ATA launches National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year Award while state pushes training
The ATA celebrated International Women’s Day by launching nominations for the 2017 National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year Award.
The announcement comes as Victorian government unveils its Women in Transport industry entry program.
The ATA award recognises a strong professional or personal contribution made by a woman within the Australian trucking industry.
“The contribution of women to the trucking industry is vast,” ATA chair Noelene Watson says.
“We work as drivers, schedulers, mechanics managers and business directors. We keep the wheels rolling.”
The award is sponsored by Cummins South Pacific, who are committed to empowering and supporting women in the industry.
As part of its commitment, Cummins South Pacific this week held a conference of 80 senior executive women from around the Asia-Pacific region.
Cummins’ senior leaders at this event included Marya Rose, vice president and chief administrative officer; Tony Satterthwaite, vice president and president – distribution business; and Elizabeth Broderick, board member of Male Champions of Change.
“All Cummins employees – men and women – deserve equal opportunities to succeed in the workplace,” Cummins South Pacific manager of automotive sales and customer support Scott Alexander says.
“This emphasis on equality is at the heart of Cummins’ values and was the driving force behind the company’s Women’s Leadership Conference and Cummins’ longstanding support of the National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year award.”
It will be presented at Trucking Australia 2017, held from June 21-23 in Darwin.
The winner will receive a week long travel package for herself and partner to visit the Cummins factory in the United States. The package will include return airfares, accommodation, transfers and meals.
The prize must be redeemed by December 31 of the award year.
The winner will also be hosted to attend the ATA Foundation Sponsors Gala Dinner at Trucking Australia 2018.
Meanwhile, Victorian public transport minister Jacinta Allan and roads and ports minister Luke Donnellan jointly launched Women in Transport, which will fund scholarships for women to study transport-related degrees, and provide a range of apprenticeships, traineeships and cadetships to attract 150 more women to the sector each year.
It aims to increase the number of women working in the transport sector from 16 per cent to 25 per cent by 2020.
The $1 million effort will also set targets to increase the number of women in senior and leadership roles in the transport industry, to support and mentor young women through their careers.
Major transport contracts already include gender equality procurement guidelines, making sure that equality is a priority for organisations, suppliers and agencies working with the government.
For more information can be found here.