Robert Christopher Petts has more than 50 years of professional experience working in over 40 African, Middle Eastern, Asian, Pacific and European countries, of which 44 years have been involved with developing countries and transport infrastructure for inter-urban routes and rural communities. He has been involved with the development of systems, technologies and techniques appropriate for a range of limited resource environments; making best use of local resources such as labour, materials, enterprises and locally made equipment. He has advised various countries on development of government policy and strategy. He played a leading role in drafting rural road pavement, structures and maintenance sections within the Ethiopian and South Sudan Rural Road Manuals. He is author of a number of sector reference documents, such as the WRA (PIARC) International Road Maintenance Handbook and the Handbook of Intermediate Equipment for roadworks in Developing and Emerging Regions. He is co-author of the international Low Volume Rural Road Surfacing and Pavements - A Guide to Good Practice, and the gTKP Small Structures for Rural Roads Guideline. He is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow for the University of Birmingham and advisor to the London University School of Oriental and African Studies.