By Sonya Byers OBE, CEO, Women in Transport
After a three-year hiatus, it was an absolute pleasure to see the Women in Transport North East Hub come back to life on a glorious morning in the beautiful city of Newcastle.
Supported by Nexus, our relaunch networking breakfast brought together an incredible mix of industry leaders, transport professionals, partners, allies and aspiring future leaders from across the region. More than just a networking event, it was a celebration of the North East's transport community and a chance to shape the next chapter of a hub that has always played an important role in bringing people together.
The room was filled with familiar faces, new connections, inspiring stories and, above all, a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and diverse transport sector as well as supporting each other.
A Tribute to Those Who Started the Journey
As we looked ahead, it was also important to recognise those who helped build the foundations of the North East Hub. We paid tribute to Gemma Hewitt, whose passion and dedication were instrumental in establishing the network in the region.
Her legacy of bringing people together, creating opportunities and championing women across transport continues to inspire the work we do today.
I was saddened to hear that Gemma has recently passed away. I remember Gemma well, she was a passionate and committed volunteer and convinced us to launch our first region outside of London. Christine Hurley, who was our Executive Support when the hub launched, worked closely with Gemma too. It’s very poignant that it was Christine’s memorial just this Saturday. I would like to think that they are toasting the success of this relaunch, and we will be forever grateful for their significant contribution to our journey.
Creating a Powerful Movement for Change
Our Chair, Jo Field OBE, reflected on the progress Women in Transport has made and the ambitions that continue to drive us forward.
From our world-leading programme of events, expertly coordinated by our volunteers, to our professional development and volunteering opportunities, Women in Transport continues to create spaces where women can develop, connect and thrive.
Jo spoke about the importance of maintaining momentum on equity, diversity and inclusion across the sector and highlighted the work being carried out through our parliamentary engagement via the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Women in Transport.
Most importantly, she reminded us that we are not stopping here. Women in Transport has big plans for growth and even bigger ambitions to accelerate change across the industry.
Jo also shared a personal reflection on her own volunteer journey. What began as giving back to the sector ultimately led to greater visibility, recognition and the establishment of her own successful consultancy and national recognition with an OBE last year. Her story was a powerful reminder of how volunteering, leadership and showing up for others can create opportunities we never imagined.
Transformation Through Diverse Leadership
We were delighted to hear from Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, who spoke passionately about leading during a period of significant transformation and change.
Cathy highlighted Nexus's achievement of reaching a 50:50 gender-balanced board in just four years. Importantly, she emphasised that diversity is not about hitting a target. It is about ensuring different perspectives are represented in decision-making, enabling greater independence of thought, innovation and stronger outcomes.
Her message reinforced something we firmly believe at Women in Transport: diverse leadership creates better organisations and better services for the people we serve.
People are at the Heart of Transport
One of the strongest themes throughout the morning was that transport is, and always will be, about people.
Erika Allen shared her remarkable journey through a 27-year career in transport, progressing from Customer Service Assistant to Director. Her story resonated with many in the room as she described a career that has been fast-paced, challenging and incredibly rewarding.
Erika reminded us that every transport decision ultimately affects people's lives. Whether it is accessibility, safety, connectivity or opportunity, transport has the power to shape communities and improve outcomes.
She also spoke movingly about her role as senior sponsor for work addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG). Following her participation in an industry event focused on the issue, she recognised her own experiences of harassment and abuse and was driven to take action to create safer environments for women and girls.
As Erika put it, we cannot change what we do not recognise.
Driving Change Across the North East
We also heard from Rachelle Forsyth-Ward, who shared her own career story, beginning with a geography degree and a first role at Nexus before going on to play a leading role within the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.
Like many women in transport, Rachelle spoke candidly about challenges she has experienced throughout her career, including being the only woman in the room, being overlooked or ignored in meetings, and being expected to take notes rather than contribute to strategic discussions.
Yet she also emphasised the importance of allies who have supported and championed women throughout their careers.
Rachelle outlined the ambitious plans being delivered through the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, led by Mayor Kim McGuinness. From long-term local transport planning through to 2040, to the creation of a greener, more integrated transport network, there is a clear vision for the region's future.
Key priorities for the North East region include:
Delivering safer transport systems for women and girls through a regional VAWG action plan.
Progressing bus reform, with a decision on bus franchising expected in the coming year.
Building on the success of the Mayor's Fares initiative, which has already supported over 100 million journeys.
Growing rail connectivity, including the success of the Northumberland Line.
Exploring opportunities to bring Metro services to Washington, one of the largest towns in England without rail connectivity.
Expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure and increasing the number of zero-emission buses across the network.
Improving accessibility for wheelchair users and people with visual impairments.
Delivering an ambitious rail vision and major infrastructure improvements across the region.
It was encouraging to hear such a strong commitment to designing a transport network that works for everyone.
Meet Your New North East Hub Co-Leads
The relaunch also gave attendees the opportunity to meet our new North East Hub Co-Leads, Libby Gibson and Kate Winstanley.
Both spoke passionately about their commitment to supporting women across the sector and creating opportunities for connection, learning and collaboration.
Their enthusiasm was infectious as they shared ideas for future activity and outlined their vision for working closely with partners across the region to tackle key industry challenges and create meaningful opportunities for members.
I have no doubt that their leadership, energy and dedication will help the North East Hub flourish once again.
Sonya Byers OBE, Libby Gibson, Kate Winstanley, and Steve Griffiths
The Next Chapter Starts Here
As I looked around the room during the event, I was reminded why regional networks matter so much.
They create connections. They open doors. They provide support. They inspire confidence. And they remind us that none of us is driving change alone.
The North East has always been a region known for innovation, resilience and collaboration. By relaunching this hub, we are creating a platform for even more women to connect, contribute and influence the future of transport and to gain the benefits of being part of the Women in Transport community.
My sincere thanks go to Nexus for supporting the event, to all of our speakers for sharing their experiences so openly, and to everyone who joined us for this important relaunch.
This is not simply the return of a regional hub.
It is the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
I look forward to seeing what we achieve together.
