At Optibus, we believe that the people working tirelessly to keep our cities moving are among today's greatest unsung heroes. That's why we are thrilled to present the Optibus Public Transportation Hero Award to Laura Mclean, UK Lead Network Systems & Data at First Bus.
Laura has led First Bus's network planners through a new era of data-driven scheduling. She brought real-world performance data into the platform used to plan more than 4,000 buses across the UK, and built a culture of continuous learning so that planners get the most out of their tools.
The award was presented at an Optibus event in Birmingham, UK, on November 3, 2026, during Euro Bus Expo, in front of Laura's colleagues and industry peers.
"Laura has made such a difference in the role of Network Systems manager. Her attitude is outstanding, as is her technical competence. She really is committed to improving the use of technology in bus planning, as well as supporting all users. For example, setting up user groups and hugely increasing employee engagement. She's an absolute star and I couldn't ask any more of her," said Allan Riggall, Director of Networks at First Bus.
Who is Laura Mclean?
Laura leads First Bus's UK Network Systems & Data team. She is responsible for the systems and data that First Bus planners rely on every day across its UK operating companies, from Glasgow to Somerset. That includes evaluating new technology, rolling it out, and making sure every planner can use it well.
That work affects a lot of people. First Bus is one of the UK's largest bus operators, connecting communities from Aberdeen to Somerset. Its regional bus services carry more than 1 million passenger journeys a day. Across First Bus, including London, the company runs around 6,000 buses and coaches from 70 depots and employs 18,000 people. Its regional and London services reach more than 20% of the UK population.
In the 2026 financial year, First Bus brought its network planning teams together, moving from several local units into two central teams. The aim was to deliver data-led pricing strategies and network efficiencies with greater consistency across all its business units. That puts the systems and data Laura's team manages at the centre of how First Bus plans its network.
Laura and her team of two have been central to First Bus's partnership with Optibus, which began in 2018 and recently renewed for a further five years.
What did Laura achieve?
- Bringing on-time performance into scheduling: Laura played a key role in evaluating the Optibus Performance Suite and then led its rollout at First Bus. The Performance Suite uses real-world vehicle data from Mosaiq by Snapper Services to show planners where services run late and why, and it feeds those insights straight back into the timetable. Early results are promising: a timetable revision informed by Performance Suite on Bristol service 24 improved performance by 9.3%.
- Building a culture of best practice: Laura is also leading a First Bus initiative to keep planners up to date on new capabilities and to standardise best practice across the UK business, so every depot gets the full value of its planning tools.
- A bridge between users and technology: Laura is the go-to connection between First Bus's planners and its technology partners. She turns user needs into clear priorities and keeps projects moving calmly, even when challenges come up.
- Championing women in bus and coach: Laura is a strong advocate for women in the bus and coach industry, and she leads a department with a strong female team. In 2025, she was Highly Commended for the Rising Star award at the Women in Coach and Bus Awards, for her exceptional potential and early career accomplishments in the bus sector.
"Laura is extremely knowledgeable, with a way of thinking that is genuinely on another level, and she brings that intelligence and curiosity to everything she does. She gives 110% to everything she takes on, has an incredible work ethic, and somehow does it all with patience, calm and good humour. She’s also just an all-round great person and a true Public Transportation Hero” said Lindsay Smalley-Ward, Senior Strategic Accounts Manager at Optibus.
Hear from Laura and how she created a more data-driven team
Laura joined Optibus and Mosaiq by Snapper Services for the webinar "The Performance Suite: From Real-World Analytics to Schedule Optimization" on 26 October 2026.
What is the Optibus Public Transportation Hero Award?
The Optibus Public Transportation Hero Award recognizes those who go above and beyond to improve mobility in their communities, whether through innovation, advocacy, leadership, or everyday action. Anyone can submit a nomination for the award. Just visit this link and click "Submit Nomination."
About Optibus
Optibus is a unified software platform for public transportation planning, scheduling, rostering, operations, real-time control, and passenger information, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and optimization algorithms. In thousands of cities worldwide, transportation agencies and operators use Optibus to maximize the positive impact of public transportation on passengers and the planet, improve operational efficiency and service quality, promote transportation equity, reduce emissions and costs, and modernize operations. Learn more: www.optibus.com
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