Chris Boardman has been announced as England’s permanent national active travel commissioner.
He was named alongside several other senior officials by the UK Department for Transport (DfT).
Boardman has served as interim commissioner of Active Travel England since January 2022. He will lead the agency alongside expected CEO Danny Williams and COO Louise Wilkinson.
Chris Boardman, a gold-medal winning Olympian, has served as both transport commissioner and walking and cycling commissioner for Greater Manchester.
CEO Danny Williams has spent more than 25 years collaborating with media businesses and in his spare time advocates for active travel in villages, towns and cities. He was also a member of the Mayor of London’s Roads Task Force.
COO Louise Wilkinson has had a long career in finance, civil service and local government, including recent work in the Cabinet Office and as a deputy director of finance.
Graham Grant will join Active Travel England as its director of planning and development.
Grant, currently assistant director of transport at Newcastle City Council, is expected to take up his post in the autumn.
Brian Deegan, who has worked for Leicester City Council, TfL and the London Borough of Camden, was announced as director of inspections in May 2022.
Boardman said: “For cycling and walking to become the natural choice for shorter journeys, people must feel safe and the options must be easy.
“Active Travel England aims to help local authorities across the country deliver that environment, so that people can get to schools, shops and workplaces under their own steam.”
Boardman has been appointed with immediate effect. Williams and Wilkinson are expected to formally start their roles in August.
