What does the Scholarship offer?
Three scholarships up to the value of $30,000 each are awarded each year (until 2024) for leadership development courses at an Undergraduate, Masters, Postgraduate, and executive level, relatable to a transport and infrastructure area.
Who is eligible?
Women in Transport (WiT) Scholarships are open to all women (including transgender women) and gender-diverse people, employed by Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) and within the public transport agencies, inclusive of MTIA and its projects, SRLA, VicTrack and V-line.You must have completed your employment probation period.
Applications for the Women in Transport Leadership Development Scholarship Program open on 4 March 2024. For additional information, please review the program guide, watch the recorded information session via a link below or contact witprograms@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au if you have any other questions.
How to apply
Applications for the WiT Leadership Development Scholarship 2024 are now closed.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome by the end of May. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email.
- Research what course/study to undertake and consider how this will align with your career goals, organisation/industry needs and how it could contribute to your leadership journey
- Start talking to your manager, team and your network about your proposed course of study to gain their insights into the benefits of completing this study.
- Watch the recording of WiT Scholarship Zoom information session(opens in a new window) held on 7 December 2023, or join the next session on Thursday, 28 March. (Zoom link will be available on this page closer to the date).
- Consider reaching out to our WiT Scholars and alumni via LinkedIn to gain their insights on your course’s potential impact and their experience of work-life-study.
- Review the assessment rubric that is used by the assessment panel to score candidate applications.
- Copy the application questions (below) into a Word document and begin preparing your answers, ready for submission via the online form after applications open on 4 March 2024.
Application Questions
Applicants can provide a written submission (1,100 words max or 1,400 words max if completing the optional diverse cohort question), OR alternatively prepare a video submission of no more than 10-15 minutes, which should specifically highlight and address each of the following questions individually:
- What course have you identified and why? (Max 100 words)
- How will your chosen course:
- align to your career goals? (Max 200 words)
- enhance your leadership capability? (how will this pitch you against your counterparts)? (Max 200 words)benefit your team and wider organisation? (Max 150 words)
- link to the Victorian Government Transport / Transport Infrastructure programs, policies, or key priorities? (Max 100 words)
- set you up for success in the transport / transport Infrastructure industry? (Max 150 words)
- Is there a key piece of work, project or identified challenge/gap that you can address in your current role by completing this course? (Max 200 words)
Additional question (optional):
Please share your personal story and how you’ve navigated any life or workplace challenges you have experienced due to intersectional gender inequality. How would this scholarship support you in this? (Max 300 words or 2-3 mins if video).
2024 Program Guidelines
For more information on the Program please download the program guide. This document will provide a brief overview of the programs inception and the underlying strategy and reference the guiding policies. Also included:
- program eligibility
- administration of the scholarship
- how to apply
- compulsory application questions; and the
- Expectations of successful applicants (Terms and Conditions).
Information Sessions
You are able to view recordings of two WiT Scholarship Zoom information sessions covering eligibility, application tips and the experiences of past WiT Scholarship recipients.
Session 1: 7 December 2023 with WiT Scholar Mamode Osikoya, is now available via this link: WiT Scholarship Zoom information session(opens in a new window) or click on the picture below.
(opens in a new window)The slides from the 7 December 2023 Information session can be downloaded.
Session 2: 28 March 2024 with WiT Scholars Helen Cui and Tamara Preuss is available via this link: WiT Scholarship 28 March information session(opens in a new window).
2023 Women in Transport Scholarship Recipients
In May 2023 the WiT Leadership Development Scholarship selection panel comprised of Senior Executives and Management from across DTP and Major Transport Infrastructure Authority’s (MTIA); reviewed 21 eligible applications.
The panel discussed and agreed upon the successful applicants, based on the highest scores and overall merit, taking into account the applicant's outlined course, project scope, benefit to the Transport sector, and areas of greatest impact for gender equity.
We are pleased to congratulate this year’s four new members of the WiT Scholar Alumni:
| 2023 Scholarship Recipient | Job Title | VPS Organisation | Approved Leadership Program Scholarship Course |
|---|---|---|---|
Penny Papoulidis | Senior Project Manager | Suburban Rail Loop Authority | Master of Construction Law, University of Melbourne |
Mamode Osikoya | Environment Manager | Major Road Projects Victoria | Master of Environmental Engineering, Griffith University |
Kat Li | Manager, office of the Chief Executive Officer | Suburban Rail Loop Authority | Master of Business Administration at Deakin University |
Taru Jain | Transport Research Manager | Department of Transport & Planning | Women in Leadership Program, Melbourne Business School |
2023 Successful WiT Scholar Profiles
Mamode Osikoya
Mamode is a Environment Manager, Land Planning and Environment at Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) and is responsible for ensuring environmental compliance on infrastructure projects. Passionate about environmental protection and resource recovery, Mamode believes that engineering principles have a huge role to play in addressing environmental issues, including circular economy and renewable energy.
Mamode will complete a Master of Environmental Engineering and explore the complex environmental problems, issues and the challenges facing environmental sustainability. This course will provide insights into designing creative engineering solutions, managing solid and hazardous waste management, air quality monitoring and control, water and wastewater treatment, and renewable energy which are essentials in environmental protection on our Big Build Infrastructure projects.
Mamode is also keen to identify and address some of the challenges associated with transitioning to the new Environmental Protection Act 2017 and to develop a framework for leadership, strategy and problem solving within this space.
Penny Papoulidis
Penny currently works as a Senior Project Manager at Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA). Penny completed a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and has been involved in the delivery of a range of medium to large-scale civil infrastructure projects. Penny had an interest in law as a teenager, but ultimately followed in her family’s engineering footsteps and has enjoyed a rewarding career. When considering options for further study, Penny was motivated by the possibility of combining her passion for project delivery and the principles of law and has just completed her first subject in Master of Construction Law at the University of Melbourne. She is motivated to enhance her commercial and contractual knowledge within the engineering and construction environment as Suburban Rail Loop moves into the construction stage.
As an engineering project manager with construction law experience, this course will allow Penny to apply her construction law knowledge in the day-to-day delivery of the project across risk management, contractual compliance and efficient contractor negotiations and dispute resolution.
Kat Li
Kat Li is a Manager in the Office of the CEO at Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA), where she provides support, advice and analytical insights to ensure seamless operations for the CEO, Board and the Executive Leadership Team.
With an eye toward continuous growth, Kat has embarked on a Master of Business Administration at Deakin University. This strategic choice reflects her commitment to honing her business acumen, refining decision-making skills and elevating her communication skills for use in her day-to-day work.
Kat’s long-term career ambition is to ascend to a senior leadership role. Her aspirations centre on influencing strategic initiatives and spearheading teams within government infrastructure projects.
Kat is committed to challenging prevailing industry statistics, which indicate a gender disparity in senior leadership roles within transport infrastructure, by continuing to drive change and inspire future leaders.
Dr. Taru Jain
Dr. Taru Jain presently serves as the Manager of Transport Research at the Department of Transport and Planning, leading organisational change in research development, curation, application, and impact. Her primary focus involves advancing the Department's Strategic Research Agenda to facilitate practical research aligned with government priorities. This includes fostering extensive cross-functional stakeholder engagement and communication.
Commencing her career in the UK as a transport planner, Taru transitioned to an international research trajectory, contributing to projects in India, Australia, the US, China, UAE, and India. Holding a PhD in transport from Monash University, she boasts over 16 years of global experience spanning transport, urban planning, psychology, and technology. Emerging as a key leader in the Victorian Public Service, Taru is dedicated to making a lasting positive impact on the community.
In 2023, Taru was awarded the WiT scholarship to participate in the Women in Leadership Program at Melbourne Business School. This Leadership Program offers a balanced approach, fostering both a leadership mindset and practical strategies. Taru is actively applying these learnings in her role, aspiring to inspire others to collaborate in building healthier, happier, and more prosperous communities. Particularly, Taru is passionate about improving diversity in leadership and has been consistently applying herself to these efforts through her work as Co-Deputy Chair of the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) Network at DTP.
WiT Scholarship Alumni
Including this year’s recipients, the Department of Transport and Planning’s WiT Leadership Development Scholarship Program will have awarded twenty scholarships (to the value of $637,450) to high performing female or gender diverse leaders working within the transport and transport infrastructure Victorian Public Service (VPS) since 2017-18.
This year’s four newest WiT Scholars join the WiT Scholar Alumni who are rising to the challenge of full-time work, part time study and in many instances caring responsibilities. The WiT Scholar Alumni continue to give back to the WiT programs and its network through WiT program promotion, guest speaking opportunities, as WiT Mentors and more recently become buddies to our newest WiT Scholar members.
The inaugural WiT Leadership Development Scholarship Program Alumni meet and greet session was held in November 2022 and in November 2023 the now annual event ran for the second time, also welcoming senior and executive leaders from the transport industry to showcase the capability, leadership potential and achievements of the WiT scholars and alumni.
A compilation of WiT Scholar profiles and a snapshot of their journey throughout the program, is available within the WiT Leadership Development Scholarship Program Booklet 2022 below.
WiT Scholar and Alumni List
| WiT Scholar Year | Name | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
2018 | Esther Warren | Master of Business Administration, Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne |
2019 | Melissa Webb | Master of Design Futures, RMIT |
2019 | Dishita Masalia | Master of Business Administration - Business Management, University of Canberra |
2019 | Alexandra Morey | Master of Systems Engineering, The University of New South Wales |
2020 | Janine Lara | Graduate Diploma of Property, Deakin University |
2020 | Julia Jenvey | Master Urban Planning and Environment, RMIT |
2020 | Kim Achkar Roumieh | Master of Engineering Management - Project Management, University of Melbourne |
2020 | Marion Carrabin | Master in Infrastructure Engineering and Management, Monash University |
2021 | Kate Stapleton | Executive Masters in Cities, London School of Economics |
2021 | Annie Xu | Master Business Administration, Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne |
2021 | Helen Cui | Masters Infrastructure Engineering and Management, Deakin University |
2022 | Aditi Sachdeva | Master of Professional Management, University of Melbourne |
2022 | Rhiannon Drummond-Clark | Masters of Environment and Climate Emergency, Curtin University |
2022 | Tamara Preuss | Master of Laws, University of Melbourne |
2023 | Penny Papoulidis | Master of Construction Law, University of Melbourne |
2023 | Mamode Osikoya | Master of Environmental Engineering, Griffith University |
2023 | Kat Li | Master of Business Administration, Deakin University |
2023 | Taru Jain | Women in Leadership Program, Melbourne Business School |
Including this year’s recipients, the Department of Transport and Planning’s WiT Leadership Development Scholarship Program will have awarded twenty scholarships (to the value of $637,450) to high performing women and gender diverse leaders working within the transport and transport infrastructure Victorian Public Service (VPS) since 2017-18.
WiT Programs Team
The WiT Programs Team role facilitated by the Industry Capability & Inclusion team at Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) has a keen focus on continuous improvement and welcomes feedback on this process and program.
Please contact the WiT Programs Team via witprograms@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au if you have further queries.
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