Transport Manager 2026 - Speakers

Ben Fletcher

Chief Executive
Logistics UK

Bio

Ben Fletcher joined as Chief Executive of Logistics UK in January 2026, bringing extensive experience from senior roles in government and leading trade bodies. Previously Ben was the Chief Operating Officer at Make UK, representing the manufacturing sector where he helped establish the organisation as one the country’s most credible business voices. A notable success from his time there was the introduction of the Industrial Strategy in June 2025 which injected billions of pounds into the advanced manufacturing sector and followed several years of dedicated campaigning. Prior to his career in business organisations, Ben delivered transformational change in the UK’s largest operational government agency, led the Home Secretary’s strategic policy team and played a key leadership role in the successful security operation for the London 2012 Olympics. Following the Games, Ben drove international trade opportunities for UK businesses, leading senior delegations to numerous countries including Rio, Tokyo and across the Gulf. Ben later served as a Director at the London Legacy Development Corporation, working with London Mayors Boris Johnson and Sadiq Khan to deliver the most successful ever post-Games legacy and regeneration programme.

Michelle Gardner

Chief of Staff
Logistics UK

Bio

Chris Lipscomb

Director of Operations
Logistics UK

Bio

Chris joined the Logistics UK in December 2018 with over 25 years of operational leadership experience gained across manufacturing, supply chain and transport management. During this time Chris has worked for a number of household name multinational food manufacturers, PepsiCo and Mars, as well as a number of family owned and run SME’s in the food and chemical supply industry. Chris is a graduate of Heriot- Watt University, Edinburgh, where he studied Microbiology.

Jemma James

Director of Partnerships and Digital Services
Logistics UK

Bio

Jemma James is an Executive Director with over 20 years of experience spanning logistics, IT (SaaS), compliance, and professional services. As Logistics UK’s Digital Development Director, she is responsible for leading Logistics UK’s market-leading Vision compliance platform. Prior to joining Logistics UK, Jemma was Managing Director at TruTac, part of the Microlise Group, where she played a key role in developing advanced transport compliance technologies. With a strong background in sales, marketing, risk management, commercial operations, and change leadership, Jemma has delivered strategic initiatives across a range of sectors. She brings a fresh, honest leadership style and a well-rounded commercial awareness, helping teams and businesses navigate change and drive growth. Jemma is passionate about logistics, road safety, and the role of technology in improving operational standards alongside championing innovation and best practice across the industry.

Ben Garrett

Chief External Affairs Officer
Logistics UK

Bio

Ben Garratt is Interim Director of Policy and Communications at Logistics UK. He is responsible for strengthening the organisation’s influence through credible, evidence‑based and forward‑looking policy positions and communications activity, ensuring the views and priorities of members and the wider industry are at the heart of decision‑making. Ben previously served as Deputy Director – Public Affairs at Logistics UK, where he led the Public Affairs team and oversaw engagement across political and regulatory spheres. Before joining Logistics UK, Ben was Head of Stakeholder Engagement at intercity train operator LNER, leading its public affairs, internal communications and community investment work. His earlier career includes senior roles in communications and public affairs at the Department for Transport and Westbourne Communications, as well as positions in Parliament and at Labour Friends of Israel. Ben holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in Politics and International Politics from the University of Liverpool.

Maddi Solloway-Price

Interim Deputy Director of Policy
Logistics UK

Bio

Maddi Solloway-Price is the Interim Deputy Director of Policy and leads Logistics UK’s Road Freight team as the Head of Road Freight and Infrastructure Policy, championing the needs of the logistics sector across a wide spectrum of issues, from engineering policy and road regulation to driver welfare, freight crime, and roadside facilities.    Maddi brings insight into the workings of government and how to drive meaningful change on behalf of Logistics UK’s members. Her strategic leadership ensures that the voice of the logistics industry, particularly its drivers, is heard at the highest levels of decision-making. Maddi is passionate about securing recognition and prioritisation for the logistics sector, advocating tirelessly to ensure that the industry’s vital role in the UK economy is both understood and supported by policymakers.

Katia Yakovleva

Interim Deputy Director of Engagement & Membership
Logistics UK

Bio

Katia is responsible for developing Logistics UK’s strategy for optimising member engagement across the business, elevating the member experience, accelerating membership growth, developing Logistics UK’s executive membership offering, and growing membership across the multimodal sectors. Katia also manages a successful and dynamic Logistics UK’s events team, responsible for planning and delivering a challenging programme of over 30 thought leadership, celebratory and compliance events, that are well-regarded by the wider logistics industry, Logistics UK membership, policy makers, public servants and suppliers to the industry. Marketing and comms professional with 20+ years of strategic, entrepreneurial and management experience, during her career Katia owned and managed a successful marketing consultancy business and led the delivery of multiple bespoke projects across various sectors.

Martin Candish

Head of Compliance Information
Logistics UK

Bio

Martin Candish IEng MSOE MIRTE, is responsible for Logistics UK’s compliance information output and the member advice centre. He has worked for Logistics UK since 2003, with previous roles within the vehicle inspection service starting as area engineer, then team manager, and latterly technical manager. A time-served vehicle engineer working in both fleet and dealer environments, he has also worked as a technical officer for DVSA. In parallel to this, Martin served 13 years as a vehicle mechanic in the Army Reserve, including operational service, and is currently a serving firefighter for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue. He has many years of technical, operational, and managerial experience with lots of practical knowledge gained from across the logistics industry.

Arthur Gribbin

Engineering Policy Lead
Logistics UK

Bio

Arthur Gribbin is an experienced engineering and policy leader with more than 30 years of expertise spanning the defence, transport, and energy sectors. As Engineering Policy Lead at Logistics UK, he works closely with industry, government, and regulators to support innovation, safety, and workforce development across the commercial vehicle sector. His recent focus has centred on electric vehicles, hydrogen technologies, and the transition to low-carbon transport. Arthur has led multidisciplinary teams, delivered complex engineering programmes, and built strong partnerships across both public and private organisations.

Chris Yarsley

Senior Policy Manager, Road Freight Regulation
Logistics UK

Bio

Chris Yarsley is Logistics UK’s Road Freight Regulation Policy Manager with responsibilities for policy areas such as Drivers Hours; Driver CPC; FORS governance. He leads on the Association’s relationships with the Department for Transport and DVSA. Until recently, he was the lead policy manager for members in Wales, the Southwest and the Midlands.

Tom Griffith