ICE North East Climate Action Group launch and carbon management workshop

Kirils Holstovs

Kirils is a civil and structural engineer performing bridge inspections and assessments as a part of AECOM’s Bridges team in Newcastle upon Tyne, which helps ensure safe and sustainable operation of the UK's railway and highway networks. 

He is the 2021 New Civil Engineer Outstanding Contribution to Carbon Net Zero award winner and Graduate of the Year finalist. Kirils is a co-initiator of the COP26 Joint Statement of International Youth Organisations presented to senior policymakers at COP26 and endorsed by WFEO. 

Previous roles include head of business environment eolicy at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation – where he was responsible for developing positions on infrastructure, devolution and digital transformation. 

Kirils is the climate change lead of the ICE NE Regional Committee, taking pride in generating, supporting and leading industry climate and sustainability initiatives. 

Ross Lowrie

Ross Lowrie is an experienced climate change strategist with a wide range of expertise. He leads a team at East Combined Authority to execute a strategic approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation, paying particular attention to the use of decarbonisation technologies and partnerships.

Prof Phil Blythe CBE FREng CEng FIET FCIHT

Phil is professor of intelligent transport systems (ITS) at Newcastle University where he leads the Future Mobility Group. Phil’s research focus has been in the interface between policy and technology in areas, such as: connected and autonomous vehicles; electro-mobility; decarbonising transport; and age-friendly and accessible transport.

Previously, Phil was chief scientific adviser for the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT)(2015-2021). In this role at the DfT he provides a challenge function to the Department on the use of science and engineering evidence in policy making and also ensuring the Department is best informed on new innovations and technologies that may impact on the delivery of transport schemes and policy.  

He also led the science team that developed the underpinning science advice for the re-start and recovery of UK Transport during the Covid-19 pandemic and was a member of SAGE throughout the emergency. Phil is currently leading DARe, the national Hub for Decarbonised, Adaptable and climate Resilient transport Infrastructure. Phil was awarded a CBE in the 2022 New Year Honours.

Adrian Mallory

Adrian Mallory is a principal environmental consultant in AECOM's Carbon and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practice, focusing on decarbonisation of infrastructure. He has led several important strategies in conducting carbon assessments and subsequent decarbonisation strategies for large scale infrastructure including renewable energy, road and rail networks.