I STARTED MY CAREER way back in the 1990s as a technical assistant. As an 18-year old part-Asian woman, it’s fair to say that there wasn’t really anyone like me in the highways industry who I could look up to as a potential career role model. 

But the reason that I stayed in the industry and flourished is that the people I worked with saw what I could do and recognised my potential. Now that I’m in a more senior position, that’s what I try to do for others. It’s the attitude that a person brings to their role that makes them stand out, not their physical characteristics.

A continuing journey

Since my early days, the industry has moved on a lot in terms of diversity. However, management positions remain predominantly filled by people over 40, with roles such as highway operatives still primarily filled by men, so there is still a lot to do. 

In my role at Surrey County Council, I am surrounded by strong, capable women of all ages, but I’m not convinced this is repeated on a national scale. Looking at the other roles I have, which include president of the Local Government Technical Advisers Group (LGTAG) and member of the UK Roads Board (UKRB), there is nowhere near a 50/50 gender split in the senior leadership teams. I am the first female president of LGTAG in its 25 years of existence and, to my knowledge, there has not yet been a female chair of the UKRB or UK Roads Leadership Group (UKRLG).

Turning a corner

However, I’m happy to report that the situation is changing. At the LGTAG conference last summer, titled ‘People, the Key Highway Asset’, two-thirds of the presenters were women. There was also a highlighting of the need for diversity and the many benefits that brings to an organisation, especially in areas such as recruitment, training and retention.

Those of us with protected characteristics – or experience of them – need to use our experiences and platforms to encourage diversity. For example, I have family members with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), so I know that while neurodivergent people may need some adjustments in the workplace, they can offer a unique set of perspectives and skills to an organisation. 

So I use my experiences to encourage others to look beyond a person’s characteristics and focus on the positives they can bring to a role.

Amanda Richards is assistant director of highways, network and asset management at Surrey County Counci.