BPA behind the scenes Through my day job (as sales director for Conduents UK parking and public safety business), I am also aware of the technology available to us. I am very keen to promote both the successes and lessons learned so that members can continue to develop the services offered to the marketplace, which is why I originally applied to be the representative on the BPA Council for the Parking Technology Group. Besides the challenges of the pandemic, the BPA Board, Council and members will have to contend with a number of changes that will soon affect their operations: the ongoing situation with the private parking bill, and the imminent approval of extended powers in the Traffic Management Act for our local authority members outside of London (see pages 2426). Although, I am excited by the opportunities these changes offer us. It is clear that technology has been able to flourish during the pandemic, with the uptake of online services and mobile first solutions being implemented at a speed not seen before. We need to continue to ride this wave, sharing the success stories from across our membership to enable this surge in innovation to continue. *Available at bit.ly/PNAug21AGM The BPA Council of Representatives is elected from across the Associations different membership groups and represents all aspects of the parking sector. Its role is to influence the long-term direction of the BPA and its mission by giving advice and guidance to the BPA Board. The BPA Board sits at the centre of the BPA governance structure. It develops strategy, and oversees the objectives and management of the Association, consulting as appropriate with the Council of Representatives. Find out more at britishparking.co.uk/OurGovernance Meet your new presidential team Best thing about your current job? Mike Marrs, President: My colleagues. Im lucky enough to have worked at Marston for 20 years, so they are more than colleagues, they are friends. Jade Neville, Vice-President: Absolutely the people I work with. My colleagues are nurturing, encouraging and all-out inspiring people. What are the big themes for profession right now? MM: Air quality and all things EV then, later on in the year, Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act will finally roll out, which will no doubt keep everyone on their toes! JN: Equality and diversity; public perception of parking and supporting frontline teams including better use of technology; supporting sector resilience and continuity. old self, working as a parking attendant, that I was going to be the future Vice-President of the BPA, I would have told them to pull the other one! Im looking forward to bringing the voices of our members to the forefront of our sector. Hobbies? Interests? Pets? MM: I play golf twice a month (badly), I love classical music and I have a giant Maine Coon cat called Biggy Smalls. I also own a restaurant, so if you are ever in Southend, let me know, Ill point you to the best eatery in town! Secret Sunday pleasure: watching Antiques Roadshow JN: I love going to air shows. When I hear any form of aircraft, I instinctively look skyward regardless of what is happening around me. I have two Huskie dogs who love a long walk so my wife and I are always out and about being taken for our walks! Most random thing thats ever happened to you What does being BPA President/Vice-President mean to you? MM: Without being clich, it is a genuine honour, one which I never thought would happen. I want to do it justice and represent all members everyones voice should be equal. JN: Like Mike says, it really is an honour. If someone had told my 19-year- MM: I got married on GMTV in front of eight million people. Oh, I also owned a cattery called Pussys Palace thats up there too. JN: Standing in a Hercules aircraft with the tail door open while flying over Southend seafront, and being joined by the Utterly Butterly wing-walkers standing at the doors waving at the crowd... and flying an aircraft upside down for fun! 38 britishparking.co.uk PN August 2021 pp36-39 BPA Council AGM.indd 38 22/07/2021 11:24