmosphere and the impacts of pollution from polar regions to megacities, open oceans to tropical forests. He recently led a major bilateral UK-China research and policy collaboration on improving air quality in Beijing.
Prof Lewis has been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry John Jeyes Prize for Environment, Energy and Sustainability, the Royal Society of Chemistry Silver Medal for Analytical Science, and the Lord Lewis Prize for Science Policy. He has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and reports on air pollution and related science. He has been a member of international advisory boards for the World Meteorological Organisation and UN Environment. He has recently helped develop science-based air quality targets under the UK Environment Act and a legal guide to international air quality standards for UNEP.
