**About the Editors**

**Michael Burrow** is senior lecturer in the School of Engineering at the University of Birmingham, and specialises in pro-poor infrastructure asset management. He has 20 years' experience in multi-disciplinary applied road research and capacity building with partners in Africa and South Asia and has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and professional reports on this work. Projects are on-going in Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Uganda. As director of the MSc Road Management and Engineering programme, Michael lectures in road asset management, risk management and rural roads for development. He currently supervises some 40 PhD research students in these and related topics. His excellence in teaching and mentoring was recognised with the 2018 Teaching Innovation Award by the Higher Education Futures institute; and the award for Excellence in Doctoral Research Supervision (College of EPS; 2018-19).

**Gurmel Ghataora** has a PhD in geotechnical engineering and some 50 years' experience in academic and industrial research on the geotechnics of transport infrastructure. His international experience includes materials' testing (laboratory and field), ground improvement, use of out-of-specification materials in construction, improvement of roads and railways, and laboratory research. His international experience includes on-going projects in Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, India, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Uganda. He lecturers in geotechnical engineering, rural roads and soil mechanics, and sustainable transport. He has published two books on materials and transportation geotechnics, several book chapters, and over 150 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers. Dr Ghataora has supervised over 60 research students.

**Bruce Thompson** is an independent transport policy adviser to international development clients. Currently, he is working for the DFID Applied Research Programme in High Volume Transport in Low-Income Countries in Africa and South Asia. While Head of Infrastructure Policy at DG Development at the European Commission in Brussels, he wrote the Commission's transport sector guidelines and EU policy communications on transport in EU development cooperation. He was a founding Board Member of the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) and has also worked in close coordination with the African Development Bank, the African Union Commission, UN Economic Commission for Africa, and the World Bank. His in-depth knowledge in the transport sector reflects his work in the private and public sectors and insights gained from living in developing countries, mainly Africa. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over 30 years' experience in developing transport policy, strategy, sectoral reform programmes, and in managing investment programmes.

**Bernard Obika** is leading the DFID funded Applied Research Programme in High Volume Transport in Low-Income countries in Africa and South Asia. The research programme aims to deliver an evidence base for transport that is affordable, efficient, green and safe. Dr Obika has a PhD from the University of Birmingham and has published some 40 technical papers and research reports on infrastructure and institutional development issues. Topics range from local contractor capacity development, and labour-based works, to soluble salt damage to bituminous surfacing of roads and runways in tropical environments. Committed to international development, Dr Obika has more than 30 years' experience in transport engineering, working for multilateral organisations, national governments and the private sector. During this time, he has been responsible for over 200 major infrastructure and institutional development projects in Africa, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, Europe and United Kingdom. In 2017, Powerlist nominated Dr Obika as one of the top 100 most influential black persons in the UK. In 2015, he was a finalist in European CEO of the Year in recognition of his contribution to transport and infrastructure development for governments in Africa and Asia.
