Promise, Passion and Pursuit

The PPP Award is awarded to an emerging leader who shows Promise, Passion and Pursuit within the transport industry. The recipient will have the opportunity to engage in a 12-month industry experience, observing and understanding how leaders interact and make decisions while playing an integral role in the growth and development of the Emerging Leaders Program.

Application process and review

The PPP Award winner will be responsible for developing and executing an industry transformation project over a 12-month period. PPP Award applicants will need to:

  • Identify their focus area for the year ahead, outlined in the drop down options below.
  • Undertake a research project with recommendations relevant to their chosen focus area and communicate this with the broader RA membership.
  • Provide a plan of initiatives to help achieve their goals in their focus area.

Research projects will be required to address one of the aims listed under the chosen focus area, as listed below.

Decarbonising the transport economy

  • Clarify application of carbon value, industry obligations to reduce emissions
  • Demonstrate best practice innovation to cut the carbon cost of transport infrastructure
  • Support an initiative to support delivery of the National Transport and Infrastructure Road Map and Action Plan

Boosting Productivity

  • Promote national transport infrastructure sector performance
  • Develop a plan/tool for better pipeline visibility
  • Develop innovative contracting methods to balance risk, value and long-term sector health
  • Accelerate uptake of modern construction methods, technology and no build/build less solutions

Workplace skills and culture

  • Increase diversity across the transport infrastructure workforce
  • Improve availability of talent for the transport infrastructure sector
  • Increase awareness of the current and future skills needs of the transport infrastructure sector

Safety

  • Demonstrate the latest local and global road and workplace safety innovation
  • Share best value road and workplace safety improvements and outcomes from industry, local/global evidence
  • Embed roadworker safety guidance into the national traffic management ecosystem

Diversity & Inclusion

Gender equality

  • Raise awareness and improve the attractiveness of the industry.  
  • Improve procurement and tendering processes to enhance female participation.

Indigenous participation

  • Increase engagement with Indigenous industry participants.

Hearing and acting on the voice of young people

  • Engage and encourage emerging leaders.  
  • Provide mentoring opportunities for emerging leaders.

Applications for 2024 are now closed.

For more information, contact Felicity Lampert.

Award inclusions

The successful PPP award winner will have access to a range of unique and invaluable opportunities over 12 months, including:

  • complimentary access to all RA industry events (‘Golden Ticket’) excluding the John Shaw Dinner
  • actively contribute to Emerging Leaders events, including speaking and facilitating
  • observer position on our Future Leaders Committee, contributing to the growth and development of the Future Leaders Programs
  • observer position on the D&I Committee to represent Emerging Leaders
  • ability to engage in some Fellowship activities, including leadership lunches.
    Work closely with RA to develop a 12 month report, on your own selected topic, which will be distributed and promoted through all Roads Australia network.

Am I eligible to apply?

Applications are open to those with less than 10 years experience, and whose company is a member of Roads Australia. 

This award is not open to current or past RA Fellows.

2024 PPP Award winner – William Phillips

William Phillips is Undergraduate Construction Advisor for BMD Constructions.

From an early age, Will was captivated by the world of construction, spending hours in the sandpit with toy dozers and as he considers it, being a miniature quarry operations manager. This passion was deeply rooted in family history, as his great-grandfather immigrated to Australia from Italy in 1928 and established a civil and concreting business. Growing up surrounded by stories of the industry and on the worksites themselves, Will was inspired to follow in his family’s footsteps.

Starting as a labourer in the industry, Will quickly recognised the challenges faced by newcomers, especially those who didn’t fit the conventional mould. This experience fuelled his dedication to making the industry more inclusive. Now at BMD, Will is an active member of the Working Inclusion Group in Victoria within BMD, striving to create a more welcoming environment for people from diverse backgrounds and ages.

Passionate about the civil construction industry and committed to breaking down barriers, Will aims to honour his family’s legacy by driving continuous improvement and ensuring everyone has a fair chance to succeed.

Pictured (L to R): William Phillips – Undergraduate Construction Advisor, BMD Construction and Verity Turner, Deputy Chair – RA Future Leaders Committee