Adam Johnston Joins the ITS New Zealand Governance Board

RUC on Rails founder and CEO Adam Johnston has joined the governance board of Intelligent Transport Systems New Zealand, commonly known as ITS New Zealand or ITSNZ.

ITS New Zealand is the national peak body for intelligent transport systems. The independent, not-for-profit organisation connects government agencies, transport operators, infrastructure businesses, researchers, and technology companies working to make transport safer, smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable.

Its membership represents more than 40 organisations across the New Zealand transport sector, including NZTA, EROAD, Toyota, Siemens, Cubic Transportation Systems, Beca, AECOM, WSP, Aurecon, the University of Auckland, and a growing group of emerging transport technology companies.

Johnston joins the organisation’s governance board, rather than its general membership, and will contribute to the strategic direction, advocacy, and industry priorities of ITS New Zealand.

At 23, he joins a board made up of senior leaders from across transport technology, local and central government, research, infrastructure, and mobility.

“It is a real privilege to join the governance board of an organisation that represents such a broad cross-section of New Zealand’s transport sector,” says Johnston.

“What stands out about this industry is its willingness to share knowledge and work toward common outcomes, even where organisations have different commercial interests. I’m looking forward to contributing a consumer, startup, and emerging-technology perspective to that work.”

ITS New Zealand acts as a bridge between government, industry, and innovators. Its work includes sector advocacy, industry events, international collaboration, and connecting New Zealand with the wider ITS Asia-Pacific network.

The organisation also hosts the annual T-Tech conference, which brings together national and international leaders working across intelligent infrastructure, automation, mobility, digital systems, and transport data.

Johnston’s appointment follows RUC on Rails’ involvement at T-Tech 2026, where the company presented its Future RUC Consumer Expectations Research to the wider transport sector.

“Transport technology cannot only be designed around infrastructure and operators,” Johnston says.

“It also has to work for the people expected to use it. I’m excited to help bring that consumer perspective into the wider governance and direction of the intelligent transport sector.”

Johnston will continue leading RUC on Rails alongside his role as an ITS New Zealand Board Member.

You can learn more about the ITS New Zealand Board and governance structure here:

View the ITS New Zealand Board