By Amanda O’Donoghue, Women in Bus and Coach Marketing Team
I had the pleasure of attending the Women in Bus and Coach Annual Summit and Awards on 30th September at BT’s fabulous Birmingham offices. I’ve been part of the Women in Bus and Coach communications and marketing team since its launch, and this year’s event felt like a real milestone, a chance to reflect, reconnect, and celebrate how far we’ve come.
A day of celebration and connection
The Summit brought together leaders, frontline colleagues, allies and supporters from across the bus, coach and community transport sector. The energy in the room was incredible, full of pride, passion, and purpose.
It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces, meet new ones, and hear stories of women making a difference every day in their roles. The sense of community and shared commitment to change really stood out to me.
Women’s stories and successes
We were treated to an exceptional line-up of keynote speakers, including Anne Shaw OBE, Loveday Ryder, and Marie Daly, who each spoke with honesty and strength about their leadership journeys and the challenges of working in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Two lively panel discussions followed; one spotlighting the next generation of women in transport, and another giving the floor to frontline voices whose experiences resonated with everyone present.
Recurring themes included flexible working, ill-fitting PPE, and access to suitable welfare facilities as well as the ongoing importance of period positivity. Seeing how our Period Positivity Campaign is being adopted across organisations was a real highlight for me.
Throughout the day, there was so much honesty about the daily juggle many women face, balancing professional and personal commitments while striving to stay authentic and resilient.
Culture, confidence and calling out poor behaviour
One of the most powerful moments came when our Chair, Louise Cheeseman, addressed the room about workplace culture. She spoke candidly about the fact that, while progress has been made, too many women still face inappropriate behaviour at work.
It really made me think about how difficult it can be to find your voice in those moments. Whether it’s subtle microaggressions, unkind comments or being ignored when you speak up – these things can take a toll. It’s not always easy to challenge poor behaviour, especially when you worry about being labelled or not being supported.
For me, it was a reminder of why initiatives like Women in Bus and Coach are so important because they provide a safe, supportive space where women can be heard and respected, and where change can be driven collectively.
Looking ahead
After lunch, it was time for the awards ceremony, to celebrate talent, determination, allyship, and excellence, with stories from amazing winners and nominees.
As the day wrapped up with regional updates and a look ahead to next year’s plans, I left feeling motivated, hopeful, and proud to be part of a movement that’s celebrating women and championing change across our industry.
