Dr. Nabil Abou-Rahme - Managing Director
Nabil has comprehensive experience in the specification, development, implementation and operation of Intelligent Transport Systems. He holds three relevant university degrees and has a keen interest in the trends which shape the development of transportation worldwide.
He joined Rapp Trans (UK) Ltd in the role of Managing Director in September 2009, bringing a new dimension to the core skill set, and focusing on sustainable growth.
Prior to joining Rapp he spent the first 7 years of his career with TRL Limited getting a good grounding in transport policy and research-led innovation. His portfolio of research was later accredited with a PhD from the University of Southampton.
He then spent six years with the Mouchel Group, making a pioneering contribution to the M42 Active Traffic Management, which was further endorsed by his registration as a Chartered Engineer. He was also responsible for implementation of an intelligence based approach, to prioritise critical spending for the M25 London Orbital. During this period, he became involved in contract improvement initiatives, and gained significant exposure to procurement models, including DBFO.
Nabil moved to South Africa in early 2008, building relationships with the local industry and participating in high profile projects as an independent advisor. He advised on and co-authored the performance management framework for the Gauteng Open Road Tolling. He was also directly involved with the specification of a pioneering approach to fare collection for Bus Rapid Transit in Johannesburg and Cape Town, using EMV Smartcards. Based on this experience, he had the privilege of conducting a master class at the ITS South Africa Conference in 2009.
Key Personnel
James Long - Consultant
James holds a MSc degree in Town Planning from Newcastle University. James gained a distinction for his final thesis investigating the impact of transport policy on the accessibility of the North-East of England. James is currently working as the Deputy Learning Manager for the Road Pricing Demonstrations Project and is involved in capturing and reporting the learning from the Project.
As part of this role, James has been involved in developing, managing and assessing a requirements catalogue; playing a key role in managing the expert group process (including developing briefs on key themes for the project and wider environment and managing experts and stakeholders); developing and implementing approaches to disseminating project outputs and learning to both internal and external stakeholders. This project has developed James' experience in the political, contractual, procedural, commercial, legal and technical aspects of Road User Charging both in the UK and more widely.
James worked on developing the National Technical Framework for ITS in the UK on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT). This work has involved stakeholder engagement with Local Authorities, the DfT. The Highways Agency and industry. This work has developed James' experience in dealing with the development of systems architecture for ITS as well as gaining experience in the use and application of many forms of ITS.
James holds a MSc degree in Town Planning from Newcastle University. James gained a distinction for his final thesis investigating the impact of transport policy on the accessibility of the North-East of England. James is currently working as the Deputy Learning Manager for the Road Pricing Demonstrations Project and is involved in capturing and reporting the learning from the Project.
As part of this role, James has been involved in developing, managing and assessing a requirements catalogue; playing a key role in managing the expert group process (including developing briefs on key themes for the project and wider environment and managing experts and stakeholders); developing and implementing approaches to disseminating project outputs and learning to both internal and external stakeholders. This project has developed James' experience in the political, contractual, procedural, commercial, legal and technical aspects of Road User Charging both in the UK and more widely.
James worked on developing the National Technical Framework for ITS in the UK on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT). This work has involved stakeholder engagement with Local Authorities, the DfT. The Highways Agency and industry. This work has developed James' experience in dealing with the development of systems architecture for ITS as well as gaining experience in the use and application of many forms of ITS.
Tracy Perrett - Office Manager
Tracy is responsible for the management of the UK office and its systems and procedures. She manages all the project, financial and management accounts for the Company, and has considerable knowledge and experience of project administration. She assists Project Managers in ensuring that all projects conform to the Quality Management System, and assists in quality reviews and audits.
Tracy assists the Company Secretary and the Directors in ensuring that they fulfill their responsibilities under the Companies Act 2006 as well as in respect of health and safety and employment law.
Tracy is responsible for the management of the UK office and its systems and procedures. She manages all the project, financial and management accounts for the Company, and has considerable knowledge and experience of project administration. She assists Project Managers in ensuring that all projects conform to the Quality Management System, and assists in quality reviews and audits.
Tracy assists the Company Secretary and the Directors in ensuring that they fulfill their responsibilities under the Companies Act 2006 as well as in respect of health and safety and employment law.
Mark Wedlock - Technical Director
Mark has been involved in the specification and development of ITS services for over 10 years, although primarily focused on road user charging, he has also contributed to the development of in-vehicle and mobile information services, real-time traffic information, real-time bus information systems and has worked with and provided advice to DfT, HMCE, Highways Agency, TfL and European Commission as well as private sector service providers.
Mark has a particular focus on the technical development and specification of road user charging systems. He has been involved in the development and review of the DfT OMIS specifications for DSRC based RUC, was responsible for the design of the Proof of Solution test programme for LRUC and subsequent trials management at TRL.
Between 2005 and 2008 Mark was a member of the TfL Technology Trials team, responsible for the management of the Design Issues Programme and was a key member of the technical team for TfL DSRC Framework procurement.
During 2009 Mark supported the Department for Transport's involvement in the UK Interoperability Forum and was responsible for leading the development of a number of the Technical Specifications. He is a member of the testing and certification team for the Dutch KMP procurement.
Mark has been involved in the specification and development of ITS services for over 10 years, although primarily focused on road user charging, he has also contributed to the development of in-vehicle and mobile information services, real-time traffic information, real-time bus information systems and has worked with and provided advice to DfT, HMCE, Highways Agency, TfL and European Commission as well as private sector service providers.
Mark has a particular focus on the technical development and specification of road user charging systems. He has been involved in the development and review of the DfT OMIS specifications for DSRC based RUC, was responsible for the design of the Proof of Solution test programme for LRUC and subsequent trials management at TRL.
Between 2005 and 2008 Mark was a member of the TfL Technology Trials team, responsible for the management of the Design Issues Programme and was a key member of the technical team for TfL DSRC Framework procurement.
During 2009 Mark supported the Department for Transport's involvement in the UK Interoperability Forum and was responsible for leading the development of a number of the Technical Specifications. He is a member of the testing and certification team for the Dutch KMP procurement.
Dr. Ian Wilkinson - Managing Consultant
Ian has been working in ITS for over 15 years with a strong emphasis on road pricing for the last 10 years. His work focuses on the interaction between policy and practical issues associated with the use of new technologies in transport, in particular for charging. Much of his work has been for public sector clients in the UK with an interest in ITS, more recently supporting central government on national road pricing initiatives where he has had the good fortune to work on a wide range of road pricing technologies, charging concepts and delivery strategies.
Ian has a pragmatic appreciation of these issues from several perspectives as a former civil servant in the UK Department of Transport, as a researcher at the Transport Research Laboratory, an independent consultant and as an ITS business development manager for a multi-national company.
Ian has gained valuable experience in multi-disciplinary ITS research and development projects, including acting as the Project Manager for the Road Traffic Advisor project. This was a multi-million pound project under the Foresight Vehicle Initiative sponsored by a joint public/private sector consortium including 12 partners drawn from Academia, Industry and Central Government.
Ian also offers broader management skills in facilitation, strategy development, planning, analysis, requirements specification and project management, as well as specific commercial experience in marketing and business finance. He holds a BSc (Hons) 1988 and PhD 1991 of the University of Reading and is Member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport.
Ian has been working in ITS for over 15 years with a strong emphasis on road pricing for the last 10 years. His work focuses on the interaction between policy and practical issues associated with the use of new technologies in transport, in particular for charging. Much of his work has been for public sector clients in the UK with an interest in ITS, more recently supporting central government on national road pricing initiatives where he has had the good fortune to work on a wide range of road pricing technologies, charging concepts and delivery strategies.
Ian has a pragmatic appreciation of these issues from several perspectives as a former civil servant in the UK Department of Transport, as a researcher at the Transport Research Laboratory, an independent consultant and as an ITS business development manager for a multi-national company.
Ian has gained valuable experience in multi-disciplinary ITS research and development projects, including acting as the Project Manager for the Road Traffic Advisor project. This was a multi-million pound project under the Foresight Vehicle Initiative sponsored by a joint public/private sector consortium including 12 partners drawn from Academia, Industry and Central Government.
Ian also offers broader management skills in facilitation, strategy development, planning, analysis, requirements specification and project management, as well as specific commercial experience in marketing and business finance. He holds a BSc (Hons) 1988 and PhD 1991 of the University of Reading and is Member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport.
Jian Yu - Technical Analyst
Jian studied for MSc in Transportation Planning and Engineering at the School of Civil Engineering and the Environment at University of Southampton. The topic of his dissertation was GPS and Map Matching in particular focusing on its use for generating maps for pedestrian navigation. He looked at the accuracy of existing technology and its applicablity for use by pedestrians.
Jian studied for MSc in Transportation Planning and Engineering at the School of Civil Engineering and the Environment at University of Southampton. The topic of his dissertation was GPS and Map Matching in particular focusing on its use for generating maps for pedestrian navigation. He looked at the accuracy of existing technology and its applicablity for use by pedestrians.
