Highways UK 2024 was an exciting and rewarding event for Women in Transport. Over two days, we engaged with 227 people at our stand, with many interested in learning more about our organisation, its benefits and the opportunities we offer. A special shout-out goes to Jennie Harrison (volunteer and Associate at Pell Freischman) who personally spoke to and scanned 117 people! We are delighted that three people signed up as members on the spot, with many others requesting more information about joining.
Professional Development Hub Sessions
Our two lunchtime sessions at the Professional Development Hub were a resounding success. The “Lead Development Taster Session” on day one, delivered by Directors of Lead Programme Iain Smith and Shireen Ali-Khan, attracted a large crowd. On day two, Angela Gainsford and Steve Griffiths who co-deliver the Advance mentoring programme hosted “The Power of Mentoring”, a session that also drew considerable interest. Both sessions inspired follow-up conversations with attendees at our stand, eager to continue their professional development journeys.
Panel Sessions and Insights
The Women in Transport panel was one of the event highlights, drawing a full audience and sparking meaningful discussions on inclusion and diversity in the highways sector. Many attendees came to our stand afterwards to continue these vital conversations.
Our President, Jo Field, took part in the Keynote Plenary on “Rebranding the Sector to Attract and Retain Talent”, sharing her insights on the future of roads and the need for environmental responsibility, greener construction methods and long-term funding certainty.
“It was a vibrant event with a great atmosphere and a diverse crowd,” Jo said. “It was great to see so much positivity for the future of roads and the inspiring conversations at our Women in Transport stand. A personal highlight was our lively keynote panel, where we discussed how to rebrand the sector to attract new talent. My key takeaway was the importance of community engagement to reach new audiences and discover how we can bring them into transport careers.”
Hannah Fuller (volunteer and Director of Commercial Relationships at Unity 5) and Vice President Marny Moruzzi also delivered impactful presentations on other panels, and attendees praised their contributions. North West Regional Lead, Joanna Hill, hosted an insightful panel on day two discussing “How can the highways sector work harder to retain women in the industry?” Alongside industry leaders, including Hayley Terrell (Head of Communications at Highway Care), Daljit Kalirai (Interim CEO of Women in Transport), Sairah Hussain (Head of Customer and Social Value at Galliford Try) and Louise Kenny (Business Performance and Improvements Manager at Colas), the panel delved into key challenges and solutions.
Panel Discussion Highlights
The panel highlighted the need for more inclusive language such as moving away from terms like “Mr Customer”, “Foreman” or “three-man team”. Other major topics included the need for female role models especially at board level, effective male allies and mentorship to increase female empowerment in the sector. Daljit pointed out the highway sector’s identity problem, stressing the need for proactive outreach into education as early as possible. The panel discussed the industry’s shortcomings in providing the basic necessities which affect women’s retention and progress from appropriate PPE to sanitary facilities. It was also noted that these basics were of benefit to everyone, not just women. The panel felt unconscious bias, a lack of ownership and policies to implement essential changes such as flexible parental leave or setting up a site with the right facilities were barriers to change. The takeaway was clear: achieving real change requires collective action from leadership down to basic operational practices.
“It was an honour to share the stage with such an incredible group of women and address the barriers that prevent women from staying in the highways sector,” said Joanna Hill. “We all have a role to play in making this industry more inclusive, from the words we use to the support we offer.”
Looking Forward
The Women in Transport team left Highways UK 2024 energised and optimistic about the future. Surrounded by industry leaders, allies, and passionate advocates, we are reminded of the importance of community and the work still needed to make our industry more inclusive.
Thank you to everyone who visited us, attended our sessions, and contributed to this incredible event. We look forward to continuing these vital conversations and taking action to ensure the future of transport is diverse, inclusive, and welcoming to all.
Annual membership of Women in Transport is £60 per year providing access to professional development and networking opportunities. We very much welcome guest blogs from our members - a great way to share the incredible diversity of opportunity in transport, raise your profile and connect with our community. Join us today.
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