News Archive
Darren Capes to champion technology skills as he becomes IHE President
- Monday July 6, 2026
Following our AGM on 3 July, Darren Capes CEng FIHE FIET took over from Katharine Kelly as President of the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE). He is the Department for Transport’s Head of Road Infrastructure Technology.
Setting out his vision for the Institute, Darren said ensuring highway engineers have the skills to embrace rapidly evolving technology will be one of his key priorities as President. He added: “Our vision is to be the Institute of Choice for Highway Engineers and a leading advocate for the highways sector, and our mission is to provide professional development opportunities, support and leadership for individuals to achieve and maintain professional recognition”.
“As new technologies change the jobs we do and the sector welcomes an increasingly diverse workforce, we will work to ensure the opportunity for professional growth and development is available to all”.
Having taken office, Darren said he sees a significant opportunity to align government ambitions around workforce development with the needs of the wider highways sector, ensuring engineers are equipped to work with emerging technologies while continuing to support the industry’s traditional responsibilities.
He explained that success during his presidency would involve not only continued growth in the Institute’s core role of developing and accrediting highway professionals, but would also help members adapt to technologies that are already transforming everyday highway operations. He points to advances such as AI-enabled gritting vehicles, connected maintenance equipment and increasingly intelligent construction plant as examples of technology becoming commonplace across the sector, rather than remaining confined to research projects.
Mr Capes stressed that while innovation is accelerating, the industry’s foundations remain unchanged. “The highways sector will always need skilled engineers to design, maintain and operate the network”, he said, “but those professionals will increasingly be supported by digital tools, automation and data-driven decision-making. My aim is to ensure the Institute helps both existing and future engineers develop the skills needed to thrive in this changing environment”.