Jackson becomes new RAC Foundation chair

Engineer to head up roads research body

Neville Jackson, formerly chief technology and innovation officer at the engineering and environmental consultancy Ricardo, has taken over as chair of the RAC Foundation. He succeeded Joe Greenwell CBE at the end of April 2020.

The foundation is a transport policy and research organisation that explores the economic, mobility, safety and environmental issues relating to roads and their users.

As well as the position he now holds at the foundation, Jackson is also: a non-executive director of the UK Advanced Propulsion Centre; chair of the Institute of Digital Engineering Advisory Board; deputy chair of the UK Automotive Council Technology Group and; a visiting professor at the University of Brighton. He is a previous chair of the UK Low Carbon Vehicles Partnership.

Jackson said: “Even before the current COVID-19 crisis, the future of road transport has been widely debated given the demands for de-fossilisation and improved air quality whilst delivering safe, clean and affordable access to personal mobility.

“The rapid advances in connectivity and automated capabilities have also generated a wide variety of speculative views on not only future vehicles but the need for investment in roads and infrastructure. The RAC Foundation has been at the heart of this discussion, adding value via data driven research.

“But as we all struggle to envisage what the post-virus world will look like that conversation has become more urgent still and it means there will be even more for the foundation to do. I am delighted to join the organisation at this important time.

“The foundation is known for its evidence-based research and advocacy, and I want to thank my predecessor Joe Greenwell for all he did to maintain and enhance that reputation over the past seven years.”

As part of his new role, Jackson has also become a trustee of the RAC Foundation and leads the board of six trustees. He will work closely with the foundation’s director Steve Gooding.

Jackson is a fellow of both the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Academy of Engineering. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Imperial College, London, and has an honorary doctorate from City University.