EPA NEWS Interview with Theo Thuis “If You’re Involved in Mobility or Parking, this is the Place to be” Joanne Sutcliffe, the newest member of the EPA Secretariat sat down with Theo Thuis, Chair of EPA’s Scientific Committee, to ask the questions everyone’s been hoping someone else would ask first! h u R o k r a M © So, what does the Scientific Committee actually do? Think of us as the architects of the Conference Program. The Scientific Committee is respon- sible for designing and shaping the official content of the 21st European Parking Confer- ence and Exhibition—deciding what’s dis- cussed, who’s speaking, and how we tie every- thing together under this year’s theme. We’ve just published the latest version of the draft program on the Conference website1, with de- tails on session outlines, speakers, modera- tors, and their respective organizations. The program will continue to be updated with even more details as we get closer to the event—so keep in mind, it’s still subject to change. Who exactly is on the Committee? The Committee itself brings together a fantastic range of expertise and includes selected EPA Board members2 along with representatives from key partner organizations such as the Erasmus University Rotter- dam, POLIS and ALICE. Our Board members, who are in contact with the national parking associations, have incorporated their demands and special interests. We’re also supported by the EPA Secretariat and benefit from the experience and ongoing involvement of our former President, Laurence Bannerman. It’s a truly collaborative effort. Was this Committee created just for the conference, or do you have other missions too? In recent years, the Scientific Committee has played an increasingly strategic role in shaping both the intellectual direction and practical advancements within the parking and mobility sector. While cur- rently focused on preparing the upcoming conference program, the committee continues to build vital links between academia, industry, and public policy. The committee has no internal staffing but instead relies heavily on external partnerships to carry out its work. Collabo- rations span a wide geographic area and include Universities. These partnerships support targeted research initiatives on pressing issues such as energy use, EV charging, and grid capacity. When you’re planning something this big, where on earth do you start? We began over a year ago by carefully and jointly selecting the theme: ‘Reshaping Urban Space – Delivering Sustainable Parking Management and Mobility Solutions.’ It’s a vital topic. Too often, parking is seen as the problem when, in fact, it's a response to demand—created by shopping cent- ers, events, and other destinations. Parking isn’t the cause of congestion; it's part of the solution! In collaboration with our partners, we chose this theme to reflect a growing challenge: cars are consuming excessive urban space. Cities like Lon- don and Paris are already acting by reducing road capacity and shifting parking off-street. Many cit- ies aim to cut car movements, though public ac- ceptance remains a hurdle. That’s why we focus on parking management—not just where cars are stored, but how space is used. It’s about matching supply with demand to find the right balance. While regulated, paid parking represents just 10% of the market, the majority lies in inner cities, shopping centers, airports, hospitals, and event centers. What’s the deal with the Plenary session—is it like how a concert has an opening number that gets everyone hooked? Yes, it is kind of like that! We’ve put a lot of thought into the opening session. I always prefer to start with a lively debate that brings differ- ent perspectives to the theme. So, following the welcome from our President, Nigel Williams, and a high-level keynote from the Europe- an Commission, we’ve invited our partners to join a panel discussion. The session will include speakers from ERTICO-ITS Europe, Erasmus University, ALICE, and POLIS, who will help set the stage—offering fresh insights and a thought-provoking introduction to our central theme: Reshaping Urban Space. We recognize that many attendees come to reconnect with col- leagues from across Europe, attend the European Parking Awards, or simply enjoy the social events, such as the welcome reception and walking dinner. So, the opening session needs to be engaging and rele- vant. We want to ease people into the conference by making the theme not only clear, but also applicable and compelling. Our goal is to spark interest and encourage everyone to dive deeper into the program. Quick one: what’s the real difference between a workshop and a parallel session? Or is it just a fancy name thing? Well, actually, there are four types of sessions at the conference: Policy Sessions: These sessions explore emerging issues and provide background on key developments shaping the sector. For instance, one session will focus on the role of artificial intelligence in parking and mobility, offering insights into how AI is transforming our industry. 24 Parking trend international | no. 2-2025