How can our streets and public spaces be redesigned to safely and effectively support connected and automated mobility (CCAM)? In this session, leading experts from across Europe explore what it takes to prepare public space for automated transport.
Hamid Zarghampour (Trafikverket), Vibeke Harlem (PAVE Europe), Michael Nikowitz (Austrian Federal Ministry) and Gonzalo Alcaraz (IRF) will discuss the role of infrastructure, policy and standards in enabling large-scale deployment of automated vehicles. Together, they will share insights on how cities and road authorities can adapt public space to support innovation while ensuring safety, accessibility and public value.
Gonzalo Alcaraz, a seasoned expert in transportation technology, currently serves as the Director General of the International Road Federation (IRF). With over 15 years of experience in Internet of Things (IoT), urban mobility, Vehicle-to-Infrastructure communication (V2X), and Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM), Gonzalo Alcaraz has made significant contributions to the field.
Gonzalo holds a Telecommunications Engineering degree from Universidad Blas Pascal (Argentina), where he graduated in the top 5% of his class. He also completed a II Level Specializing Master in Wireless Systems and Related Technologies at Politecnico di Torino (Italy) and an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology (Sweden), with a thesis on “Measuring Disruptive Susceptibility: Insights from the ITS Industry”.
He has collaborated with industry leaders, government agencies, and academic institutions to integrate advanced technologies into transportation systems, significantly enhancing safety, efficiency, and sustainability. A multilingual professional, Gonzalo is fluent in Italian, English, and French, with native proficiency in Spanish.
Hamid is Chief Strategist at a national transport authority and Vice Chair of the CCAM Partnership. Responsible for coordinating research and innovation in digital infrastructure and mobility development, with a focus on practical infrastructure policy and the safe, structured introduction of connected and automated mobility on public roads.
Michael Nikowitz serves as the Coordinator for Automated Mobility at Austria’s Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI). In this role, he is responsible for national strategies and action plans on automated mobility. He currently leads the development of a new regulatory framework for automated driving in Austria.
He holds a Master of Science in Engineering (Mechatronics & Robotics and Laser Engineering) from the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Vienna.
Before joining the ministry, Michael spent several years in the automotive sector as a robotics engineer and laser scientist, specializing in ultrashort-pulse laser systems. He later joined the Austrian Association for Advanced Propulsion Systems (A3PS), where he represented Austria at the International Energy Agency and co-authored technology roadmaps and working groups on eco-mobility and automated driving.
Since 2016, he has coordinated the Ministry’s initiatives on cooperative, connected, and automated mobility.
Alongside his government responsibilities, Michael lectures at universities on topics such as automated mobility, robotics, and laser engineering. He is also an active author of technical papers and industry publications on hybrid and electric vehicles as well as automated-mobility solutions.
Vibeke Harlem is Vice-Chair of Pave Europe and Director of Radical innovation in Ruter AS, the public transport authority in Oslo region. Vibeke has previous experience from telecom and has a long career in public transport. She has been a central figure in Ruter the last 16 years and she has been responsible for Ruters strategy and pilots with autonomous vehicles. Vibeke has been an contributor to the work with Ruters Mobility Study (The Oslo study), to investigate how autonomous vehicles may change transport in Oslo-Region”. Vibeke has business- and customer-centric approach and is always seeking innovative ways to meet customers needs and enhance services for the benefit of the community.
Tom Alkim is Strategic Advisor for Connected & Automated Mobility at MAPtm, a Dutch company specializing in intelligent transport systems with consultancy, digital and operational services. With 25 years of experience in the public sector, Tom has played a leading role in advancing dynamic traffic management, cooperative ITS, and connected & automated Mobility. His career includes long-standing contributions at Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management, and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Research & Innovation.
During the Dutch EU presidency in 2016, Tom was a core team member behind two landmark initiatives: the Declaration of Amsterdam and the European Truck Platooning Challenge, both of which helped set the stage for Europe’s connected and automated mobility future.
Tom is actively engaged in international collaboration and thought leadership. He serves as the CCAM Partnership delegate for Physical & Digital Infrastructure, chairs the International Taskforce on Vehicle-Highway Automation (ITFVHA), co-chairs the IRF Connected and Autonomous Mobility Committee (CAMC) and sits on the International Advisory Board of Intertraffic. His current work spans several National and European research and innovation initiatives. Through these roles, Tom continues to shape the future of responsible, connected & automated mobility in Europe and beyond.
