We are pleased to announce the appointment of George Lowder as our new chair.
Over the past decade, George has played a key role in developing the capital’s public transport network as chief executive of Transport for Edinburgh.
George reflects on his appointment and comments on the future direction of Transform in its commitment to delivering sustainable transport for Scotland:
I’m delighted to have been appointed as Chair at Transform Scotland at such a pivotal time. With Scotland facing economic challenges and pressing climate goals, sustainable transport has never been more crucial for building a greener, fairer economy. Later this month, we’ll be launching our Ideas for Investment report with a webinar to kickstart a conversation on fair and innovative funding solutions for sustainable transport. This initiative explores options like fairer transport taxes and climate bonds to raise the resources needed for transformative change.
Our work doesn’t stop there. Through the Cross-Party Group on Sustainable Transport, we’re engaging with politicians and key stakeholders to explore how sustainable transport can address social inequalities, from poverty to gender and disability issues. In parallel, we’re working on bus priority initiatives that engage communities across Scotland, advocating for better bus infrastructure to reduce journey times and make buses a more appealing option.
I’m also thrilled about the impact of our recent ‘A Wee Walk Works Wonders’ campaign, which saw one in three people choosing to walk instead of drive for short local journeys. With campaigns like these, we’re helping to make healthier, greener choices easier and more accessible for everyone across Scotland.
Looking ahead to the 2026 elections, we see a major opportunity to build momentum and secure cross-party commitments for sustainable transport. By embedding these priorities into party manifestos, we can ensure sustainable transport remains central to Scotland’s future.
George was announced as Chair to Transform members at our AGM, held earlier this autumn.
George is the Chair of the UK’s Light Rail Safety and Standards Board, two Scottish charities and a Vice President of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. At the end of August 2024, after almost 9 years in the role, George stepped down as the Chief Executive of Transport for Edinburgh (TfE). TfE is the parent company of Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams, Edinburgh’s municipally owned, award winning, public transport operators.
Related articles/projects/publications
In Reverse
3 September 2024
A review on the Scottish Government’s performance on its sustainable transport commitments.
How can sustainable transport break the cycle of poverty?
19 June 2024
Transform policy officer Laura Hyde-White reports on the Sustainable Transport Cross Party Group’s latest meeting, which focused on the intersection of transport and poverty. The recent meeting of the Cross…
Campaign sees 1 in 3 walking more and driving less
21 May 2024
Evaluation of our recent pilot campaign ‘A Wee Walk Works Wonders’ finds 30% of adults in Renfrewshire, Moray and Aberdeenshire walking more for short journeys, instead of driving. Our national…
