The highly respected transport industry leader Jo Field OBE and her consultancy, JFG Communications, have been appointed to a key leadership and coordination role as preparations for the ITS World Congress 2027 in Birmingham move into full delivery.
JFG Communications will undertake a new “Silver Command” function on behalf of the Host Organising Committee, providing programme-wide leadership, coordination and support across the UK’s preparations for the Congress. The function will help connect the different organisations and workstreams involved, address issues that cut across the programme and support timely, coordinated decision-making.
Silver Command will work alongside the existing Bronze Command team at the West Midlands Combined Authority, which will continue to lead the delivery of the region’s formal host responsibilities and its partnership with Congress organiser ERTICO – ITS Europe.
Jo is the founder and Chief Executive of JFG Communications, a public affairs, stakeholder engagement and strategic communications consultancy specialising in transport and infrastructure. Before establishing the consultancy, she built and led Transport for London’s award-winning stakeholder engagement team, developing relationships across government, business, communities and the transport sector.
She is also a board member of ITS UK and Chair of Women in Transport and has played a central role in its growth into a nationwide organisation. Her work has included building cross-party political support for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Transport, leading research and developing programmes to improve representation and support future transport leaders.
Jo Field was appointed an OBE in the King’s 2026 New Year Honours for services to diversity and inclusion in transport.
Her combination of transport-sector knowledge, stakeholder engagement expertise and experience of bringing together diverse organisations and interests will support the Host Organising Committee as activity intensifies ahead of the Congress.
Over the coming weeks, Ms Field and the JFG Communications team will engage with stakeholders to identify where additional support, facilitation or problem-solving may be needed. They will also work with workstream leads and group chairs to review governance arrangements and identify opportunities to strengthen coordination as the programme moves from planning into delivery.
The Local Council Roads Innovation Group, LCRIG, will provide enhanced support through a dedicated Silver Project Office, working closely with JFG Communications, the WMCA team and the wider coalition of public- and private-sector partners supporting the Congress.
The new team will also help coordinate the UK’s preparations for the ITS World Congress 2026 in Korea, while supporting sponsorship, stakeholder engagement and delivery planning for Birmingham in 2027.
“Bringing the ITS World Congress to Birmingham is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the UK’s transport technology expertise, innovation and ambition to a global audience,” commented Jo Field OBE. “Delivering a world-class Congress will depend upon close collaboration across government, industry, academia and the wider transport community. Our role will be to bring people together, connect expertise, strengthen coordination and help partners turn ambitious plans into successful delivery.
“I’m looking forward to working with the excellent teams already in place at WMCA and LCRIG, as well as the many partners, workstream leaders, advisers and volunteers. Together, we want to make Birmingham 2027 an outstanding and inclusive global event that creates a lasting benefit for the UK transport sector.”
Mike Waters, Chief Technology and Insight Officer at Transport for West Midlands, who is overseeing the host’s preparations for the Congress, added: “Bringing in Jo Field and JFG Communications as Silver Command gives us the experience and sharp coordination required to align our public- and private-sector partners. Their track record in transport strategy speaks for itself.
“Alongside our excellent teams at WMCA and LCRIG, Jo’s expertise ensures we have the capability and focus to deliver an exceptional global Congress in Birmingham in 2027.”
The ITS World Congress is expected to bring 15,000 people to Birmingham’s NEC between 25 and 29 October 2027. It is the first time the UK has hosted the major annual event since London in 2006.
(Picture – Jo Field OBE)
