BPA governance Meet the (new) team Fifteen BPA members were successful in their bid to join the BPA Council in the recent elections. In the second of our two-part series, we meet the rest of the new team Zulfiqar Ali, parking consultant and Eastern regional representative Commons, which was attended by Rishi Sunak, who was then the newly appointed Minister for Local Government. I never thought that, one day, not too far in the future, this young man would be a leading candidate to be our next Prime Minister. It shows nothing is impossible if we make an effort. I am a civil engineer by profession and have more than 30 years experience in various local authorities, covering traffic, parking, highways and environmental services. I also work as a freelance consultant, and have been privileged to be a speaker and chair at various national and Maria Cowell, notice processing team leader parking services team, international parking events. Cambridgeshire County Council and The BPA is known and respected throughout the Zulfiqar Ali Local Authority representative international parking sector. As a professional in this area, I feel by being part of such a prestigious organisation that I When I first joined the parking team, people used to tell me can learn more, share best practice and be part of the radical change that they fell into parking, but enjoyed it so much they never left. I now that we need in terms of the role parking and mobility play in peoples understand what they mean: parking is a challenging but rewarding lives. The BPA has an excellent relationship with government, the private sector to work in. It would be great to actively encourage more people to sector and local authorities, and is extremely respected for the role it choose a career in parking in future, by raising awareness of the sector. plays in bringing these sectors together. I wanted to play my part, and I I first attended Parkex in 2019 and, since then, have been keen to gain am delighted that the East of England Region recognised my contribution a better understanding of the type of work the BPA undertakes and how and chose me to chair the regional meetings. I feel it is a great members can become more involved to help shape and inform opportunity to be part of a group of multidisciplinary this. When I heard the 2022 elections were happening, professionals who are all committed to leading the I decided to submit a nomination in the hope that, if BPA into the future with passion, and I look forward I were successful, I would have the opportunity to to working with Council members, government gain a better understanding of the BPA, build good departments and other sectors to do this. working relationships with other local authorities, I was elected as BPA President for 2018/19, a and actively voice ideas, feedback and concerns position that enabled me to visit many parts of using this platform. the UK, meet regional parking colleagues to share I am really looking forward to getting stuck in and knowledge and success, and promote the role that helping to shape the future world of parking with the the BPA can play in helping us to do this. help of my local authority colleagues. The opportunity Becoming President of the BPA was a dream come to understand where parking is at now, and where it Maria Cowell true. I recall my Presidents Reception at the House of will probably be heading in the future, will be crucial in 36 PN Oct 2022 pp36-39 Council Members.indd 36 23/09/2022 11:48