I have proudly served AITPM members for nearly 20 years, beginning with the VIC-TAS Committee shortly after arriving into Australia from the UK in 2006. As a "newcomer" AITPM offered me not only a professional home but also a valued network of colleagues and friends. I deeply understand "From the ground up" What the Institute means to our members, and what it should continue to represent. Over the years, I have:

- Organised, chaired, and presented at numerous technical seminars, both in-person, and online.

- Founded the AITPM Transport Modelling Network (TMN) in 2013 and chaired its inaugural National Committee meeting.

- Served on the Convening Committee for every Melbourne-based AITPM National Conference since 2011, leading the modelling stream at several, and contributing nationally through the TMN Committee to conference content and workshop coordination across all capital cities.

- Served as National Chair of the Transport Modelling Network from 2019 to 2021.

Looking ahead, my focus "Consistent with the original vision for the TMN" Is to strengthen integration, inclusion, and diversity across our profession. If elected to the AITPM Board, I will champion improved communication, collaboration, and advocacy across our diverse and evolving membership, plus across the disciplines as are inherently therein. I would be honoured to have your support for what would be the next step in a 20+ year journey with AITPM.

With over 19 years' experience in the local industry, and abroad, I have been involved in a range of industry associations and forums but have always returned to the AITPM as a long time member.

I believe the organisation has a strong and increasingly important role in leading discussions around transport planning and highlighting the good work of transport planners around Australia.

I have had responsibility and accountability for major projects in the transport planning field including managing teams of over 30 people and meeting legal, professional and governance requirements.

I will bring my experience from committee roles in local community organisations (kinder and sports) as well as working in the advocacy team at RACV to best represent members' interests to ensure the organisation best represents its members across the country.

Kate McDonald is a career transport planner and traffic engineer with more than 25 years' experience in professional consulting across Australia and in Local Government in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. She is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, has a Graduate Diploma in Management and has been a member of AITPM since 1999.

For two years from December 2019, Kate was Company Director of staff owned Australian consultancy, pitt&sherry where she gained significant experience in governance, compliance, risk management and board strategy. In her leadership roles Kate has been responsible for oversight of multimillion dollar project budgets and has a good record in financial management.

As a leader of small to large teams, and project teams Kate has been enjoyed seeing staff develop their strengths in various areas of the profession and has been a supporter of continuous improvement through project reviews and the encouragement of innovation. As a proposal lead she is known for winning projects through creative approaches and the formation of bespoke teams.

Kate is passionate about the importance of transport planning in improving equity and sustainability of our cities and towns as we face significant population growth nationally and within our region.

Kate was previously Vice-President of the WA branch of AITPM and was co-convenor for the Traffic Engineering Stream for the 2013 National Conference.

I am an experienced and passionate transport professional with over 20 years in private and public sector transport planning, strategy and governance and would be pleased to bring this experience to the AITPM board. I am currently Director, Road, Active Transport and Tram Planning at the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning. Prior to government I spent a decade in consulting in Australia and the UK with SKM/Jacobs. My background combines technical expertise with strong policy, strategy, and stakeholder engagement skills. I hold a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Transport from Monash University, as well as a Bachelor of Laws. My legal education brings a solid understanding of governance, compliance, risk, and public decision-making — strengths I apply regularly in leading complex transport strategies and projects, management of financial budgets and projects, leading and inputting into governance and providing advice into government and cabinet processes.

I have held multiple leadership and governance roles across the transport sector. I am currently a member of the AITPM Inclusive Mobility Steering Committee, a past Chair of the Victorian Branch of Engineers Australia's Transport Australia Society and a current member of the Women in Transport Committee, and the Victorian government representative on Cycling and Walking Australia and New Zealand.

I am passionate about shaping inclusive, sustainable, and evidence-based transport systems, and have contributed widely through research, presentations, and mentoring. I have a particular commitment to supporting women and early-career professionals in the industry and fostering stronger integration across transport disciplines. If elected to the AITPM National Board, I would bring strategic leadership, cross-sector relationships through an extensive network across government, operators, consultants and academia, insight into government process and policy development, strong financial and governance experience and a collaborative, inclusive approach to supporting the continued success of AITPM and the profession more broadly.