IAM RoadSmart welcomes Shona Johnstone as Chair

• New Chair emphasises dedication to road safety and sustainable transport. Outgoing chair Stuart Donald QPM will take up role of Vice President

The UK’s leading independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart is delighted to announce the appointment of Shona Johnstone to the position of Chair. 

Shona, a highly experienced transport policy professional with a background in sustainable transport, will join the board in April from the Thames Estuary Growth Board executive team, where she has been Portfolio Director for Housing and Infrastructure. She was also Vice Chair of the Local Government Association Economy and Transport Board, a member of the Commission for Integrated Transport, and National Cycling Strategy Board.  

Shona is a dedicated ambassador for road safety, with a deep understanding of the various elements that make up the road user network. Driven by a passion for enhancing the lives of others, she has dedicated nearly her entire career to public service.

Shona replaces outgoing Chair Stuart Donald QPM, who has been a member of IAM RoadSmart for 34 years and joined the Council as a trustee in 2020, becoming Chair in 2021. He brought with him extensive experience and knowledge of road safety following a successful career in policing. Stuart will become IAM RoadSmart Vice President once he steps away from the role of Chair.

IAM RoadSmart Chief Executive Antony Kildare said: “Everyone at IAM RoadSmart is excited to welcome Shona as our new Chair; she brings a wealth of experience and positive energy that perfectly complements our transformation plans. I’d also personally like to thank Stuart for everything that he has done to help shape the charity as Chair and I am delighted he will continue to support our purpose as our new Vice President.”

IAM RoadSmart Chair Shona Johnstone said: “I am thrilled to be joining IAM RoadSmart as Chair at such an important time. The charity has a strong history, and its staff, members and volunteers have a real dedicated passion to raising standards on our roads. I look forward to working with the Trustees during this period of transformation spearheaded by Tony Kildare and his senior team. I’d also like to thank Stuart for his strong stewardship of the charity over the last four years and wish him well as the new Vice President.”

IAM RoadSmart outgoing Chair and new Vice President Stuart Donald QPM said: “When I became Chair in 2021, the country was just emerging from the pandemic. I am immensely proud of the progress we’ve made at IAM RoadSmart since then and I’d like to thank Tony, the team and all our members for their dedication and hard work. I am delighted that I can still play a part in the future of the charity as Vice President, and I’d also like to wish Shona all the best as our new Chair.”

Notes to editors

For interviews, contact the IAM RoadSmart press office on press.office@iam.org.uk / 020 8996 9777

About IAM RoadSmart

IAM RoadSmart is the UK’s largest road safety charity providing advanced driver and rider training. It has a vision of a society where all road users can safely use the public highways together.

IAM RoadSmart was formed in March 1956 and has around 70,000 members and 5,000 volunteers that support its campaigns on road safety. At any one time there are more than 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses.