Jo Weeks is an experienced communications executive who enjoys working within organisations to build strong and successful teams that deliver outstanding organisational and community outcomes. She uses her engagement expertise and high-level communications skills to develop trusting stakeholder relationships and influence the community debate. Jo has previously led strategic communications on Victoria’s most transformational infrastructure projects, including EastLink, Peninsula Link, Level Crossing Removals and Victoria’s Big Build. Currently Chief Communications and Experience Officer with the Department of Transport and Planning, Jo is passionate about living and working in Melbourne and helping to make Victoria a better place to live.

Dr Julian O'Shea is an engineer, designer and academic based at Monash University. He is a Fulbright Scholar and completed his PhD within the Mobility Design Lab exploring sustainable transport and public engagement. He is the creator and host of the popular Unknown Melbourne series on social media and also creates content for the ABC.

Julian recently had a sold out season at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for his show 'M is for Melbourne: The World's Mostly* Liveable City'. His work has been featured on ABC, SBS, Channel 7, and more. His passion for sustainable transport has seen him drive a solar powered tuk tuk across Australia; set a Guinness World Record on a four person bike; and travel across the Eurasian continent without flying.

Manesha is a transport planner and traffic engineer with over 20 years’ experience in public and private sector projects. She is accomplished in the fields land use planning and transport modelling and is well versed in leading strategic transport planning and modelling projects in greenfield areas.

She is well regarded for her ability to simply and clearly translate complex engineering and modelling outcomes. Manesha is wellversed and responsible for client liaison, stakeholder management, negotiations with approval authorities, and facilitation of workshops.

Manesha relishes in developing solutions that consider all transport modes and promote the use of sustainable transport in urban environments.
 

Claire Varley is a transport communications specialist, currently managing strategic communications and community engagement for transport projects at Merri-bek City Council.

She has led and implemented communications and engagement on many high-profile, contentious transport projects (frankly, most of her projects tend to elicit passionate community response) including the Moving Around Merri-bek transport strategy, and Merri-bek’s municipality-wide 40km/h speed limit reduction rollout.

Utilising her skills honed over years as a multidisciplinary journalist and copywriter, Claire is known for her ability to provide context for even the most provocative of projects, and communicate complex, technical information in an accessible, people-focussed way.

Claire is passionate about the power of the written word and finding the most meaningful methods to engage with diverse audiences to deliver tangible, positive change