TransiT today announces that Allan Cook CBE joins as chair of the Independent Advisory Board.
A distinguished leader across the automotive, aerospace, defence, and infrastructure sectors, Allan brings world-class expertise in engineering, innovation and strategic delivery to the role.
TransiT’s independent advisory board provides oversight and strategic guidance to TransiT’s work, accelerating the decarbonisation of the UK transport system through digital twinning technologies.
Allan will support TransiT in shaping its long-term direction, identifying high-impact opportunities, and fostering connections across industry and government.
Allan is a chartered engineer with more than 40 years’ international experience in the automotive, aerospace and defence industries.
He previously chaired WS Atkins, HS2 Ltd, Helios Towers plc and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, and held senior executive roles at Cobham PLC, GEC-Marconi, BAE Systems and Hughes Aircraft.
Allan said: “Digital twins have extraordinary potential to transform how we plan, operate and evolve transport systems.
“By integrating data, infrastructure and people in entirely new ways, we can model complex change, understand trade-offs, and design a faster, smarter pathway to net zero.
“TransiT will help us realise that potential at scale – it’s truly a remarkable project.”
Recognised for his contributions to engineering and manufacturing, Allan was awarded a CBE and holds honorary doctorates from both Cranfield University and the University of Warwick.
Phil Greening, joint project director of TransiT, said: “Allan’s depth of experience in systems innovation, strategic infrastructure and public-private leadership is exactly what TransiT needs in this critical second phase.
“His guidance will help ensure that our research delivers real-world impact, unlocking the transformative power of digital twinning for UK transport decarbonisation.”
The TransiT Advisory Board includes experts from across public transport, freight, digital innovation, infrastructure, and policy. Meeting biannually, the board supports TransiT in maximising its influence, relevance and national benefit.
Additional copy for external media: TransiT is the UK’s largest transport decarbonisation consortium, applying digital twin technologies across aviation, shipping, rail and road. Led by Heriot-Watt and Glasgow, the £46 million hub accelerates low-carbon innovation by simulating real-world systems. Its federated digital twins reduce risk, cost, and time to identify effective, scalable transport solutions.
The TransiT hub has secured £20 million in funding from the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and another £26 million from partners across the digital, energy and transport sectors.
