Dal Kalirai, Director of Partnerships at National Express, discussed why she works with Women in Transport to create a more inclusive transport sector.
Hi Dal, can you tell us a little bit about Women in Transport?
Women in Transport is a not-for-profit organisation, which empowers women working in the industry to maximise their potential, and National Express is proudly one of their partners.
Women are hugely underrepresented in our sector. Only 26 per cent of workers in our industry are women and yet, women make up 51 per cent of the UK population and the female employment rate is 72.3% - so there’s clearly a big gap here. So, Women in Transport’s mission is to support women in the profession at all levels, empowering them to thrive in their careers.
Why is it vital that women are better represented in the transport sector?
A diverse workforce, including women, brings different perspectives, experiences, and ideas to the table. This diversity fosters innovation and creativity, which can lead to improved solutions, better service quality, and enhanced safety in the transport sector.
Women make up a significant portion of transportation users, and their preferences and needs should be considered when planning and designing transportation systems. Having more women in the sector can ensure these considerations are taken into account.
What’s your role at Women in Transport?
It’s a voluntary role which sees me on the board and as one our regional hub leads. Ultimately, my role is to help make our sector more inclusive and to challenge perceptions.
I’ll often attend networking events, speak at conferences, work closely with senior stakeholders within government, and much more. It’s an incredibly varied role but one that’s both important and fulfilling.
What’s Women in Transport currently working on that you’re really excited about?
There’s loads - Women in Transport has grown at pace over the last two years so we’ve got lots on the horizon. One of the things that really excites me though, is how we’re looking into the actual lived experiences of women working in this sector. No two women are the same so when we talk about “supporting women”, what do we actually mean by that? We all have different challenges and different life experiences. Some people are more privileged than others in different ways, so how do we actually support women in our industry?
It’s really important we get this right - especially so we better represent the communities we serve - and so it’s vital that this group looks at ways the industry can recruit women from all backgrounds and walks of life. We’re currently delivering podcasts, book clubs, round tables and white papers which helps us to explore this further - something I’m really passionate and excited about.
What’s been your ‘wow’ moment since joining Women in Transport?
It’s got to be working with stakeholders and advocates across the UK to make transport safer - not only for women and girls, but for all users.
The West Midlands Hub - which is the hub I lead - has done a lot of work in this area. We launched with a panel discussion with Laura Shaof (Chief Executive at West Midlands Combined Authority) and Anne Shaw (Executive Director at Transport for West Midlands), to discuss how we can tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG). I’ve since gone on to talk at conferences and on podcasts, and even developed this short film with Bus Users UK and Ticketer, to help raise awareness about the subject and inform people what they can do to make transport safer for everyone.
And finally, what does inclusion and diversity mean to you?
A sense of belonging. If I feel welcome and able to bring my whole self to work, I’m more likely to contribute freely without fear. This in turn will help National Express understand different needs and requirements - not only for the workforce but also our customers.