July 2025
 

Hans Gao
Senior Consultant | Eukai | VIC

"As transport priorities evolve, we need to keep learning and adapting. AITPM has given me a place to do just that — through presentations, conversations, and everything in between.”

Tell us a little about yourself and your background

I am currently a Senior Consultant at Eukai, where I provide transport advisory services for a broad range of clients on both development and infrastructure projects. I hold a Master of Engineering (Civil) and have previously worked at Stantec and GTA Consultants. I am passionate about shaping the transport system so that it works for all its users and am proud to be contributing to Australia’s growth and development.

What is your current involvement with AITPM?

I have been an active member of the Victoria/Tasmania Branch Emerging Professionals Network (EPN)) for the past three years, including two years as the Chair.

Most recently, I’ve joined the Victoria/Tasmania Branch committee as a co-opted member.

How has your involvement as a member/volunteer grown with AITPM?

I first signed up to AITPM five years ago, as a student member (which, helpfully, was and still is free). At that time, I was curious about the transport industry and so joined AITPM to better understand it. The first event I attended was the first Online Technical Conference Series in 2020, which influenced me to pursue a career in transport.

Since graduating from university and starting full-time work, I’ve become a regular at AITPM events, joined various organising committees, and been highly involved in the EPN. As Chair, I led the organisation of EPN events at the 2023 AITPM National Conference in Melbourne. I have also assisted with organising various iterations of the Online Technical Conference Series (OTCS) over the past three years, including as the convenor in 2022.

I’ve also been fortunate to attend the past three National Conferences, where I’ve had been able to connect with and learn from professionals across the country. I’ve really appreciated the genuine enthusiasm and openness of AITPM’s members to share their knowledge and support their peers. Being part of the EPN’s Buddy Program for the past three years has also let me pass this on.

What has been a memorable experience from your time with AITPM? And why was it so memorable?

The 2023 National Conference in Melbourne was particularly memorable for me, as I was both part of the organising team and a speaker – my first time speaking at an industry conference.

I spent the whole year looking forward to it, and luckily, it absolutely lived up to expectations. Both the events I helped organise and the session I spoke at were really well-received.

I’m very grateful to the organising team, who were fantastic to work with, and to my co-presenter, Matthew Raisbeck, whose support elevated the experience even further.

Have you gained any skills whilst being involved with AITPM? How have these skills influenced your career and brought value to your employer?

I’ve further developed a broad range of skills through my involvement with AITPM. I’ve become more confident in my ‘soft’ skills – from presenting to audiences, networking and stakeholder engagement, to leadership and management. Being able to learn from a wide range of industry experts, across all aspects of transport, has also helped me build up my technical skills. These are all core skills that I apply in my role at Eukai and as such, honing them through AITPM has helped me deliver stronger outcomes across my projects.

My involvement with AITPM has also allowed me to build lasting connections, better understand the industry and stay engaged with broader sector trends and innovations. It’s also helped Eukai remain visible, informed and well-connected within the industry, opening up more opportunities for collaboration and strengthening our ability to meet our clients’ needs.

 
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?

I’d strongly encourage getting involved with AITPM, noting that membership fees are cheaper if you have less than three years of experience (and free if you are still a student). AITPM offers so many opportunities to build meaningful relationships across the industry and keep up with the latest developments in transport.

To Emerging Professionals, my advice is to treat AITPM as a supportive environment to learn about the full breadth of the transport industry and explore the specific transport fields you want to specialise in. In my experience, being part of AITPM has significantly fast-tracked my growth and helped me make informed decisions about my career direction.
 

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your AITPM journey?

From my experience to date, I’ve come to appreciate that as transport priorities are constantly evolving, transport practitioners must also always be learning and adapting. Being involved with AITPM greatly helps with this – whether through formal presentations, seminars and workshops, or through casual conversations with peers. The organisation offers such an accessible and enjoyable way to stay engaged in that ongoing process of learning.