Women Who Move Nations - The Public Transport Podcast

Our ninth and final episode for season 8 of the Women Who Move Nations podcast proudly sponsored by NEC Australia, features Heidi Lee, CEO at Beyond Zero Emissions. Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) is one of Australia’s most impactful climate think tanks. In conversation with host, Michelle Batsas, Heidi shares how BZE is unlocking large-scale decarbonisation through place-based strategies, clean indus...

In this episode, Trisha Fridrich - Vice President Marketing and Communications at All Aboard America Holdings, a member of the Kelsian Group, joins PTAANZ Emerging Mobility Leader Allyssa Lacap to share her powerful journey from grassroots advocacy to executive leadership. A champion for efficiency, equity, and innovation, in this episode proudly sponsored by NEC, Trisha talks candidly about rebui...

What does it look like to lead with purpose, build a dream team, and reshape a city’s future—all before 40? In this episode of Women Who Move Nations , we meet Zoe Maher, Senior Principal and WA Strategic Rail Planning Lead at WSP. Proudly sponsored by NEC, in conversation with host Michelle Batsas, Zoe shares how two serendipitous career moments—one over office drinks—ignited her passion for publ...

In this inspiring episode of Women Who Move Nations proudly sponsored by NEC Australia, host Michelle Bats speaks with Louise McCormick, CEO of the Department of Infrastructure and Logistics in the Northern Territory. Louise shares her remarkable journey from a bridge engineer in Queensland to one of the nation’s most influential public transport leaders. She offers candid reflections on leading l...

In this episode of Women Who Move Nations , host Michelle Batsas chats with Tithi Roy, Solutions Architect at NEC, about her unique career journey and the innovations she's leading in the smart transport space. Tithi shares how her background in GIS and technical roles transitioned into customer-facing positions, leading her to a pivotal role in transport technology. She discusses the growing...

In this episode of Women Who Move Nations, proudly sponsored by NEC, host Michelle Batsas sits down with Priya Dahiya, Solutions Architect at NEC Australia, to explore how smart transport technology is transforming passenger experiences and operational performance. Priya shares her journey from traditional IT services into the transport sector, revealing how a “lucky break” led her to a purpose-dr...

Join us on the Women Who Move Nations podcast’s third episode as Sandra Witzel, Director and Chief Marketing Officer at SkedGo, shares her profound insights on creatingaccessible, inclusive, and sustainable transport solutions. In this episode, Sandra delves into her personal journey within the mobility sector, highlighting pivotal moments that reshaped her approach to leadership and advocacy. Dis...

In the second episode of season 8’s Women Who Move Nations podcast, proudly produced by PTAANZ and sponsored by NEC Australia, host Michelle Batsas sits down with Michelle Cramer, Future Communities Leader for Australia at GHD. Michelle discusses her unconventional career path, starting with a choice to work on the 2000 Olympics public art strategy over a hospital project, and emphasises the impor...

Welcome back to the Women Who Move Nations podcast with your host Michelle Batsas. In the first episode of season 8, proudly sponsored by NEC, we welcome Catherine Rinaldi, President Metro-North Railroad in New York.     The first MTA woman president, Catherine has been serving in this role since 2018 and ran the top two busiest commuter railroads in the US for over a year when the Long Island Rai...

Aline Frantzen is the Chief Operating Officer at Metro Trains Melbourne. In this episode of the Women Who Move Nations podcast proudly sponsored by NEC, Aline joins host Michelle Batsas, and dives deep into her rich international experience and her leadership in enhancing Melbourne's public transport. Aline shares insights from managing diverse transport networks across three continents and di...

Dr Dia Adhikari Smith is a leading research academic at the University of Queensland. In this episode of the Women Who Move Nations podcast, proudly sponsored by NEC, Dia talks to guest host and one of PTAANZ’s Emerging Mobility Leaders, Caitlin Mowatt, about her significant contributions to the decarbonisation of transport through her extensive work with electric, hydrogen, and advanced biofuel t...

Trudi Mares is the Deputy Secretary at Transport for NSW. In this episode of the Women Who Move Nations podcast, proudly sponsored by NEC, Trudi talks to host Michelle Batsas about transformative changes in NSW transport. Trudi delves into enhancing network reliability to increase patronage, with a strong focus on equitable access. Trudi shares her pivotal transition from corporate affairs roles t...

The Hon. Minister Williams MP is Victoria's Minister for Public Transport and Active Modes and shares her fascinating journey from practicing law to becoming a key political figure in Victoria, with host Michelle Batsas. With a remit that includes driving major public transport infrastructure initiatives, like the Metro Tunnel, she advocates daily for the needs of Victorians. This episode, pro...

Cassie Hames is a programmer at SAGE Automation who has lived experienced as a professional with impaired vision. She discusses her role at SAGE with host, Michelle Batsas, including the development of the See Me app which enhances public transport accessibility for users with impaired vision, and shares her personal journey proving her detractors wrong by becoming a programmer in the face of disc...

Stacey van der Putten is the Director Public Transport and Active Modes at Auckland Transport and a PTAANZ Board Director. A trailblazer in the transportation industry, Stacey delves into her journey of integrating private sector expertise into public transport with host Michelle Batsas, emphasising the significance of inclusive leadership and effective communication. Discover how Stacey’s backgro...

Michelle Sheppard is a Senior Diversity and Inclusion Advisor at Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning. In her transparent and vulnerable conversation with host Michelle Batsas, Michelle details her personal and professional journey as a transgender woman in the transport industry. Reflecting on her own experiences struggling with identity and belonging, and feeling torn between men’s an...

Kylie Gorham is a Senior Product Manager at NEC Australia. In her interview with host Michelle Batsas, Kylie talks about the innovative edge of public transport. Listen as they unpack the impact of technology on operational intelligence and passenger experience. Kylie shares her career journey and insights, including the importance of travelling to different cities and experiencing the local trans...

This episode of PTAANZ’s Women Who Move Nations podcast features Mel Barber, Managing Director at NEC New Zealand. Guest hosted by Rowan Selwood-Eyles, Public Transport Advisor at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and PTAANZ Emerging Mobility Leader, Mel discusses her transformational leadership approach in the industry as she touches on public transport projects, community engagement, and the integ...

In the third episode of Season 7 of the Women Who Move Nations podcast proudly sponsored by NEC, your host Michelle Batsas welcomes Dr Nicole Kalms, Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Monash University XYX Lab. Dr Kalms shares her ground-breaking work on gender-inclusive urban design, diving into the challenges girls, women and gender-diverse individuals face within city design. Dr K...

In this episode of Women Who Move Nations proudly sponsored by NEC, Michelle Batsas interviews Ishra Baksh, Executive Director Strategic Insights and Transformation at Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads. Ishra and Michelle discuss the fusion of technology, diversity, and leadership in transforming transport and mobility, and Ishra shares reflections from her journey from gradu...

Welcome back to the Women Who Move Nations podcast with your host Michelle Batsas. In the first episode of season 7, proudly sponsored by NEC, we welcome Veronica O. Davis, a pioneering voice in public transport and author of "Inclusive Transportation – a Manifesto for repairing divided communities." Veronica discusses the essence of equitable transport systems and her mission to mend di...

Join us for this milestone episode of the PTAANZ Women Who Move Nations podcast! This is episode 50 and we've been lucky enough to talk to Natalie Reiter, Deputy Secretary of Strategy and Precincts at the Department of Transport and Planning. Natalie shares her invaluable insights on the future of public transport, emphasising the need to increase accessibility and reduce car ownership. Discov...

Natasha Zulkfili is a globally recognised change-maker in the public transport sector. Her inspiring career includes studying in Kuala Lumpur, New Zealand and London, extensive experience in Malaysian public transport, running the Malaysia-Europe Forum (MEF) and representing Malaysia on USAID and ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) initiatives. She is currently a Director at YTL Constructi...

Get to know PTAANZ’s new Chief Executive, Lauren Streifer, in her inspiring interview with Michelle Batsas, Executive Director of Future Mobility at the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning and a PTAANZ Ambassador. Lauren has built an incredible career by getting to know as many people as possible, creating a diverse network of mentors and taking every opportunity she can. Lauren also sh...

Joanne (Jo) McDonald is the Chief Legal and Risk Officer at Kelsian Group, Australia’s largest integrated multi-modal transport provider and tourism operator, which also has bus operations in Singapore, London and the Channel Islands. Jo shares unmissable advice on developing strategic influencing and management skills, how she has built a sustainable career and key lessons she’s learnt along the...