Ian James | Head of Asset Management Strategy
National Highways

Ian James is Head of Asset Management Strategy at National Highways, with over 18 years of experience in the infrastructure sector. His career spans both rail and road, including roles at Transport for London and National Highways, where he has led business improvement initiatives that connect operational delivery with strategic planning. Ian has been instrumental in developing and embedding asset management frameworks aligned with ISO 55000, driving efficiency through consistent processes and long-term planning across diverse asset portfolios. A champion of innovation in asset management, Ian has led the development of risk-based, cross-asset investment decision making processes that support long-term business planning and investment prioritisation. His approach emphasises informed decision-making in the face of uncertainty, balancing available data with strategic judgement to assess asset performance, risk, and impact. Ian has consistently focused on improving business processes, enhancing organisational decision-making, and aligning asset management practices with broader strategic goals. His deep understanding of infrastructure systems, combined with his ability to engage technical, operational, and strategic stakeholders, supports more sustainable and resilient asset management taking account of environmental pressures and financial constraints.