Jo Field, Chair of Women in Transport has been awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s New Year Honours 2026 for services to diversity and inclusion in transport.
The honour recognises Jo’s exceptional contribution to advancing diversity and inclusion within the transport industry, where she has been a driving force behind the growth and impact of Women in Transport, the not-for-profit dedicated to empowering women to maximise their potential.
A volunteer Board member of Women in Transport since 2015, Jo has played a pivotal role in the organisation's growth, including its evolution from WTS London to Women in Transport in 2017. This was an important milestone that enabled Women in Transport to expand its reach nationwide. Since being elected President in 2021, Jo has led the Board and overseen significant transformation, supporting over 1800 members and a team of over 100 volunteers across nine UK regions.
Jo led influential research into gender perceptions of women working in transport across the UK, which identified challenges and led to Women in Transport establishing initiatives to improve gender balance. Among these were the launch of an intersectionality programme to support ethnic minority women, which Jo personally championed, and the Lead programme to support Women in Transport members into leadership roles.
Jo also led Women in Transport's cross-party political engagement with parliamentarians across the UK. She built the support required to set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for women in transport in 2016, ensuring sustained parliamentary focus on gender-balance. With the APPG now in its ninth year, Jo has successfully ensured continued cross-party support in subsequent parliaments.
Jo’s achievements beyond Women in Transport include founding JFG Communications, a public affairs and stakeholder engagement consultancy with a mission to help the transport industry improve its diversity. Before this Jo built and led Transport for London’s (TfL's) award-winning stakeholder engagement team, transforming the organisation's external relationships and championing inclusion. Jo's initiatives at TfL included establishing the organisation's innovative youth panel, recognised by the United Nations as best practice in a business giving children rights. Jo volunteered on TfL's women’s colleague network group and was an influential force behind TfL’s women in transport programme. Jo was awarded the everywoman in transport and logistics industry champion award in 2016 for encouraging women and girls to consider transport careers. Jo has also been recognised among the 100 most influential and inspirational women in Westminster for her public affairs work championing diversity in transport.
Speaking about the Honours award, Jo said:
“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition. It reflects the incredible dedication of my colleagues at Women in Transport and JFG Communications who are working alongside me every day to champion diversity and inclusion in the transport industry.
"We've made significant progress in the last ten years but there is still more to do in a sector where less than one-third of the workforce are women. This recognition will help us elevate Women in Transport's mission and provide a catalyst to create a more inclusive future for everyone in transport.”
The OBE is one of the UK’s most prestigious honours, awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to society in areas such as charity, education, health and public service.
About Women in Transport
Women in Transport is a leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the careers of women in the transport industry. Through mentorship, networking, and professional development, Women in Transport empowers women to achieve their full potential and drive positive change within the sector. Everyone is welcome to join Women in Transport. The organisation celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025.
About the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Women in Transport
The APPG is a forum to tackle the under-representation of women in transport and promote best practice in gender diversifying the workforce. The group is chaired by Elsie Blundell MP. Women in Transport, supported by JFG Communications, acts as the Secretariat for the APPG and supports parliamentarians to deliver its activities.
About JFG Communications
JFG Communications is a public affairs, stakeholder engagement and strategic communications consultancy that is helping the transport industry to decarbonise and diversify its workforce.