Newcastle University’s Professor of Intelligent Transport Systems and former Department for Transport Chief Scientific Adviser, Prof Phil Blythe CBE, has been inducted into the ITS Hall of Fame at the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 ITS World Congress in Gangneung, Korea.
Prof Blythe was unable to attend the Congress, with his award accepted on his behalf by Darren Capes, Head of Road Infrastructure Technology at the Department for Transport (pictured).
Reacting to the honour, Prof Blythe paid tribute to the colleagues and teams who have supported him throughout his career.
“It’s hard to put into words how honoured and grateful I am for the ITS Hall of Fame award. Absolutely delighted,” he told Highways News.
Prof Blythe served as the DfT’s Chief Scientific Adviser from 2015 to 2021. At Newcastle University, he heads the Future Mobility Group and directs its Mobility and Transport Centre of Research Excellence. His research spans connected and autonomous vehicles, electromobility, transport decarbonisation and accessible transport.
“I had a great career in ITS from the very early days through to being Chief Scientific Adviser, and what I do now back at the university in the North East,” he continued.
“And this award is a testament to the colleagues and teams I’ve worked with, not just for what I’ve done myself, and I’m hugely grateful for those great people and what a great community we have in ITS in the UK and worldwide.”
He joins previous UK recipients including Prof Eric Sampson CBE, the late Richard Harris and former ITS UK Secretary General Jennie Martin MBE, who was inducted at the 2024 World Congress in Dubai.
The Asia Pacific award went to Australian transport innovator John Gaffney, while Steve Dellenback of the Southwest Research Institute in Texas was honoured by the American region.
(Picture – Highways News)
