The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. We are not a bank in the common sense. We are made up of two unique development institutions owned by 184 member countries—the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). Each institution plays a different but supportive role in our mission of global poverty reduction and the improvement of living standards. The IBRD focuses on middle income and creditworthy poor countries, while IDA focuses on the poorest countries in the world. Together we provide low-interest loans, interest-free credit and grants to developing countries for education, health, infrastructure, communications and many other purposes.

The World Bank
Ajay Kumar
Senior Transport Economist
1818 H St., NW, Washington, DC 20433 USA
tel: (202) 473-1000 / fax: (202) 477-6391 / akumar3@worldbank.org

CPCS TranscoM
CPCS Transcom is a Canadian-based consulting firm specializing in transport infrastructure commercialization. With over 800 projects in more than 70 countries completed to date, CPCS Transcom has become a recognized leader in mobilizing private investment for public infrastructure and services in the developing world. This is the firm’s core business - the name “transcom” is a combination of transportation and commercialization.

CPCS Transcom clients include national governments, public transit authorities, private and state-owned transportation organizations, and mining companies. We have also assisted the World Bank, CIDA, the African, Asian, Caribbean and the Inter American Development Banks, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the UNDP. More information on the company can be seen at www.cpcstrans.com.

CPCS Transcom Ltd.
72 Chamberlain Ave., Ottawa, ON K1S 1V9  Canada
tel: (613) 237-2500 / fax: (613) 237-4494 / Ottawa@cpcstrans.com / www.cpcstrans.com

Transit
Richard Iles, who was Team Leader for the Toolkit project, is a specialist in road transport planning, organization, management and economics, with over 35 years experience in the United Kingdom and overseas, particularly in developing countries

He has more than 10 years’ experience of managing bus companies in Africa, as well as passenger and freight transport companies in the UK. He has extensive consultancy experience in passenger and freight transport, and management of government vehicle fleets, in about 30 developing countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

Richard is the author of “Public Transport in Developing Countries,” published in 2005.

Richard Iles
7 Windsor Close, Rustington, West Sussex, BN16 3TJ  UK
011 44 903 771432 / rilestransport@aol.com / richrdiles (Skype)

Transit
Gordon Neilson is a Director of Neilson Consulting Ltd., a specialist public transport consultancy advising operators, governments and multi-national aid agencies. Prior to this he was Assistant General Manager at the largest bus operator in Hong Kong; a profitable company listed on the Hong Kong stock market and which carries over 3m passengers per day.

Much of his work in recent years has involved providing assistance to bus operators and governments in developing Asian countries concerning expansion of bus service to cater for growth in demand. This has often involved advice on options to reform the bus industry itself – usually with objectives to reduce costs and / or to raise standards – and also to reform the associated regulatory structure. This experience provided the background for his contribution to the Urban Bus Toolkit in general and to the Interactive Tool in particular.

Neilson Consulting Ltd.
1401 Beverly House, 93-107 Lockhart Road, Hong Kong
852 9181 7929 / gneilson@netvigator.com / gordonkneilson (Skype)

 

Financial:
Benjamin Darche was the financial specialist for the Urban Bus Toolkit. Mr. Darche provides financial consulting services for public and infrastructure projects in the US and Emerging Markets. Services range from assessing the broad policy, legal and regulatory framework for infrastructure projects and municipal finance to implementation of international and domestic financial transactions to raise capital for these projects. Areas of focus include procurement of private provision of public infrastructure services and “project finance”, municipal finance and credit analysis, capital investment planning for central and local governments and utilities, capital and recurrent budget preparation and analysis, and public utility regulation and finance, primarily in the transport and water sectors. He advises International Finance Institutions and external donors in these endeavors, and private sector clients bidding on public infrastructure projects.

Benjamin Darche
Public and Infrastructure Finance Consultant
39 Great Jones St. #3, New York, NY, USA 10012
(212) 614.2441 / bdarche@aol.com / bdarche(Skype)

 

Legal:
André Pretto holds a Bachelor of Law, Civil Law and Arts from McGill University, Canada. Over the past 10 years, he has specialized in transport sector (port, rail, road, and airport) regulatory issues including recent experience drafting policies and concession agreements in the port/maritime sector in Asia and Africa.

Mr. Pretto has designed enabling legislation for the regulation of transportation services worldwide and will bring to this project an unparalleled understanding of international best practice. He has designed model concession contracts for transportation privatization projects in over a dozen countries. In each case these concession agreements have facilitated private sector participation (Public-Private Partnerships).Having advised Governments on regulatory issues for various modes of transportation, Mr. Pretto is highly qualified to review and take into consideration the work being carried out in other sectors with particular reference to port concessioning.

CPCS Transcom Ltd.
72 Chamberlain Ave., Ottawa, ON K1S 1V9  Canada
tel: (613) 237-2500 / fax: (613) 237-4494 / apretto@cpcstrans.com / www.cpcstrans.com

Bonsall Communications
Bonsall Communications provides a wide range of communications services, including copy writing, editing, speech writing and training web writers.

We developed the information architecture for the Urban Bus Toolkit. This involves creating a navigation plan to clearly define where information appears on a website. This critical step saves money, time and effort by ensuring that content development, web design and programming are executed efficiently and in line with project goals. Editing text for the web adapts content so online readers find it engaging and easy to absorb.

Matthew Bonsall, CIM, MJ
Principal, Bonsall Communications
32 Third Ave., Ottawa, ON, K1S 2J6, Canada
(613) 761.3871 / matt@bonsall.ca / www.bonsall.ca / mattbonsall (Skype)

Epton Creative Group
Epton Creative Group is one of North America’s best-kept secrets. Working behind the scenes this intimate company has established itself as the go-to communications agency that clients can rely on to deliver their web and print promotions.

Versed in most programming languages including HTML, XML, Java, ActionSript, ASP and ColdFussion the Epton Creative Group is not only able to interpret your design aspirations but also to bring your promotion to life. Combining print, web and CD ROM production, the Epton Creative Group work independently and as part of a collective of artists, designers and programmers to fulfill client needs.

As well as designing web sites and print material for Transport Canada and the Canadian Urban Transportation Association, the Epton Creative Group has also developed such notable products as Mirimax “Gone in 60 Seconds” DVD, Canadian National Art Centre 2004 and 2005 North American Tours, the National Gallery of Canada "Rideau Chapel" site and Mitel Networks “Life of Brian” Animated CD ROM. For samples and references please contact franc@epton.com

Franclin Epton
Founding Partner, Epton Creative Group
27 Edina St., Ottawa, ON, K1Y 3P1, Canada
(613) 728.0077 / franc@epton.com / www.epton.com