Over 400 participants from more than 20 countries gathered in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, for the IRF Europe & Central Asia Regional Conference, held in collaboration with the Bulgarian National Transport Infrastructure Conference. Under the theme Future Roads: Innovate, Invest, Achieve Zero the event brought together a diverse mix of public and private sector leaders, technical experts, and innovators to explore how road infrastructure can evolve to meet the demands of a connected, sustainable future.
Leadership Seminar on Road Pricing
Nina Elter, Founder and CEO of NEWROAD Consulting, co-chaired the Leadership Seminar on the Future of Road Pricing in Europe, a focused session that brought together key stakeholders and experts to explored some of the most pressing topics in the field. Discussions included the future of tolling, regional interoperability, and the evolving role of road user charging in transport funding systems.
The seminar was part of a broader effort of the IRF Global’s Road Pricing Committee, to facilitate open exchange on how road pricing can adapt to emerging technologies, user behavior, and environmental priorities.
Digitalization: Opportunity and challenges transforming Road Authorities into Digital Road Operators
Nina also served as moderator of the panel session on Digitalisation, which examined the transition of road authorities into digital road operators. The session addressed both the opportunities and challenges tied to digital asset management, the use of pricing and mobility data, and regional case studies from the BeNeLux. Speakers included representatives from CEDR, XenomatiX, Be-Mobile, and Route 66 Conseil.
“As we move towards a future where roads are not just physical infrastructure but connected, data-driven ecosystems, the role of digital transformation becomes critical,” said Nina Elter during the opening of the panel. “This shift presents road authorities with new opportunities to improve efficiency and safety—while also requiring us to address issues like system interoperability and legacy infrastructure.”
Overall, the event underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange to build more efficient and resilient road systems across the region. NEWROAD Consulting supported the organization of the event.
