A message from Zemo's incoming Managing Director
Wed 26 March 2025
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I'm excited to take on this role at a critical time in the transition to decarbonised transport. The transport sector is now the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and while we can see most of the technology pathways, along with demand side measures, that can get us to our ultimate net zero transport destination, there are still many challenges and barriers to negotiate.
Zemo's role is to work with our members and key stakeholders to find the best ways to negotiate the barriers and, in so doing, deliver benefits to UK businesses as well as brighter economic prospects for the UK, by - together - forging a leading role in many of the key technologies of the future.
Zemo is an impartial, evidence-based, not-for-profit organisation. We don't have any technology 'dog in the race' so our guidance to policymakers is rooted in the evidence, provided via a thorough review of the best available information and complemented by detailed, in-depth consultation with our expert members.
I believe we're unique because of our unbiased viewpoint and through the breadth of perspectives provided by our membership, as well as the depth of expertise that we can call upon to inform our recommendations.
I'm very glad to say that we have just announced a new series of working group meetings which are the 'engine rooms' of our activities and which serve to develop and 'road-test' ideas.
Our strategic direction is determined by our Board, and is informed by the independent Council for Net Zero Transport, chaired by Lord Deben, which Zemo convenes, and by our Members Council, which ensures that the discussions held within our working groups are properly represented.
Under my leadership, Zemo will be building on all these strengths as well as our reputation as a leading voice in the transport decarbonisation space in the UK for well over twenty years.
Under Claire Haigh's leadership, Zemo has been successful in raising its profile and voice in the places that policymakers inhabit. Last year's Zemo Summit engaged an unprecedented line-up of senior policy makers from all tiers of Government; national, devolved, sub-national, regional and local. We've followed this up with a series of Parliamentary roundtables and other events, designed to get our key messages across to the right people.
In December we published a key report, the Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport in the UK. This report, which we developed with our members, identifies the main barriers to be tackled and broad policy approaches to be taken. Building on this we’re working with members to develop our Map of Missing Policies, which dives deeper into the detail of the policies and actions which need to be implemented. Currently we’re consulting with our members and key external stakeholders and expect to publish the report during summer 2025.
We recently announced the central themes of our 2025-6 work programme which will further develop ideas set out in the Delivery Roadmap and will be taken forward through Zemo’s working groups.
The Partnership needs to do all these things to ensure that our - and your - voice is heard, but we must also focus on working even more closely with you - our members - to make sure that the recommendations we make and the guidance we provide is rooted in the firmest foundations and informed by the most robust available evidence.
If you are a Partnership member, I very much look forward to working with you; if you are not yet a member, please consider joining Zemo now and helping us to shape the future of transport in the UK.
Jonathan Murray formally takes on the role of Acting Managing Director on Monday 31st March. (More details here.)
Zemo image: Jonathan Murray speaking at launch of Wales CV decarbonising report, March 21st 2025
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