'March Forward' with Roads Australia this International Women's Day, as we celebrate public and private sector progress towards an inclusive and sustainable workforce.

RA is committed to building a transport sector that attracts, engages and retains women as part of a diverse workforce, while shaping the transport networks of the future.
Over 1,000 RA members identified in RA’s 2024 'Strength in diversity: Empowering women in the transport sector’ report that the challenges facing our industry, in truly representing the broader society in which we operate, are clear. We must challenge one another to do better, to acknowledge the issues and take action to create a sustainable workforce that actively supports women at every level and every part of the transport supply chain.

This year, we take on the challenge to turn promises into progress. What can we learn from those in our industry who are taking the bold steps? How do we take these lessons and implement them to continue the March Forward to gender equality in our industry?

The pathway to a more representative industry is a shared one. Our IWD series are inclusive and open for all genders and careers. Collectively, we can make a difference and we hope to see a diverse audience committing to a culture of inclusion.

#MarchForward

Our speaker:

The Hon Jenny Aitchison MP | Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

The Hon. Jenny Aitchison was appointed Minister for Regional Transport and Roads in April 2023 in the Minns Labor Government. Jenny served in Shadow Cabinet for seven years and was Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads from 2021. She held a variety of diverse portfolios including Primary Industries, Investment & Tourism, Medical Research, Prevention of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, Small Business and Women.

Jenny has lived in regional NSW for over 25 years, initially in Walcha on the New England Tablelands, and then Maitland. Jenny was elected to represent the community of Maitland in 2015. As an award-winning coach tour operator for nearly two decades before she entered Parliament, Jenny was a strong advocate for the bus and tourism industry, serving on State and Federal committees and presenting to conferences of Bus NSW and the Bus Industry Confederation on issues such as resilience, environment, critical incident and safety management,disability access, increasing patronage, tourism and economic development, and the transition to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

Jenny is a passionate advocate for regional roads, understanding its vital contribution to job creation, social inclusion and regional development.

Our panellists:

Kerryn Coker | Co-Chair | Arup Australasia

Kerryn Coker was appointed Co-Chair for Arup Australasia region, encompassing Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, in April 2021. Responsible for strategy implementation and business performance delivered by 3,000 engineers, designers and consultants working across the built environment in Region, she also sits on the global management executive overseeing the performance of the 18,000 person strong global business.

As part of her role Kerryn has led the execution of our global sustainable development strategy in Australasia, aligning business and project outcomes with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Kerryn serves as the Chair of Consult Australia’s Champions of Change Coalition, advocating for progressive leadership in accelerating gender equality. She is a prominent figure in the built environment industry, frequently presenting on critical issues such as sustainable development, regenerative and nature-based design, future cities, women in STEM and leadership referencing her own experience role modelling a shared approach to senior leadership roles

Stefanie Nutt | People and Culture Director – M7M12 Integration Project | John Holland

People and Culture Director at John Holland's M7-M12 Integration project, Stefanie Nutt has spearheaded ground-breaking initiatives including the Late-Start program and Flex from the Start, which normalise flexible working conditions in construction and has resulted in industry leading female representation on the project of 30%. Her focus is on innovating, and reimagining how the construction industry can attract and retain a more diverse workforce.

In partnership with:

If you are interested in partnership opportunities, please email emma.drummond@roads.org.au

Dress code: Business attire

Dietaries: Please inform of any dietary requirements 2 weeks prior to the event

Seating: Please submit all seating requests 2 weeks prior to the event

Please ensure you make your booking using the appropriate rate. Bookings from non-member companies that book at a member rate will be contacted and asked to rebook at the correct price. If you are unsure of your organisation's membership status with RA, please contact events@roads.org.au

The Event Organiser reserves the right to use any recordings whether audio or video and/or any photographs taken at any stage during the event for promotional, advertising or reporting of the meeting and/or its content at their sole discretion. If you have any concerns, please contact the team via events@roads.org.au