CILT is pleased to announce the appointment of Martijn Gilbert FCILT as the Institute’s new Young Professional Forum Chair. The Institute’s Young Professional Forum is an inclusive Forum aimed at CILT members under 35 years old. The aim of the Forum is to provide professional development, network opportunities and to give young people a unified voice in the industry.

Martijn has been an active member of the Institute for nearly seven years and has served on the Wales National Committee, whilst working in Cardiff, and the Young Professionals Committee since 2010. He started his career with London Underground in their schedules department in 2000. Later Martijn moved into bus operations for independent operators in Surrey which included a period running his own company; Thames Bus.

He then joined Arriva in 2007 as General Manager of its Surrey and Sussex bus and coach operations but soon moved into their rail division. After a successful five years working in the rail industry Martijn moved to Arriva’s UK bus division to take on the transformation of a new acquisition in West Yorkshire which he re-launched as an energetic low cost business under the Yorkshire Tiger brand. Martijn was also awarded with the CILT Young Manager of the Year award at the CILT Wales National Transport Awards in 2009.
After nearly eight years with Arriva PLC, Martijn joined Reading Buses as CEO in November 2014 and was made a fellow of the Institute in the same year.

Steve Agg FCILT, Chief Executive, CILT, said: ‘We are delighted to announce Martijn as the new Chair of our Young Professionals Forum. Martijn has a wealth of experience across many different modes of transport and I am confident the Forum will benefit from his leadership. Young people are our future and the Institute is working closely with young professionals in our sector to ensure that they have a voice and that their enthusiasm and experience is highly regarded.'

Martijn Gilbert FCILT, Chief Executive Officer, Reading Buses, said:  ‘I am thrilled to take on the role of Chair for the Institute’s Young Professionals Forum and to build on the valuable work of previous Chair, Steve Shinji MILT. I am very passionate about the development of younger people in transport and logistics. Put simply, I don't want to be alone around the boardroom table in 20 years’ time! I look forward to meeting more young professionals across the Institute’s sectors and working to harness it's rich network and resources for members personal and professional development, as well as contributing to national policy development and initiates by representing younger members views.’