David Vinsen appointed ITS NZ board’s new chairman

David Vinsen has been appointed the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) New Zealand board chairman by a unanimous vote.

He remains the imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) chief executive and has more than 40 years’ experience in the automotive industry.

HMI Technologies Group founder and chairman Mohammed Hikmet was re-appointed president and continues to lead international activities as New Zealand’s representative on the ITS Asia-Pacific Board and the ITS World Congress organising committee.

ITS encompasses the emerging technologies of autonomous vehicles (AVs), shared mobility and mobility as a service (MaaS), as well as the technology systems and infrastructure that help monitor, manage and collected data across all transport modes.

Vinsen’s extensive governance experience is considered invaluable to drive the organisation’s commitment to advocate for transport technology solutions which save lives and make transport more sustainable and efficient.

“I’m very pleased to have the unanimous support of the board to lead this exciting organisation,” Vinsen says. “I feel that my experience in governance, and understanding of the vehicle supply chain, complements the other board members, which represent the varied aspects of the ITS eco-system.”

Vinsen says a disruption of transport is underway, led by innovators creating solutions designed to enhance the experience of transport users and operators.

“New Zealand is not immune to some of the challenges this transformation this may create.”

He says the “overwhelmingly positive” feedback from members returning from the recent ITS World Congress in Montreal is encouraging.

“New Zealand is leading the world. We have a supportive and forward-looking transport ministry, progressive national and regional governments and New Zealand has fewer regulatory and operational obstacles that will set back the benefits of emerging technology. That is particularly advantageous for local innovators, and international companies looking for a test bed.”

The new board has heavily focussed on developing the organisation’s forward events schedule and business plan.

The events they arrange feature leading international and local experts, with the organisation hoping to inspire, educate and generate informed discussion.

ITS New Zealand has upcoming events planned featuring analysts from the International Transport Forum, a Dutch transport futurist and the head of ITS Norway.

Board members also include vice president Andrew Gurr (Fusion Networks), Deryk Whyte (DWG Consulting), Mike Rudge (Stantec), Stephen Hewett (Beca), Lee McKenzie (Ministry of Transport), Blair Monk (Aurecon) and Peter Filbey (Auckland Transport).

Visit ITSNZ.org for more information.