2026 Highways Champions Roll of Honour
These 110 Champions have each been selected to receive a 2026 Highways Champions Medal.
Every name below has been selected by our independent judging panel from nominations submitted across the UK roads sector. Each nomination was scored against a rigorous set of criteria: personal achievement, impact, values, strength of story, and evidence of what makes a true Highways Champion. The bar was deliberately set high, and only those whose contribution the panel judged to be genuinely outstanding are named here.
Their status as Highways Champions will be conferred on the day, in person, when Vernon Kay presents their medal at the InterContinental London Park Lane on 4 November 2026.
Every medal is equal. Each person listed below has done something outstanding for the UK roads sector, and the judges wanted them recognised as such.
Long Service Medals
20 Champions selected in recognition of sustained contribution to the UK roads sector.
Medallists
Adrian Bullock, Highway Care
Anthony Sandom, WJ Group
Anthony Schofield, WJ Group
Brian Mercer, Kiely Group
David Rodgers, Kiely Bros
Graham Starr, Kiely Bros
John Gibson, Kiely Group
Jonathan Lupton, Econ
Karen Ravenscroft, RBVE t/a Scotland's Bravest Manufacturing Company
Keith Schofield, WJ Group
Keith Brett, Kiely Group
Malcolm Johnstone, Galvmac
Margaret Lonergan, London Borough of Islington in partnership with Enerveo and Equitix
Mark Dunk, Kiely Bros
Mike Perkins, Kiely Group
Neil Sanders, Kiely Group
Pat Brogan, Kiely Bros
Paul Humphreys, WJ Group
Ross Glendinning, Galliford Try
Russell How, Highway Care
Rising Star Medals
26 Champions selected as the next generation of leaders in the UK roads sector.
Medallists
Adam Smith, WJ Group
Afua Essel, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
Alix Reynolds, Galliford Try
Bailey Colman, Ringway Jacobs / Cheshire East Highways
Chirag Chavda, Buckinghamshire Council
Chloe Lyons, Ringway Jacobs/Cheshire East Highways
Connie Humble, Gloucestershire County Council
Dan Tedstill, Northumberland County Council
Faye Baker, Wilson and Scott
Isabelle Simpson, Balfour Beatty Living Places
John Jofai Hicks, UFN
Liam Hanks, Marlborough Highways
Margaret Winchcomb, The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS)
Mikel Davies, WSP UK
Laura Franklin, Buckinghamshire Council
Liam Simpson, Waterman Aspen
Phoebe Wood, WSP UK
Reece Fuller, Multevo
Robbie Green, TMO Highways
Salman Ahmed, London Borough of Islington
Samantha Pickering, Galliford Try
Shane Grey, WJ Group
Steve Bays, SDB Enterprises
Susan Leadbetter, WSP UK
William Burgess, Northumberland County Council
Zander Balls, WSP UK
Highways Champions Medals
43 Champions selected for outstanding individual contribution to the UK roads sector.
Medallists
Adam Lattimer, WJ Group
Andy James, Cormac
Anne Marie Hamilton, Portsmouth City Council
Arron McAllistair, Multevo
Ben Walker, Kiely Group
Callum Evans, FM Conway
Clare Bimson, Multevo
Connor Newhall, Trafford Council
Craig Wood, National Highways
Dan Griffiths, Kiely Group
David Pushkin, Hackney Council
Emma Pye, Carbon Sherpa
Gary Armstrong, WJ Group
Gossica Anichebe, London Borough of Hackney
Gurmeet Matharu, London Borough of Hillingdon
Habiba Muhibun Nessa, Hackney Council
Ioan Preda, Multevo
Jason Evans, Multevo
Jayne Black, Cheshire West and Chester Council
Jonny Stonham, Multevo
Kate Sillcock, Connect Plus Services
Keith Hughes, Connect Plus Services
Kevin Brophy, WJ Group
Kris Westerby, Northumberland County Council
Lacey Nash, Connect Plus Services
Luke Marsland, National Highways
Mary Burroughs, National Highways
Michael Riach, National Highways
Murray Nicholson, WJ Group
Neil Sampson, Torquay Holdings
Paul Allonby, Multevo
Paul Hancock, WJ Group
Quaysoor Miah, London Borough of Hackney
Richard Bates, National Highways
Roy Williams Snr, WJ Group
Ryan Lee, Kiely Bros
Sarah Gayton, National Federation of the Blind of the UK
Sinead Flanagan, Manchester Airport Group
Stephanie Cooper, Sheffield City Council
Shaun Bridle, Warwickshire County Council
Stephen Leigh, WJ Group
Stuart Ford, City of London Police
Wayne Greenshield, London Borough of Hillingdon
Innovation Award
The judges' shortlist of Champions who met the bar for the Highways Champions Innovation Award. All shortlisted Champions receive a Highways Champions Medal; the Innovation Award trophy will be presented to one of them on the night.
Finalists
Alys Bishop, Central Bedfordshire Council
Christopher Hodgetts, National Highways
Emma Pye, Carbon Sherpa
Jack Gander-Compton, WJ Group
Kully Boden, Derby City Council
Russell How, Highway Care
Stewart Fowler, Kent County Council
Umesh Parajuli, National Highways
Process Change Award
The judges' shortlist of Champions who met the bar for the Highways Champions Process Change Award. All shortlisted Champions receive a Highways Champions Medal; the Process Change Award trophy will be presented to one of them on the night.
Sponsored by
Finalists
Emma Pye, Pye Management Ltd
Cassie Farrar, Connect Plus Services
Peter Wallis, Galliford Try
Safety Award
The judges' shortlist of Champions who met the bar for the Highways Champions Safety Award. All shortlisted Champions receive a Highways Champions Medal; the Safety Award trophy will be presented to one of them on the night.
Sponsored by
Finalists
Ben Francis, East Sussex Highways
Laura Hogg, Roadworker Abuse and Incursion Safety Exchange (RAISE)
Highways Fellowship Award
The judges' shortlist of Champions who met the bar for the inaugural Highways Champions Fellowship, recognising sustained and exceptional contribution across a career in the UK roads sector. In this first year, the strength and depth of nominations produced a shortlist of twelve. All shortlisted Champions receive a Highways Champions Medal; Fellowship trophies will be presented to four of them on the night.
Finalists
Adam Round, Lincolnshire County Council
Gerry Howe, Stabilised Pavements Limited
Jayne Black, Cheshire West and Chester Council
Katy Bald, Amey Transport & Infrastructure Scotland
Mark Morrell, Campaigner
Neil Herron, Grid Smarter Cities
Paul Winter, LMS Highways
Peter Dipper, Institute of Highway Engineers
Rada Stanton, Surrey County Council
Tracey Brewer, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Wayne Johnston, WJ Group
Will Badman, Kier
The 2026 Highways Champions Awards ceremony takes place on 4 November 2026 at the InterContinental London Park Lane, hosted by Vernon Kay.