Women in Bus and Coach holds third summit in Birmingham

First bus driver Michele Elliot won the Best Woman in Bus Award

 
Women in Bus and Coach held its third annual summit at lead sponsor BT’s state of the art event facility in Snowhill Birmingham this week, bringing together industry leaders, stakeholders, frontline operators and advocates to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women in all roles across the bus, coach and community transport secto.r

Compered by renowned transport announcement voiceover artist Emma Hignett, whose distinctive work can be heard across Transport for London, the Elizabeth Line,
Go North East and many others, the summit was delivered with warmth and professionalism, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for all attendees.

The event featured a powerful programme of keynote speeches from some of the most influential voices in transport today. Loveday Ryder, chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), spoke along with Anne Shaw OBE, executive director for Transport for West Midlands, and Marie Daly, chief operating officer for Transport for Wales and chair of Women in Rail. Each highlighted the importance of building opportunities for women, nurturing the next generation of leaders and driving innovation through diversity.

A highlight of the day was the recognition of Loveday Ryder as the newest Women in Bus and Coach Ambassador. This reflects her leadership and commitment to shaping a more inclusive transport sector. The summit also marked the announcement of Nalisha Fernandes, finance business partner for bids and tenders at Metroline, as the next Women in Bus and Coach mentee director, further demonstrating the organisation’s dedication to championing future female leaders.

We’re creating a platform for the next generation of women leaders to thrive in this industry

The celebrations continued with the second Women in Bus and Coach Awards, which once again shone a spotlight on the achievements of women making a difference across bus, coach and community transport (see panel). The awards underscored the importance of recognising role models and sharing stories that inspire others to pursue careers in the sector.

In addition to celebrating success, the summit provided important updates on the growing regional networks. Progress was shared from the Northern Region, London Region and the dedicated Coach Group, each of which is helping to build stronger connections, expand reach and ensure the voices of women across the industry are heard.

Delegates also heard about the significant strides made in tackling period poverty within the transport industry. Women in Bus and Coach has played a key role in raising awareness of this issue, supporting initiatives across operators and organisations, and has now launched a practical advice guide to help employers and employees alike. The guide is available on the Women in Bus and Coach website and provides accessible, practical solutions to support women in the workplace.

This year’s summit highlighted not only how far the organisation has come in two years, but also the momentum building across the wider industry to embrace equality, inclusion and opportunity. Women in Bus and Coach continues to act as a catalyst for positive change, ensuring the sector is not only stronger, but better for everyone.

Louise Cheeseman OBE, Women in Bus and Coach chair, praised the industry’s collective efforts in promoting gender equality and highlighted the success of this year’s summit: “This summit is a testament to the incredible women who are transforming the Bus, Coach and Community Transport sector every day. With the launch of new initiatives, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive future. We’re not just recognising the trailblazers; we’re creating a platform for the next generation of women leaders to thrive in this industry.”

 
This article appears in the latest issue of Passenger Transport.

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