Hinesh Mehta, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham

Meet Hinesh Mehta – Nominated by the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham

Balancing urban growth with clean air and new mobility 

Hinesh Mehta is the Assistant Director for Climate and Transport at the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, a busy area of West London. With experience in climate strategy and policy and transport planning, Hinesh leads the council’s work to reach its net zero emissions target by 2030 while improving transport to be cleaner, greener and more accessible. 

“My team focuses on cutting the council’s emissions and encouraging people across the borough to choose sustainable travel,” Hinesh said.  

Hammersmith & Fulham faces many challenges, including heavy traffic, diverse road users and ongoing development projects. Hinesh manages these by promoting walking and cycling, reducing emissions and finding safe ways to include new transport options like e-bikes and e-scooters. 

“One big challenge is fitting new types of micro-mobility into our limited road space while also improving air quality to meet WHO standards,” he said. 

Hinesh is also involved in major projects like the new HS2 high-speed rail station coming to the borough, which will bring both opportunities and transport challenges. 

In his role, Hinesh ensures new developments are planned with sustainability in mind, from using eco-friendly building materials to planning travel after construction. The goal is to create cleaner, greener and more welcoming public spaces. 

“My job is to help the borough grow in a way that supports a vibrant, sustainable environment where people want to live, work and travel,” he said. 

Growing leadership for a changing urban landscape 

Having recently taken on both climate and transport responsibilities, Hinesh joined the Emerging Leaders program to strengthen his leadership skills alongside his technical expertise. 

For Hinesh, the program isn’t just about personal development – it’s about making a real difference.

“This program perfectly combines transport, climate and leadership – all essential for the future of urban mobility. I want to learn what it truly means to be a leader in this changing field,” he said.

“Strong leadership in climate and transport is key to building sustainable cities that work for everyone. This program gives me the knowledge, confidence and connections to help make that happen – here in London and across Europe.”