Professional Journey and Commitment to Gender Equality
I have over 20 years of experience in international relations and policy-making, and I currently work as a Senior Manager at the International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD. I am responsible for developing the programme for the ITF Annual Summit, coordinating institutional partnerships, and coordinating ITF’s gender-related initiatives. Since joining the OECD in 2004, I have worked in a wide range of policy areas, including gender equality, consumer and competition policy, corporate social responsibility, and environmental strategies. In 2020, I was honored to be recognized as one of the “Remarkable Women in Transport” by the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative. My interest in gender issues began in 2010 when I contributed to the report on gender gaps in employment, entrepreneurship, and education, which launched the OECD Gender Initiative. Through my work at the OECD Directorate for Employment and Social Affairs, this experience made me realize that gender issues are complex, shaped by social, economic and cultural aspects. I understood that gender should not be treated as a mere “sub-theme” for society, but as a core theme of good governance and effective policymaking deeply connected to both the economy and the environment.
Advancing Gender Equality in the Transport Sector
When I joined ITF in 2015, I quickly noticed that gender equality in the transport sector was a major blind spot, with women accounting for only about 17% of the global transport workforce. A deeper assessment revealed both cross-cutting challenges across transport modes and region-specific barriers. Common issues across regions include a lack of gender-disaggregated analytical data, limited human and financial resources dedicated to the issue, lack of political commitment, gender-based violence in public transport, and differences in accessibility. On the other hand, some challenges are region-specific. For example, strong cultural and educational barriers to women’s employment in transport persist in parts of the Mediterranean region, the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and several Sub-Saharan African countries. In this context, we used the ITF Annual Summit as a unique platform to bring together ministers, leaders in the transport sector, and key stakeholders to advance the gender agenda through highlighting gender-related challenges in transport in the Summit programme. We also set up Annual Gender Consultation meeting gathering regularly all our stakeholders to discuss most pertinent issues related to gender in the transport sector. In 2015, this was a small meeting with 15–20 organizations, but by the 10th edition in 2025, it had grown into a major platform with over 70 stakeholders participating, exchanging best practices in gender equality in transport and promoting concrete actions.
Alongside this dialogue, ITF placed strong emphasis on evidence-based policymaking. At the time, we developed the organisation’s first analytical foundation on gender in transport through research on women both as transport users and as participants in the transport workforce. These studies helped establish a knowledge base and supported the mainstreaming of gender considerations across ITF’s work. Currently, I coordinate a wide range of initiatives on gender and work with other colleagues across the ITF on research, policy dialogue and outreach. Our work addresses diverse challenges such as unequal access, gender-based violence, and stereotypes. We are also strengthening the evidence on the connections between gender, transport, and climate change, and have presented these findings at COP for several consecutive years. Geographically, our initiatives have expanded to regions including South Korea, Southeast Asia, and Ghana.
Integrating Gender Perspectives into Transport Policy
In 2021, we assessed how ITF member countries incorporate gender perspectives into transport policy and found that only about 40% actively do so. Despite clear differences in how women and men experience and use transport systems, transport policy has historically been developed largely without a gender perspective. A major barrier has been the lack of gender-disaggregated analytical data, which makes it difficult to identify gaps and design inclusive policies. Therefore, ITF developed the “Gender Analysis Toolkit for Transport Policies.” This practical online tool helps policy makers integrate gender perspectives into transport policy. We have used it to integrate gender perspective in several projects, including network resilience, informal transport, areas related to AI and skills.
Impact and Lessons Learned
This toolkit has elevated gender from being a marginal theme to an important analytical dimension of ITF work. For example, it has supported the integration of gender aspects into some key reports, such as research on transport decarbonisation, improving the quality of walking and cycling in cities, and accessibility in the Seoul metropolitan area. In the report “Sustainable Accessibility for All”, it was highlighted that accessibility is affected not only by gender, but also by age, disability, income, and geography, promoting a more intersectional approach.
While institutional challenges remain, such as data shortages and limited dedicated resources, the experience with this toolkit has demonstrated that practical and user-friendly tools can drive institutional change and support the integration of gender perspectives across policy areas.
Looking Ahead: Message to Japan
Japan is at an important moment. Integrating gender perspectives into transport policy is not simply about adding a social dimension; it is about improving the quality, relevance, and long-term sustainability of transport decision-making. Countries that invest in gender equality improve their transport systems that are safer, more accessible, more resilient, and better aligned with peoples’ mobility needs. Our experience shows that meaningful progress often begins with practical steps: collecting gender-disaggregated data, asking the right policy questions, and embedding gender considerations into everyday decision-making. ITF is ready to work with Japan to share evidence-based research, concrete tools, and peer exchange with countries that have already advanced in this area. By acting now, Japan has the opportunity not only to strengthen its own transport system, but also to position itself as a regional leader in inclusive, resilient and sustainable mobility. In doing so, it can help ensure that transport systems truly serve all users and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society.
