Emerging Leaders Spotlight: Aliya Westaway and where it all began

The PTAANZ Emerging Leaders Program has grown into a community of emerging public transport professionals across Australia and New Zealand. But five years ago, it started with a simple idea.

Early in her career through the Transport and Main Roads (TMR) Queensland Graduate Program and PTAANZ, Aliya Westaway had access to opportunities to learn, build her network and connect directly with industry leaders. She recognised how valuable that access had been, and that not every emerging professional had the same opportunities.

“Recognising how fortunate I was, I founded the Emerging Leaders because I wanted others to have the same opportunities, regardless of their career level or what resources were available to them, ” says Aliya.

In 2021, that idea became what was then know as the Emerging Mobility Leaders Program.

Built by emerging leaders, for emerging leaders

From the beginning, Aliya wanted to create a community where emerging professionals could build meaningful networks, engage with industry leaders and access new opportunities, while developing their own leadership skills and giving back to the industry. Most importantly, she wanted the actual members to shape it.

“Who better to identify what emerging professionals need than emerging professionals themselves?,” she says.

One of the early signs that they were onto something came when the group’s first webinar attracted more than 500 attendees.

“That was when I realised we were creating something that delivered value to the community and it gave me confidence that we were building something meaningful.”

Five years later

Today, Aliya describes seeing how far the program has come as both humbling and rewarding. She credits the volunteers and leaders who have carried the original vision forward, strengthening the program and expanding its impact over the past five years.

The experience also reinforced something that has shaped Aliya’s own career: the value of putting your hand up.

“Many of the best parts of my career have come from putting my hand up and getting involved, or occasionally convincing people to let me start something that didn’t exist!”

That’s also her advice to the next generation of Emerging Leaders: do it.

For Aliya, the value isn’t only in the connections, access and development opportunities. It’s the chance to contribute to something bigger — supporting others, giving back and creating opportunities for the people coming next.

Five years after Aliya first saw a gap, that idea remains at the heart of Emerging Leaders.

Applications and nominations for the 2026 PTAANZ Emerging Leaders Program close 11 September. Visit this page for more details.