April 2025
Alix Oakes
Principal Transport Planner and National Practice Lead, Complete Streets | Stantec | WA
"Volunteering with AITPM has helped me in a number of ways including expanding my professional network, learning from others and building my own professional profile."
What is your current involvement with AITPM?
I am a member of the Equitable Mobility Task Group.
How has your involvement as a member/volunteer grown with AITPM?
I have been a member of AITPM consistently since 2015. In recent years, I have presented at the AITPM conference and over the past year, I have increased my involvement with AITPM more generally, taking part in webinars and strategy working groups. I had a brief stint as secretary for the WA branch of AITPM during 2015-2016 prior to going on maternity leave. As mentioned, I am currently involved with the Inclusivity Task force as a member of the Equitable Mobility Task Group.
What motivates you to volunteer or involve yourself with AITPM?
I enjoy working with AITPM as I love feeling like part of something bigger. It really feels like the work that is taking place will make a difference and I enjoy collaborating with like-minded people across the industry and across the country.
How has your involvement with AITPM benefited you personally and professionally?
Volunteering with AITPM has helped me in a number of ways, including expanding my professional network, learning from others and building my own professional profile. I am grateful for the opportunities that being part of AITPM has provided me and hope that I am providing value to AITPM and the wider industry through the small part I am playing.
What has been a memorable experience from your time with AITPM? And why was it so memorable?
A standout moment for me was attending and presenting at the Perth Conference in 2024. I was fortunate to be able to attend the whole conference and it was just a great vibe, full of people that I knew and admired. It was great to network, make new contacts and catch up with people that I hadn’t seen for a while. As well as learning so much from all the amazing presentations, of course!
Have you gained any skills whilst being involved with AITPM? How have these skills influenced your career or shaped the way you view the industry? What are your plans for the future?
Hosting and taking part in two webinars last year pushed me out of my comfort zone in some ways but I was really grateful to be given the opportunity to take part in those. The first was as part of my role in the Equitable Transport Task Group around the topic of community engagement, and the second was as part of a leadership panel. In the first, I gained skills in relation to coordination and hosting of a panel discussion and in the second, I was able to learn from and contribute to discussions around leadership matters in the industry. I felt very grateful to sit alongside respected leaders in the industry. I hope to be able to participate in future sessions both as a host and a participant.
What value has your employer gained from your engagement with AITPM? (if any)
I believe that my employer gains several benefits from my engagement with AITPM, most notably that as my profile and network grows, my connection with my employer is also promoted. As the industry associates me with certain topic areas as part of my AITPM activities, I am hopefully able to attract and retain projects and clients, which of course, benefits the organisation. I am also able to apply the work we do as part of the Equitable Mobility Task Force to my everyday wor,k which adds to my knowledge and the value I can add to my clients.
What would you say to transport professionals considering getting involved with AITPM? Do you have any words of wisdom for Emerging Professionals starting out in the industry?
My long-term relationship with AITPM has been nothing but helpful and positive for me. I have also met many student and graduate members on the start of their journey who have been able to get exposure to industry professionals and organisations through the various local activities that take place. Getting involved in the committee or putting yourself out of your comfort zone to give presentations will pay dividends for your career and there are plenty of supportive people in the organisation there to back you!
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your AITPM journey? Or your journey within the transport industry?
In terms of job satisfaction, being involved in the transport industry is up there for me. I feel like as a cohort, we are doing good work that is of benefit to society, and the work that AITPM is doing is contributing towards leaving the planet in a better shape than when we found it (even if other global events sometimes appear to be derailing everything!). AITPM is a community of like-minded people, and there is not one downside to getting involved in it.
I would also like to say that as someone who does not have a related degree in transport or engineering (but have been employed in this area for over 17 years), do not let this be a barrier to getting involved in transport planning. There are many transferable skills that are of use to the transport industry – if you are passionate about accessibility, then reach out to industry professionals for a chat (and of course get involved with AITPM!)
