As a registered charity, PACTS is governed by a Board of Trustees. Trustees are responsible for overseeing the organisation’s direction, ensuring it delivers on its charitable objectives, and acting in its best interests.
PACTS’ Trustees bring a wide range of expertise from across the transport, policy and research sectors. This includes newer members of the Board, such as Keith Irving, Chief Executive of Cycling Scotland, who brings extensive experience in active travel, policy and governance, and Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni, a Consultant at PA Consulting, who contributes expertise in operational safety, systems thinking and equality, diversity and inclusion.
Over the past year, our trustees have been helping guide PACTS’ work to improve transport safety across road, rail and air. We asked Keith and Mara to reflect on their first year and share what motivates them, the highlights, challenges, and what they are looking forward to.
Q: What initially motivated you to join the PACTS Board, and how has that motivation evolved after your first year?
Keith Irving, Chief Executive, Cycling Scotland:
Transport safety, especially road safety for vulnerable road users, has been a focus throughout my career and this role provided a unique opportunity to advance road safety priorities, through a strong commitment to good governance and strategic oversight and consideration of all aspects of the policy development and implementation process.
The work of PACTS is critical in maintaining an evidence-based focus on a sensitive and controversial topic. The motivation for me is even greater now, having heard about too many avoidable tragedies during the past year.
Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni, Consultant, PA Consulting:
I was drawn to PACTS because road safety is one of those issues that touches everyone’s lives, yet it’s often shaped by complex systems that aren’t always visible. Professionally, I spend a lot of time thinking about how systems work and how change happens within them, so the opportunity to contribute to an organisation focused on improving transport safety felt very meaningful. Over the past year, that motivation has only grown. Seeing the passion and expertise within PACTS has reinforced just how important its work is in shaping safer transport systems and influencing policy.
Q: What have been the highlights or most rewarding aspects of your experience on the Board so far?
Keith Irving:
Learning from the expertise and experience of trustees, staff, members and other contributors to the work of PACTS and partners.
Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni:
One of the highlights has been the people. The Board brings together individuals with deep knowledge and experience across transport, policy and safety and the discussions are always thoughtful and insightful. I’ve really valued the opportunity to learn from those I have previously worked with across the industry and to see how research and evidence are translated into real policy conversations. It’s rewarding to be part of an organisation that works so hard to keep safety at the centre of transport decisions.
Q: What challenges have you encountered in your role, and how have you navigated them?
Keith Irving:
The scale of the challenge on road safety is not matched by the funding available for the work of PACTS and other key organisations. My focus is on supporting work to identify where success can be achieved, despite that funding context.
Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni:
Transport safety is a complex and evolving field and one of the challenges is understanding where efforts can have the greatest impact. As a newer trustee, there has also been a lot to absorb in terms of the policy landscape and the breadth of PACTS’ work. I’ve approached that by listening carefully, asking questions and learning from the experience around the table. It’s been a very collaborative environment, which makes navigating those challenges much easier.
Q: In your view, what are the most pressing issues facing transport safety right now – and where do you see PACTS making the biggest impact?
Keith Irving:
Ensuring the road safety strategy delivers the biggest possible reduction in road casualties. Having a road safety investigation branch that can prioritise action and the maintenance of a strong focus on rail and air safety. PACTS will help support an evidence-based approach to achieving that.
Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni:
Transport is changing quickly – whether through new vehicle technologies, micromobility, or shifting patterns in how people move around cities, regionally and globally. One of the key challenges is making sure that safety keeps pace with these changes. I think PACTS plays a vital role in bringing together research, expertise and policy insight to ensure that safety remains a central part of the conversation as transport systems evolve.
Q: How has your professional background informed your contributions to PACTS’ work?
Keith Irving:
I have led Cycling Scotland as CEO for 10 years, working with the Board and colleagues to drive progress on cycling, especially to address the numerous road safety challenges faced by people cycling through cycle training, cycle awareness training, research, advocacy, road safety awareness campaigns and support for infrastructure. Prior to that role, I worked for Living Streets on pedestrian safety, supporting the development of legislation on dangerous parking over 5 years.
Having worked in the charitable sector for 18 years, I am well aware of the funding, procurement and policy issues affecting the sector.
Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni:
My background is in operational safety, consulting and systems thinking, which has shaped how I approach complex challenges. Road safety is inherently a systems issue – it’s about how infrastructure, technology, policy and human behaviour interact. That perspective has helped me think about the broader ecosystem around transport safety and where interventions can have the most meaningful impact.
Q: What are you personally looking forward to in the coming year with PACTS?
Keith Irving:
Seeing a greater priority on keeping people safe on our transport system and hoping to see a reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured, especially on our roads.
Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni:
I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and contribute as I grow into the role. PACTS brings together an incredible depth of expertise and commitment to improving transport safety and it is absolutely inspiring to be part of that community. I’m excited to support the organisation’s work as it continues to shape policy discussions and advocate for safer transport systems.
We’re grateful to Keith and Mara for sharing their reflections on their first year as trustees. Their insights highlight the impact of PACTS’ work and the importance of collaboration across our community.
Learn more about the people at PACTS, including our full Trustee Board and working party leaders and our members.
