Women shifting gear! Meet the women behind the sustainable mobility transition

It is no secret that to #EmbraceEquity in the mobility sector, a more diverse workforce is required: indeed, the face of transport needs to change, starting from the top. The remarkable work being undertaken by these leading women from many different POLIS members shows us this is possible.

International Women’s Day 2023’s theme is to #EmbraceEquity, something that POLIS has worked on for many years.

However, if the mobility sector is to understand the multifaceted ways gender-related mobility patterns and needs, affordability, age, physical and cognitive capacities, and more, can guide the future mobility of our cities and regions, it must also have a diverse workforce, and, sadly, that is not the case — yet. We are all too aware that the sector is overwhelmingly white and male, with women making up only 22% of transport workers in the European Union.

Nevertheless, there certainly is a light at the end of the tunnel: within that percentage, there are several women in leadership positions that have made remarkable progress, not just on gender specifically, but across the entire mobility spectrum.

From developing innovative smart mobility solutions that put people at the centre to gender-inclusive planning for public urban spaces, from raising the role of youth in transport research to representing cities and regions in European forums to promote sustainable mobility, these women in power have much to tell us on how equity in transport can become a reality.

We are extremely proud to have these women in our POLIS family, as their work continues to inspire us and demonstrate that, while there is still much progress to be made towards a more gender-equal and equitable transport sector, change is in motion.

Meet them below!

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