José Viegas, a Portuguese national, has taken office as Secretary-General of the International Transport Forum.
The International Transport Forum at the OECD is an intergovernmental organisation with 54 member countries that acts as a strategic think tank for global transport policy and organises an annual summit of transport ministers. The Forum is housed by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) in Paris.
Viegas, who was elected by Ministers from Forum member countries at their summit in May, joins the International Transport Forum from an internationally recognised career as an academic and consultant. As a professor of civil engineering at the University of Lisbon (Portugal) and chairman of TIS.pt, a transport consultancy firm, Viegas has worked in all transport modes and managed collaborative networks across countries and economic sectors to advance better solutions in transport.
"I am delighted to come to this job at this moment," said Viegas upon taking up his duties in Paris this Monday.
"There are new and significant challenges for all transport modes across the world.
"The knowledge production at the Forum and the policy discussions among Ministers are very much relevant to address these challenges.
"The International Transport Forum faces great opportunities for a strategic reorientation, based on its existing strengths and its expanding membership, to further strengthen its role as the foremost platform for a global dialogue on transport policy.
"I will work hard to provide engaging and successful leadership in these processes."
