General News: Network of National ITS Associations elects new Chairman

Date: 07 March 2008

Nico Anten of Connekt elected as new Chairman.

At its meeting at the end of February 2008, the ERTICO-hosted Network of National ITS Associations, which represents 28 European ITS associations, elected Nico Anten of Connekt (ITS Netherlands) as its new Chairman, replacing Christer Karlsson of ITS Sweden who had led the Network since its launch in 2004.

Nico Anten came to ITS via the freight transport world. From a background in public administration and then a professional career in both IT and general consultancy, he discovered the fascinating world of freight transport and logistics. It was an interest that led him to the Centre for Transport Technology, an organisation that at the time was working with both government and the private sector to improve the quality of all things related to freight transport in Holland. Over the years, the Centre merged with ITS Netherlands and developed into Connekt, linking the freight and logistics world with ITS and public transport.

Reflecting on his new role in the Network, Nico said: “The big challenge is to find ways to create and sustain the mobility that is demanded for the 21st century and which will support our economic activities, and yet at the same time address the issues which threaten personal safety and security and the environment. ITS is a wonderful opportunity to form a bridge between these two topics. The bridge can be built via international cooperation. That is very important in the ITS and logistics markets. They both cross borders and that is why it is so important to have a network of nationally-based organisations trying to cooperate. The members behind the national associations have an outreach community of over 1,500 very experienced, very talented ITS participants including people from national, regional and local government, industry, administrators, users, traffic experts, knowledge institutes and consultants.”

For further information, please contact ERTICO Membership Affairs Coordinator Anna Limbrey, Tel: 00 32 2 400 07 19 or visit www.itsnetwork.org

Nico Anten, Chairman Network of National ITS Associations