Wednesday 9 September 2026, 12:15 to 1:30pm

As England moves further towards devolution, mayors matter more than ever for transport campaigners. The number of Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) has expanded since 2000, and more areas are expected to adopt mayoral models in the coming years. The mayors of these MSAs have real powers over transport, planning and investment, meaning that decisions that once sat only with councils are now shaped at a regional level. For campaigners, this shift opens up a bigger, more influential route to change: when a mayor backs safer streets, better buses and more integrated transport, it can set the direction for an entire region.

This webinar explores how transport campaigners and changemakers can build on their work to influence mayors. The webinar will be chaired by FIT’s Chair, Stephen Joseph, and we will hear from two FIT grantees who will share their experience and expertise around working with mayors: Emilia Melville from WESTACT and Sarah Hughes from the Cambridge Sustainable Travel Alliance. A Q&A session will also provide the opportunity to explore the issues in more depth.

Participants will come away with practical insights, evidence and real‑world examples to strengthen their own work and understanding on how they can influence mayors and drive forward their sustainable transport goals.

Speakers

Emilia Melville, WESTACT

Emilia has worked in local climate action in the West of England area for 15 years. She was one of the founders of WESTACT in 2020, and the Reclaim our Buses campaign emerged from this in autumn 2022. She now works alongside a team with Jo Sergeant and Charlie Siret to push for franchised buses and better sustainable transport across the WECA region. Emilia also wears other hats in the community energy sector with South Gloucestershire Community Energy Network and as a Director of Praxis Research.

Sarah Hughes, Cambridgeshire Sustainable Travel Alliance

Sarah is Cambridgeshire Sustainable Travel Alliance’s Campaign Officer. She is passionate about pressing for changes that will make walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport easy and affordable for everyone. The Travel Alliance’s mission is to unite and inspire people in Cambridgeshire working for a transport network that protects our future and offers genuine choice. Together, Alliance members encourage local decision makers to take action for better sustainable journeys. Recent campaign wins include saving the Tiger Pass, which offers £1 bus fares to those aged under 25 in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Panellist

Cat Hobbs, We Own It

Cat is the founder and director of We Own It, which she set up in 2013 to be a voice for the people who use public services. A majority of the British public want to see services back in our hands – Cat is excited to bring these people together to win victories. She won a campaign for a more frequent rail service in Bristol before campaigning on behalf of bus and train passengers at Campaign for Better Transport.