From 23-25 September 2026, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) will host its first Resilient Transport conference in Manchester. The event will bring civil and infrastructure engineers, asset owners, policymakers and academics together to discuss the challenges transport networks face worldwide.
Ahead of the conference, the ICE is calling for abstract submissions from potential speakers wishing to present at the event. Interested parties can submit technical abstracts via the ICE website. The submission deadline is 30 September.
Climate change is putting unprecedented strain on ageing transport networks worldwide, so there’s a growing need to share knowledge and best practice approaches to managing and maintaining assets.
This was a key issue raised in two recent ICE reports – Building Safeguards and State of the Nation 2025 – both of which stress the importance of knowledge sharing to address it effectively.
Hosted at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate, the conference will include keynote addresses, technical sessions, and interactive workshops. These will be accompanied by technical sites visits, networking events and a gala dinner on Thursday, 24 September 2026.
The full conference programme will be announced in summer 2026, but will cover the following themes:
- Building resilience across transport networks and asset lifecycle stages
- Adapting ageing infrastructure while balancing budgets and risks
- Using digital tools and data to build smarter renewals programmes
- Reducing carbon and waste
- Applying a systems approach to infrastructure and delivering wider value from projects
- Designing assets that can adapt to evolving transport trends
Delegate registration for the conference will open later this year.
Paper submissions will be accepted from professionals (including non-members of the ICE) delivering resilient transport infrastructure. The institution welcomes contributions from all relevant stakeholders – for instance, asset owners and project clients, transport / planning consultants, engineers, academics, government representatives, contractors and suppliers.
Each submission should include no more than six authors and one proposed presenting author. Submissions cannot exceed 300 words.
The deadline for submissions is 30 September. Abstracts will then be reviewed during October and November 2025, and feedback shared by December 2025.
You can submit papers and find out more information on the ICE website.
Isabel Coman, chair of the conference organising committee and Transport for London’s director of engineering and asset strategy, said:
“Building resilient transport infrastructure is no longer optional – it’s essential. As climate impacts intensify and our networks age, we must rise to the challenge of our times as an industry.
“Resilient Transport 2026 will give professionals the tools and knowledge to safeguard the UK’s transport network for future generations. It will be a pivotal event, bringing together experts across the sector and allowing them to share innovative solutions to the defining issues facing our infrastructure.”
Mark Hansford, the ICE’s director of engineering knowledge, said:
“The ICE plays an important role in knowledge sharing across the transport and wider infrastructure sector. I’m incredibly proud to launch the first Resilient Transport Conference – it exemplifies our commitment to sharing expertise, fostering innovation and helping engineers to deliver infrastructure that stands the test of time.”
(Pic: Yay Images)
