The rising demand for mobility, for both people and goods, can no longer be met by simply adding infrastructure or new transport modes. Space constraints, sustainability goals and the need to protect urban livability require a more integrated and holistic approach. This session explores how solutions ranging from smarter urban planning and behavioral change to innovative and sustainable mobility concepts, including the use of air mobility as a third dimension, can help maintain accessibility and connectivity now and in the future.
Karen Vancluysen was appointed Secretary General of POLIS in 2014, after having been its Research Director for 10 years. POLIS is the European network of cities and regions working together to develop sustainable and innovative urban mobility solutions for today and tomorrow. Before POLIS, Karen worked as network manager at ACCESS-Eurocities and project manager at Langzaam Verkeer. Since 1998, Karen has been involved in European urban transport networking and policy activities, as well as EU R&I projects in the field. She has been a speaker at many high-level events in Europe and beyond, on a wide range of sustainable mobility and innovation themes.
Biography of Mr. Eric Von Breska
Eric von Breska joined DG MOVE as Director for Investment, Innovative & Sustainable Transport on 1 November. Before joining DG MOVE, he worked in DG Budget as Director for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and Own Resources. He also worked in the Recovery and Resilience Task Force of the Secretariat General where he was responsible for the roll-out of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Finally, in DG REGIO he coordinated the preparation of 2021-2027 cohesion policy framework.
DATO SRI ALEXANDER NANTA LINGGI
Minister of Works, Malaysia | Chair of ITS Council Malaysia | Member of Parliament for Kapit (P.215)
Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi is the Minister of Works Malaysia, appointed in December 2022, and a five-term Member of Parliament for Kapit, Sarawak. He currently serves as Chair of ITS Council Malaysia, leading the national agenda in advancing Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) as a core pillar of Malaysia’s smart mobility and digital infrastructure transformation. With a background in Business Administration from the UK, he brings reform-oriented leadership, strategic governance, and strong institutional experience to public service.
As Minister of Works, he has been instrumental in transforming Malaysia’s infrastructure governance through digitalisation, transparency, and public participation. Under his stewardship, ITS has been repositioned as a strategic enabler for safer, smarter, and more efficient transport networks. As Chair of the ITS Council Malaysia, he drives cross-agency coordination, policy alignment, and industry collaboration to accelerate the implementation of smart traffic management systems, real-time data integration, highway monitoring technologies, and interoperable tolling frameworks.
He has championed the integration of digital technologies within road asset management, strengthening the Road Asset Management System (RAMS) with analytics-driven decision-making to improve lifecycle costing and predictive maintenance. His leadership also emphasises the harmonisation of ITS deployment across federal roads and expressways, ensuring greater efficiency in traffic flow, incident response, enforcement systems, and public safety.
A strong advocate of public-centric innovation, his landmark initiative—the MYJalan Campaign—transformed public complaints into a structured digital reporting ecosystem for road maintenance. The initiative, now institutionalised as a full-fledged programme, empowers citizens, enhances inter-agency coordination, and fosters accountability in infrastructure management. The success of MYJalan was highlighted globally at the 27th World Road Congress in Prague, affirming Malaysia’s innovative and technology-driven approach to infrastructure responsiveness.
In advancing ITS nationally, he also promotes partnerships with industry players, academia, and state governments to support Malaysia’s ITS Roadmap 2030, encouraging data governance standards, digital infrastructure resilience, and sustainable mobility solutions aligned with the Madani Government’s aspirations. His reform efforts also include improving procurement transparency, reducing project delays (Extension of Time or EOT), and enhancing cost efficiency through technology-enabled monitoring systems.
In addition to his federal duties, he serves as the Secretary-General of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and its coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), advocating for Sarawak’s infrastructure development, digital connectivity, and equitable resource allocation in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). He continues to bridge national infrastructure transformation with regional development priorities, ensuring that innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability remain central to Malaysia’s progress.
