Skip to main content

IRU secretary general awarded IRF Professional of the Year 2015

The secretary general of the International Road Transport Union, Umberto de Pretto, has been awarded the International Road Federation's highest and most prestigious individual distinction Established in 1951, the Professional of the Year Award recognises eminent public, private and education sector professionals with an outstanding track record of leadership and commitment to the road transport industry. Throughout the years, the award has recognised some of the world's most influential transport leader
August 17, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Public Private Partnerships in the road sector
The secretary general of the International Road Transport Union, Umberto de Pretto, has been awarded the International Road Federation's highest and most prestigious individual distinction

Established in 1951, the Professional of the Year Award recognises eminent public, private and education sector professionals with an outstanding track record of leadership and commitment to the road transport industry. Throughout the years, the award has recognised some of the world's most influential transport leaders for their work in the field of advocacy, policy, research and educational programs in support of better, safer and more sustainable road networks globally.

Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) upholds the interests of bus, coach, taxi and truck operators worldwide to ensure economic growth and prosperity through the sustainable mobility of people and goods via roads.

"The award recognises Mr. de Pretto's significant advocacy work in enhancing public understanding of the nature and economic role of road transport," noted Abdullah A Al-Mogbel, chairman of the 3918 IRF Washington. "Under his leadership, the IRU continues to address physical and non-physical impediments to commerce, thereby contributing to a much-needed debate on current and future road asset needs."  

"I am honoured to receive an award from an organisation which, like the IRU, recognises that road transport drives progress, prosperity and ultimately peace," said de Pretto. "This distinction is a tribute to the work of the IRU, my team, and, particularly, our members who are committed to working together for a better future. I am all the more grateful to receive this distinguished IRF award as every millimetre of infrastructure built allows the road transport industry to better ensure the sustainable mobility of people and goods everywhere, anytime."

IRF Washington president and CEO C. Patrick Sankey remarked how "both organisations share many of the same policy priorities, and it is my hope this award will pave the way for renewed cooperation around joint advocacy initiatives and demonstration programmes."

The IRF Professional of the Year Award will be presented during the 1st IRF Europe & Central Asia Regional Congress & Exhibition, to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, September 15-18, 2015.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Call for Abstracts, for IRF Europe & Central Asia Regional Congress
    March 9, 2015
    Istanbul is often said to be where Europe meets Asia, geographically and culturally. This September the great city will also be the focus of the International Road Federation’s 1st Europe & Central Asia Regional Congress. The congress will be an exceptional opportunity for anyone, especially from Europe and Asia, involved in major road projects to connect and network with ministers, road agency heads and local government leaders. But time is running out to be among the prestigious speakers and presenters at
  • The general assembly of IRF Geneva re-elects Kiran K Kapila as chairman
    June 8, 2016
    The general assembly of the International Road Federation (IRF) Geneva – meeting in Amsterdam in the margins of Intertraffic - has unanimously re-elected Kiran K Kapila to serve a third term as chairman An active member of the IRF Geneva board of directors for many years and chairman since his election during the IRF World Meeting in Lisbon in 2010, Kapila is the chairman and managing director of ICT. This New Delhi-based firm has been ranked among the top hundred consultancy companies in the world, and
  • IRF launches Innovation Award for Road Transport
    February 9, 2012
    No it's not a question posed by a precocious toddler or a rather senile judge but rather the name of an exciting new international competition launched by IRF and its global Transport Knowledge Partnership (gTKP) programme. InARoad (the Innovation Award for Road Transport in Developing Countries) has been created to recognise exemplary projects that have made significant impacts on transport in developing countries as well as to reward innovative and sustainable good practices in this field.
  • IRF Global Road Achievement Awards Laureate – Riyadh people mover
    May 19, 2016
    The Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) has always understood the IRF vision of “Better Roads. Better World” not only as a commitment to a most critical mode of transportation but also as part of an efficient and total transportation system and support services. The objective is always Mobility of People, Commodities and Ideas with safety of users and service providers as a high priority. Here, SBG provides complete mobility by combining an automated people mover with roads and pedestrian facilities within the u