Meet the judges

1

Catherine Bowen, senior policy adviser, BVRLA

Catherine Bowen joined the BVRLA as senior policy adviser in 2019. She leads the association’s work on Decarbonisation and Future Mobility, with a keen focus on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and how we best support the transition of commercial vehicles. She has worked in senior policy roles for more than 17 years and has experience of working in private, public sector and not-for-profit organisations. Before joining the BVRLA, she worked for the British Retail Consortium, where she held the post of head of crime and security policy.

2

Olly Craughan, head of sustainability, DPD UK

Olly Craughan was crowned Motor Transport’s Number One Decarbonisation Power Player in 2023 and, as a result, takes a seat on this year’s judging panel. He has been with DPD since joining as a depot general manager in 2012 and, in January 2020, took on the challenge to lead DPD’s strategy to become the UK’s leader in sustainable delivery. Craughan has driven a number of decarbonisation initiatives that have reduced total emissions by more than 34% since taking up his latest role. These have included increasing the EV fleet from 149 in January 2020 to more than 3,600 by the end of 2023, as well as transitioning the transport fleet to more than 95% HVO. DPD’s sustainability mission includes its depots, hubs and offices, all powered by 100% renewable electricity. 100% of waste avoids landfill, of which more than 90% is reused or recycled. In addition, the innovative Eco Fund supports biodiversity, rewilding and environmental projects, and is financed by DPD’s circular economy initiatives in recycling waste, plastic and wood.

3

Colin Smith, programme manager, freight and clean vehicle retrofit, Energy Saving Trust

Colin Smith has worked in transport at Energy Saving Trust since 2007 covering fleet GHG emissions and air quality. Expertise includes emission-reduction certification, logistics GHG accounting and freight fleet advice. Working on projects that aim to help reduce emissions and empower companies to address the climate emergency, Smith supported the Smart Freight Centre from its inception in 2013, helping to establish the Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) Framework and sat on the BSI Technical Expert Committee for the ISO 14083 standard for GHG emissions declarations related to transport services. Before Energy Saving Trust, Smith worked in the automotive and chemical sectors after gaining a degree in chemical engineering.

 

4

Andy Salter, MD, DVV Media International and Freight Carbon Zero

Andy Salter has spent most of his 30-year working life in and around the commercial vehicle and road freight sector, building up a depth of knowledge and expertise. A former editor of TRUCK and Commercial Motor magazines, Salter is a previous chair of the International Truck of the Year jury and is now managing director of DVV Media International, he heads up the Freight Carbon Zero brand. He is passionate about helping the industry prepare for a carbon-zero future.