Meeting in Costa Navarino (Greece) in the margins of the ASECAP Days, the General Assembly of the International Road Federation ( IRF Geneva) has unanimously elected Bill M Halkias, PE, F.ASCE, F.ITE as new president of IRF. He takes over from Kiran K Kapila at the end of his third and final mandate as IRF chairman.
Halkias brings to the IRF 38 years of experience in transportation and road infrastructure works gained both in the USA and in Europe. Currently managing director and CEO of Attikes Diadromes SA, the Operating Agency of Attika Tollway in Athens (Greece), Bill is the outgoing president of Hellastron HELLASTRON (Hellenic Association of Toll Road Network) and of ASECAP (European Toll Road Association). He has served as member of the Freeway Operations Committee of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and is serving as a member of the Board of the International Bridge Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) for the 2nd time.
“Throughout his tenure at the helm of IRF, Kapila has been a tireless ambassador of the IRF vision for a world with safe, smart and more sustainable roads. Road Safety has a special place in his heart” said Bill Halkias in his investiture speech. He continued outlining that “Road safety is of paramount importance to all of us and will continue to be so. But we also need to make sure that environmental sustainability is not left behind and that we remain open and receptive to new ideas, new technologies, new financing schemes. IRF is and will be even more the place where we connect people, ideas, and where we create solutions together”.
In recognition to the services rendered to the IRF, the Board and the GA bestowed to Kapila the title of IRF president emeritus. “Road Safety will continue to be at the top of my agenda and I will continue to strive to ensure we reach the goal set in vision zero” said Kapila while he thanked his colleagues on the Board for the support provided over the years and the members of the GA for their trust.
Bill Halkias will be assisted by two vice-presidents: Anouar Benazzouz (Director General of Moroccan Highways – ADM) and Liu Wenjie (secretary general and vice president of China Highway and Transportation Society – CHTS).
