In a podcast series released by the Public Transport Association of Australia and New Zealand (PTAANZ), some of Australia, and the world’s, leading female transport leaders discuss the issues shaping the future of buses, trains, ferries and more.
Women Who Move Nations was launched on International Women’s Day on March 8 and offers a unique perspective on the achievements of the women shaping the future of transport in a sector where only four per cent of CEOs are female.
Sponsored by smart technology leader NEC, the fortnightly podcast shines a light on the women trailblazers in Australia’s transport industry while tackling critical challenges such as advancing artificial intelligence, building more sustainable networks and making communities safer and more inclusive.
Among those interviewed for the podcast includes Victorian department of transport and planning senior advisor and equality trailblazer Michelle Sheppard, author and international transport researcher Dr Nicole Kalms and former director of transport in Houston, Texas Veronica Davis.
Davis features on the first episode of Women Who Move Nations, which is available now, where she discusses that getting drivers out of cars is a key transport movement underway.
“One of the big trends that we’re seeing is that kids aren’t getting their driver’s licence,” she says.
“So, we really need to be thinking about investing in other modes of transport for them like biking, walking and public transport because we know that people can thrive if they can access jobs and education.”
NEC senior product manager Kylie Gorham has more than 20 years of experience in the transportation industry.
“Knowing that we make the lives of millions of people easier every day is so rewarding,” Gorham says.
“In Australia, while women have historically been pivotal in customer-facing positions within transportation, it’s essential to foster greater inclusion of women in leadership roles such as design consultation and engineering to help develop safer, more accessible transport services the public can depend on.
:Smart transport solutions are improving passenger experiences from ticketing to safety and real time data and I’m excited to share some amazing insights on the podcast.”
The podcast series is hosted by former PTAANZ CEO Michelle Batsas, currently the executive director of future mobility at the Department of Transport Victoria. The series forms part of PTAANZ’s continued commitment to the future of sustainable mobility in the region.
“Women Who Move Nations highlights how women are shaping the future of how people move around our cities and towns,” PTAANZ interim CEO Dr Gillian Miles says.
“We hope to inspire future generations of female leaders to consider a career in public transport because our workforce needs to be as diverse as the communities we serve.”
Women Who Move Nations is available on all your favourite platforms, including Spotify and Apple.