Stephen Joseph is to step down as chief executive of the Campaign for Better Transport (CfBT) in the autumn after 30 years at the helm of the campaign group.
Mr Joseph was appointed executive director of Transport 2000 and received an OBE in 1996 for services to transport and the environment. Transport 2000 changed its name to Campaign for Better Transport in 2007.
During his 30-year tenure with the charity, Mr Joseph has worked with 18 different transport secretaries and seven different Governments.
Mr Joseph said: ‘Today’s transport world is a very different one from when I started. Back then, sustainability and user interests were fringe concerns and nobody in the Department for Transport would even talk to us; the Government was consulting on shutting the Settle-Carlisle railway; the only trams in the UK were on a heritage line; and there was talk of big new motorways in cities.
‘Now, we are seeing new railway stations and reopened lines; cities are building cycle routes and turning roads into spaces for people; and there are new modern tram networks.
‘It's been a real privilege to lead Campaign for Better Transport all these years and to have helped make transport better. There are still big challenges ahead and the organisation will continue to have an important role in the future.’
CfBT said that under Mr Joseph's leadership it has been instrumental in saving the national Bus Service Operators Grant; getting the Government to drop above inflation rail fare rises; the reform of company car taxation; the introduction of the New Stations Fund to finance new railway stations and reopen lines; securing the Local Sustainable Transport Fund; establishing Total Transport Pilots; and the introduction of Designated Funds to make roads better for non-car users and the environment.
CfBT president Michael Palin, who was appointed president of Transport 2000 in the same year Mr Joseph became its executive director, said: ‘I have worked with Stephen over many years, both at Transport 2000 and Campaign for Better Transport. I have enormous admiration for his commitment and dedication to the cause of better and more extensive public transport.
‘The cause of better transport cannot have had a more staunch advocate. Though his skilful, steadfast leadership will be sorely missed, Stephen has built the firm foundations on which future work can go forward.’
Ruth Chambers, chair of the CfBT trustees, said: ‘Today we are launching the search for a new chief executive. This is one of the most exciting roles in the charity sector and offers the chance to influence decisions at the heart of both government and the biggest transport operators. If you have strong leadership credentials, a passion for creating positive change and are an exceptional communicator, we would love to hear from you.’
Application details for the post of chief executive are available at bettertransport.org.uk/jobs/chief-executive.
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