Expert Advisory Panel for CAVPASS programme
The Expert Advisory Panel includes experts from industry, academia and the transport sector and provides independent advice on the government’s CAVPASS (Connected and Automated Vehicles Process for Assuring Safety and Security) programme.
A panel of leading experts from industry, academia and the transport sector was appointed in May 2021 to provide challenge and strategic advice to the government’s CAVPASS programme.
The Expert Advisory Panel (EAP) includes members from academia, industry and representative organisations, with expertise in relevant subjects such as safety assurance, cyber security, simulation, human-machine interface, public engagement and accessibility. It plays a critical role in ensuring the CAVPASS programme’s success by providing independent advice on government strategy and contributing unique experience and knowledge.
Terms of reference
The panel and its function
The EAP is an external advisory panel to the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles’ (CCAV) programme of work, known as CAVPASS, to ensure safety and security assurance for Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs).
The EAP is a group of experts outside government that provides strategic advice to the CAVPASS programme board and senior team in CCAV responsible for delivering the programme.
The panel is not a decision-making body and is not intended to replace other mechanisms that CCAV employs for ensuring proper engagement with all stakeholders, including formal consultations, ad-hoc meetings and the publication of policy documents.
The panel will help the CCAV team and the CAVPASS programme Board to deliver the objectives of the CAVPASS programme.
Remit
The EAP’s remit is to:
- provide strategic challenge of the CAVPASS programme, including bringing in experience and knowledge from other sectors
- provide expert input to the development of the CAVPASS programme and the projects within it
- provide external views on cross-cutting strategic risks and opportunities
- raise the profile of the CAVPASS programme with external stakeholders
In carrying out its function, the EAP may take the following actions:
- review and give feedback on strategic documents produced by the CAVPASS programme
- provide written and verbal input to the CAVPASS programme Board and CCAV senior team in response to specific requests and on a broader basis
- draw attention to developments in other areas that may provide valuable lessons and insight for the CAVPASS programme
- advise on decisions that the CAVPASS programme Board and CCAV senior team may wish to make
- advise on the future agenda and priorities for the CAVPASS programme
This is not an exhaustive list.
Meeting dates
The panel meets on a quarterly basis. The first meeting was held on 16 June 2021, with following meetings held every quarter.
Membership
The members of the EAP are:
- Dr Joanna White, Roads Development Divisional Director at Highways England
- Professor John McDermid, OBE FREng, Professor of Software Engineering at University of York
- Matthew Campbell-Hill, Emerging Technologies Consultant and Non-Executive Director at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)
- Maya Pindeus, CEO of Humanising Autonomy
- Steve Gooding CB, Director of the RAC Foundation
- Dr Yoge Patel, CEO at Blue Bear Systems
Panel member biographies
Dr Joanna White
Joanna is currently the Roads Development Director at Highways England. She gained her PhD in mathematics, where she developed mathematical models for traffic networks. She has previously worked as a researcher for TRL, senior consultant at Atkins, technology programme team leader at the Highways Agency and head of Intelligent Transport Systems at Highways England. She has been involved in projects regarding traffic management algorithms and operation and now leads specialists in environmental policy and standards, intelligent transport systems, energy and road design.
Professor John McDermid, OBE FREng
John is currently a Professor of Software Engineering at University of York and has been since 1987. In January 2018, he also became Director of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation-funded Assuring Autonomy International Programme, focusing on safety of robotics and autonomous systems. He has expertise in safety-critical systems, safety of autonomy and robotics, impact of cybersecurity on safety and AV ethics. He became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2002 and was awarded an OBE in 2010.
Matthew Campbell-Hill
Mat is a Non-Executive director at the DVSA and Senior Fellow in Emerging Medical Technologies at the University of Birmingham, alongside a wider portfolio of Board and advisory positions. Previously a Non-Executive board member at both DCMS and MHRA, he is a renowned adviser in highly regulated industries, such as medicine and transport, with special expertise in emerging technology design and adoption. He has worked in the public and private sectors, as well as within academia and the charities sector. He also has previously competed internationally in wheelchair fencing, captaining Great Britain to multiple World Cup Medals.
Maya Pindeus
Maya is the co-founder and CEO of Humanising Autonomy. As a human experience designer, architect and engineer with a deep passion for human-machine interactions, she started humanising autonomy to focus on creating an ethical world in which all machines understand people and operate with a nuanced understanding of human behaviour. Her work has been widely recognised across the industry with multiple awards and publications, as well as top rankings as a leading entrepreneur in the AI and technology industries.
Steve Gooding CB
Steve became Director of the RAC Foundation in 2015, commissioning research into areas such as road safety, road condition and the development and take-up of technology including automation with a particular focus on the human-machine interface. Previously Steve worked at the Department for Transport for many years, and as Director-General from 2009, where he led many projects and policy initiatives including the creation of the Road Investment Strategy and establishment of Highways England.
Dr Yoge Patel
Yoge is the CEO at Blue Bear Group which comprises Blue Bear Systems Research an unmanned systems company, Cassima a Digital Simulation company and, MRO Drones, an aircraft inspection company. Yoge has worked on dual-use autonomous systems for more than 30 years, starting the journey in the defence sector at QinetiQ, where she led business development and technical strategy. She currently sits on a number of boards, often as the SME representative for both civil and defence sectors.