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Transport strategy officer: Anthony

This Case Study belongs to Passenger transport manager.

Anthony graduated with a degree in geography and works as a transport strategy officer for a passenger transport executive (PTE).

I took a fairly long and diverse route into transport management, having first graduated with a degree in geography from The University of Manchester. After graduating, I worked in accountancy, purchasing and in highways. I worked first as a technician, then as a highways engineer, which gave me a good grounding in transport issues. I then took a job as a transport planner before moving into transport strategy.

I certainly found my geography degree relevant in securing my current job, and indeed my previous positions within highways, as it gave me a good understanding of some of the issues and factors I have to consider as part of my job.

Due to the size of the organisation I work for, my duties can be very varied, but a typical day will include writing transport strategies, preparing funding bids, attending public meetings and liaising with other passenger transport executives (PTEs).

My role is developing all the time and has certainly become more strategic as the importance of public transport has increased. Environmental issues have given public transport much more importance, as we strive to give people a real alternative to using cars.

I’ve also been involved with developing public transport to match economic regeneration programmes in our region. Many of the largest regeneration, retail and job creation areas planned for the future stand close to major transport links, and I find this part of the job really exciting.

Another part of the job I really enjoy is getting out and about meeting people, and finding solutions to problems. I also enjoy the challenge of securing funding for schemes and projects, although I find there is a fine line between aspirations and realities, e.g. funding restrictions and predicting future trends accurately.

The most rewarding aspect of working in the sector is being able to really improve lives and neighbourhoods, through providing better transport systems.

My advice to anyone thinking about entering the profession is to have a firm interest in the subject, an awareness of the political and technological developments, and the ability to balance idealism with realism.

Case Study sourced by Nick Huston of AGCAS, 17 April 2009.