Laura Aston

Transport Planner | Arup

Laura is a transport planner at Arup with experience across the private, public and research sectors, in both transport and sustainability with a focus on transport decarbonisation, strategic transport planning and public transport network planning.

Laura earned a PhD for research exploring the integration of public transport and land use. She conducted further research alongside practitioners to explore the health impacts of walking-and cycling-oriented design around the world. Through her research she has gained a strong understand how the design of infrastructure and land use can be measured to support the planning of healthier, inclusive and sustainable transport networks – that help make cities liveable.

Mind the Gap: Planning gender Equitable Public Transport

Public transport that works for women is public transport that serves all people better. To date, the data and metrics used for planning public transport have been ‘blind’ to differences in the way women travel compared to men. As a result, we may start with options that do not cater to the entire population. What does it mean to design public transport that meets the mobility needs of men and women equitably? How well do our existing networks meet women’s travel needs?

This presentation explores the gender performance of Melbourne’s public transport network and presents the findings of a primary travel survey that sought to understand the factors driving men and women’s travel decisions. Both analyses focus on travel for work, care and complex trips: three aspects of travel that have not been suitably disaggregated in existing transport planning to date.
Combining insights from existing travel survey and Census data with spatial analysis reveals that women have poorer access to job within an acceptable travel time window than men. This is exacerbated considering the types of occupations currently filled by women and their location relative to the public transport network. Care destinations are also underserved compared to job locations.

Primary survey results suggest that a range of factors can improve uptake of public transport for care and complex trip making; and that men and women place similar value on such factors. Aspects of mobility typically considered gendered are becoming increasingly common among all travellers. Networks that consider more nuanced travel patterns will therefore serve all people better, contributing to more equitable and sustainable transport systems.

Shannon Leigh

Team Leader Transport Planning | Stantec

Shannon is Team Leader Transport Planning at Stantec in Perth with over 15 years' transport experience. She is passionate about people focused places and is an accredited Healthy Streets practitioner. She is here today to raise awareness of the gender gap in transport planning. She is passionate about people focused places and is an accredited Healthy Streets practitioner. She wants to raise awareness of the gender gap in transport planning and bring equity for all modes to the movement network.

Transport is Not Gender Neutral: Creating an Equitable Transportation System

Transport is not gender neutral and it does not account for women’s unique travel needs. Women are more likely to complete multi-purpose trips in contrast to direct commuting patterns. Limited off-peak services designed along radial commuter corridors mean these journey needs are not met. Women are more exposed to issues of gender-based violence on public transport and concerns over safety limits women’s mobility and their independent use of public transport. There is a huge gender imbalance in the transport industry with women only accounting for 27% of the overall workforce in Australia. Gender Equality is goal five of the United Nations Global Goals and is an intrinsic component of ensuring Sustainable Development is achieved.

You can’t solve a problem you don’t know exists, so this presentation will provide guidance to understand gender equality issues in transport and how to better incorporate gender mainstreaming into your day-to-day work. Learn how we can work together to create a transportation system that is safe, accessible and equitable for all. There are 8 areas to consider: education and awareness; engagement and consultation; empowering industry; disaggregated data; inclusive design; progressive policy; monitoring and evaluation; create change.

Craig Kerslake

Managing Director | Nguluway DesignInc

A proud Wiradjuri man and architect for nearly 20 years, Craig draws upon his cultural heritage, community and knowledge of ‘Country’ to deliver design. As the managing director of Nguluway DesignInc, he seeks opportunities to bring an Aboriginal voice to design thinking in genuine and authentic ways. This practice of ‘Designing from Country’ is underpinned by narratives that come from Aboriginal understandings of people and place or belonging.

Connecting to Country through Transport Facilities: Two case studies of Designing from Country

Across NSW, the Transport Accessibility Program (TAP) has been instrumental in enhancing physical connection for people of all mobilities. In the last decade, the program has delivered upgrades to over 100 stations, with DesignInc delivering urban design, architectural and landscape design services on more than 50 stations.

Concurrently, Designing from Country (DfC) has emerged in architectural design as a way to acknowledge, embody and celebrate the enduring connection between Traditional Custodians and their ongoing relationship with the land. Across Australia, state and territory governments are enshrining DfC in their processes and design requirements—notably on public transport projects.

In the latest tranche of TAP projects, Nguluway DesingInc has leveraged our Designing from Country methodology to connect with Traditional Custodians, engaging through co-design of two stations in the suburbs of Wollongong, Unanderra and Bellambi. The outcomes have illustrated the potential of integrating DfC principles. As well as referencing the landscape through the design, a number of artworks by local community members have been integrated into the station precincts, celebrating the world’s oldest living culture.
Construction will be completed on both stations this year.

The presentation will explore the design process—from inception through construction—providing insights into Designing from Country that are applicable to all projects. Through sharing of the methodology, including successes and challenges, the presentation will demonstrate how the design of transport facilities can provide both physical connections for the community, but a clear connection to Country.

Virginia Anderson 

State Sector Manager - Transport Planning and Advisory | SMEC

Virginia is the State Sector Manager for SMEC’s Transport Planning and Advisory team in Victoria and Tasmania. A ‘big picture’ thinker, Virginia has diverse skills and interests having worked across governance, policy, strategy, planning, infrastructure advisory, investment management, project development and delivery. With extensive experience within the transport sector, Virginia has also worked across the urban & community planning, education, recreation and health sectors, with a focus on integrated systems, where transport is integral to the functional, economic and social productivity of cities. Her engineering training and experience, coupled with specialist studies in psychology and stakeholder engagement, enable an analytical, relational and collaborative approach, delivering quality outcomes for clients.

Valuing social equity: A study in reducing transport disadvantage in regional areas

Golden Plains Shire is a regional municipality with isolated townships, car dependant residents, and a growing population in need of better transport options. Like many regional areas, it has been examined repeatedly by planning and pilot studies to address persistent transport gaps, in particular the challenge of establishing a scheduled bus service where there is low demand. This has the worst impact on vulnerable and isolated residents reliant on others that have cars, such as young people, older residents, and people with a disability.

Flexible and innovative approaches to service provision and funding are required as the traditional demand-driven business case often proves ineffective in regional areas. These approaches rely on strong industry-government collaboration to enable community-lead services. These services have a wider reach which builds patronage and improves accessibility.

This study will examine how to better capture social equity benefits to justify the flexible and innovative transport solutions that regional areas need. The study approach includes a literature review, data analysis, and case study review to provide an evidence-base which can support regional local councils as they advocate for greater transport connections.

The aim is to provide services that are more adaptable and responsive to changing community needs, removing long standing barriers to socialisation and access to essential amenities. This study will apply a social equity lens to drive long term funding and sustainable transport asset usage in regional areas, improving network operation and liveability for marginalised community groups.