A Future Where Diversity and Inclusion Are Recognised and Embraced: UITP President Renée Amilcar on International Women’s Day
#InspireInclusion With UITP’s First Woman President
Imagine a more gender equal world…one built on biases being broken, inclusion being instrumental to achievements, and diversity existing from the top down.
I would like to hope that diversity and inclusion are seen across the board as crucial components for us to build a sustainable future. But I know that this is not yet the case.
For me, diversity and inclusion is more than just a topic of the day, week, month, year…
It is most definitely an important opportunity to use the spotlight of International Women’s Day (Fri 8 March) to highlight the successes made so far, and also the challenges that lie ahead.
As IWD approaches for 2024, I knew that I would like to use the occasion to speak about my own experiences, hopes, and vision for the future.
It is embedded in my belief system that by advancing diversity and inclusion we can find solutions to forging equality across society, and create opportunities for all of us.
I myself know that a diverse range of voices and actors, across all levels, helps to improve performance, attract and retain talent, and build working environments open to all.
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to break many barriers of my own.
I have taken the time to acknowledge that those successes and achievements are fought for, and well earned, but also that they have not been afforded to every woman who has gone before me.
As General Manager of OC Transpo, I oversee a team of talented people, who are as committed as I am to making Ottawa a city on the move!
Ottawa is a diverse and dynamic community, and it is essential that our residents see themselves reflected in the faces of our staff at OC Transpo. We have many women working across all levels, working tirelessly to advance urban mobility.
In fact, the City of Ottawa has been selected as one of Canada’s best diversity employers in recognition of our commitment to creating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace.
I believe that our strength lies in our diversity, and by embracing this diversity, we create a service that is representative of the community and the city we serve.
A Leadership Role to Inspire Others
Outside of my leadership role with OC Transpo, I became the first woman to hold the UITP Presidency in the association’s 138 year history: an honour I will cherish for the rest of my career.
I recall the moment I was voted into the Presidency by the association’s international membership. I could barely contain my excitement at being bestowed with such an honour!
As much as I was proud and pleased to acknowledge and celebrate my own achievement – I of course felt that this progress was a long time in the making.
Within the public transport sector, we have had, and continue to have, problems with attracting female talent to the industry.
I am passionate about the opportunities for women in public transport – I am living proof that a wonderfully rewarding, challenging, and exciting career awaits women within our sector.
However, in the public transport industry diversity is lacking. We know that women can make up the majority of the passengers in our cities, but that this is not reflected in the employees of our sector.
UITP has long been a champion on mainstreaming gender diversity in the sector, introducing a dedicated policy on gender diversity in 2019.
This helped to increase the percentage of women on UITP Boards, ensuring all panels are gender diverse, and improving the number of women speaking at UITP events. Thanks to this policy, women have more of a voice in the activities of UITP and on the global stage.
However, further action is needed. As the only worldwide network to bring together all public transport stakeholders and all sustainable transport modes – and with over 1,900 members – UITP is uniquely positioned to drive forward the diversity and inclusion efforts across the public transport industry.
In recent years, UITP has placed a strong focus on the role of women in our industry as both passengers and employees.
Beginning with the launch of the #PT4ME campaign, to the Women in Leadership focus and the UITP Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, UITP has been advocating alongside our members for a more inclusive sector.
Work has been carried out, progress has been made, but more remains to be done.
I want to follow in the footsteps of the women who have gone before me – and I want to lay the path for other women to follow in my own footsteps.
That is a promise I make to you for this year’s International Women’s Day.
I will #InspireInclusion each and every day of my UITP Presidency, and beyond.
But this is a pledge we should all make together! Diversity and inclusion belongs to all of us, and it benefits each and every single one of us.
I encourage you to join me.
