By Sonya Byers OBE, CEO Women in Transport
This summer, Women in Transport will celebrate 20 years of empowering and championing women in the transport sector. As we step into Women’s History Month, I find myself reflecting on our incredible journey—how far we’ve come, the challenges we’ve faced (and continue to experience), and the barriers we’ve broken.
Looking back on our history and evolution, I am inspired by the story of persistence, collaboration, and progress that defines us. Our journey is not just about where we’ve been—it’s about the more inclusive future we are building together for the generations of women that will follow us.
Early Beginnings: Establishing a Foundation
The early 2000s saw the emergence of a clear need to establish a professional network for women working in transport.
The first significant step in our journey occurred in 2004 when an inaugural meeting was held in the office of Valerie Todd, the then HR Director at Transport for London (TfL). Attendees included influential women in the sector such as Rachel Skinner and Lauren Sager Weinstein. The meeting discussed the potential for a women’s network within TfL, inspired by the established model of Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) in the United States.
In 2005, WTS London was officially founded as the first European chapter of WTS International. With an initial membership of 80, primarily from TfL, WTS London set its mission to support women in transportation through networking and professional development.
Valerie Todd became the inaugural president, marking the start of a long and impactful journey for our network.
Growth and Collaboration
As WTS London began to grow, so did its influence. In 2009, Rachel Skinner took over as president, and this period saw a broader understanding of the importance of gender diversity in the transport sector. It became clear that efforts needed to go beyond internal networking to a more outward-facing advocacy for women's representation at all levels of the sector.
In 2013, WTS London began collaborating with other women’s groups, including Women in Rail, led by Adeline Ginn. This collaboration culminated in 2014 with the first joint event between WTS London and Women in Rail, focused on flexible working legislation.
This was a pivotal moment, as it marked the beginning of an ongoing partnership between our two organisations. Women in Transport has continued this spirit of collaboration with many other groups over the years around a shared goal of advocating for workplace equity.
Breaking New Ground: Celebrating 100 Years of Women in Transport
In 2015, the "100 Years of Women in Transport" (YOWIT) campaign was launched, a monumental initiative celebrating the centenary of women’s involvement in the transport industry.
This collaboration between WTS London, TfL, the Department for Transport (DfT), Network Rail and others across transport sought to engage and inspire the next generation of women in transport.
The campaign saw extraordinary success, connecting over 12,500 people across 270 organisations, and it gained international recognition from institutions like the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.
In 2016, we took another leap forward in widening our influence by forming the All Party Parliament Group (APPG) for Women in Transport. WTS London acts as Secretariat for the APPG supported by Jo Field and JFG Comms.
The Transition to Women in Transport
In 2017, WTS London took an important step in its evolution by rebranding as Women in Transport, reflecting a broader national focus and ambition.
At this time, I was the Vice-President and began a project with our new President, Katie Hulland, to transform the network into an independent national organisation. With this rebranding, Women in Transport became a more visible and influential voice in the transport sector.
One of the defining moments in our history occurred in 2018 with the launch of the Advance mentoring programme. Angela Gainsford and I volunteered our time to co-design and deliver the pilot initiative. Today, Advance has grown to become an annual programme that pairs senior leaders (of any gender) with women working in transport. The mentoring programme was part of our YOWIT commitments to provide long-term career support, equipping women with the tools they needed to succeed in a male-dominated industry.
From 2019, we began launching new regional hubs across the UK and now have hubs in Scotland, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire, North East, North West and South West.
This expansion allowed Women in Transport to build a truly national network that supports women from all corners of the country, led by our brilliant volunteer Regional Leads. Our national network provides members with access to events, mentorship, leadership development, volunteering and networking opportunities to help them thrive in their careers.
Another significant moment was co-founding our Women in Transport Diversity & Inclusion Bus Group in March 2019. The group was sparked by an article in Passenger Transport by co-founder Chloe Leach O’Connell and we’ve been influential in driving progress on diversity and inclusion across bus for over five years now.
Overcoming Challenges: Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic
Like many organisations, Women in Transport faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The restrictions on in-person gatherings threatened the viability of our network, which was initially built on face-to-face connections and events. However, we were able to respond quickly, pivoting to virtual events and increasing our communication efforts to stay connected with members.
The resilience of Women in Transport during this challenging period was largely due to the strength of its membership. Members rallied around us, ensuring our survival and eventual growth. The pandemic underscored the importance of community and collaboration in maintaining progress toward gender equality.
Understanding and Challenging Perceptions of Working in Transport
In 2021, the APPG for Women in Transport published groundbreaking research into gender perceptions of working in transport.
Amongst other recommendations, the need for more targeted support for women to progress into leadership positions led to Women in Transport establishing a leadership development programme (LEAD). The programme has now supported over 100 women from 50 different organisations across transport.
Amplifying Voices: Intersectionality, Equity and Women’s Safety
Jo Field was elected to President in 2021 and during her term Women in Transport has continued to break down barriers for women across transport. Key initiatives have marked a turning point in our commitment to tackling systemic inequalities within the industry:
The Intersectionality programme led by Shireen Ali-Khan, aims to amplify the voices of women from underrepresented groups within the transport sector.
The Equity Index, developed in partnership with WORK180, and led by Sue Terpilowski (Past President of WISTA UK) provides a tool for companies across the sector to benchmark their progress on gender diversity and to share best practices.
The Women’s Safety Group, led by Jade Neville (co-founder of Women in Parking), with a mission to make transport systems safer and more equitable for women and girls.
A Personal Journey
As I have reflected on Women in Transport’s journey, I can’t help but think of my own personal journey.
I have been a member of this wonderful network for 18 years. I joined as a young transport professional looking to build my network. I found a safe space to grow in confidence, develop new skills, find my own personal brand and make meaningful connections across the transport sector and beyond.
The pinnacle, so far: being awarded an OBE in the King’s Honours in June 2024 in recognition of my contribution to diversity and inclusion.
My hope is that Women in Transport can continue to provide a platform for members to springboard their careers, a safe space to be heard and that our collaborations promote greater inclusion for all.
I’m grateful to every single person that has been part of the journey - our members, supporters and partners and most importantly, our fantastic volunteers who give so much of themselves each and every day to make Women in Transport what it is today.
Moving Forward: Celebrating Achievements and Looking Ahead
The history and evolution of Women in Transport is one of resilience, collaboration, and transformative change. Our 20th anniversary celebration will undoubtedly be a moment to reflect on the past, but it will also serve as a springboard for future action.
Women in Transport remains committed to our mission of empowering women in the transport sector. Our work is far from over. We will continue to advocate for gender balance, promote inclusive employment practices, and challenge discriminatory behaviours in the workplace.
Women in Transport is not only about creating opportunities for women but also about creating a more inclusive and diverse transport sector for future generations. That will be our legacy as we move forward into the next 20 years.
Women in Transport would be nothing without you, our members and volunteers. We want to hear your stories from the last 20 years — the roadblocks, the little victories, the big shifts. We’ll be sharing your stories as part of our 20th anniversary communications.