AET Mid-Year Events

AET Council, Board and Ambassadors meet around TMF Event in Porto

Over the last three years, a new pattern of mid-year (between the autumn conferences) in-person events for AET has emerged. While fewer and fewer programme committees now meet in person, the Transport and Mobility Forum (TMF) first scheduled a hybrid event around the meeting of the Local Public Transport Programme Committee meeting in Vienna in April 2023. 

In 2024, it held a hybrid event to coincide with the Council Meeting in Berlin in March. This year, again, a hybrid event was held to coincide with the Council Meeting on 8th March in Porto. This time, the Ambassadors were also invited to attend, to meet with Council and Board members and to hold their annual in-person workshop which had traditionally been attached to the Board meeting in early February. 

Activities were rounded off by a technical visit to CEiiA, the Engineering and Product Development Centre that designs, implements and operates innovative products and systems in aeronautics, automotive, urban mobility and space technology.

There was a guided tour of the facilities at the University of Porto, including the opportunity to try the University’s HGV driving simulator, and a dinner bringing together the Council, Board and Ambassadors.

As most Board members usually attend the March Council meeting to report on the Board’s activities, this is now developing into a significant mid-year gathering and an opportunity for AET members and supporters to meet and network in person in between the European Transport Conferences.

The Porto events attracted very good attendance and the TMF, Council, Board and Ambassadors are planning to hold a similar mid-year gathering next year at a location to be determined.