Thomas Ableman is one of the UK’s leading experts on public transport and mobility policy. He was Director of Strategy and Innovation at Transport for London, one of the world’s largest integrated transport authorities, and his career spans the entire transport sector.
He held senior strategy roles at National Express and Chiltern Railways, and founded Sn-ap, a venture-capital-backed digital marketplace for intercity travel. He is now the founder of Freewheeling, through which he advises cities, regions, transport operators and government bodies on strategy, innovation and reform.
He has given evidence to the UK Parliament Transport Select Committee and the London Assembly on subjects including integrated transport, HS2 and autonomous vehicles, and has taught city government innovation at the London School of Economics.
Thomas is a regular keynote speaker. His themes include the future of mobility and sustainable transport, why public transport is the foundation of successful cities, innovation and change in large organisations, and the lessons of founding and leading a tech startup.
Alongside keynotes, he works as a moderator, panel chair and workshop facilitator. He produces the widely followed Freewheeling Podcast and newsletter, and writes A History of Europe in 75 Train Journeys, a monthly series telling the history of the continent through its railways.