Call for nominations - Transport Planner of the Year and Young Transport Planner of the Year

Nominations are being sought for the Transport Planning Society’s awards for ‘Transport Planner of the Year 2025' and 'Young Transport Planner of the Year 2025'.  

We are looking for individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the transport planning profession over the last year. This could be in the form of a project delivered, a pioneering technique or approach used, someone who has put their head above the parapet, or just because they are a good ambassador for the profession.

Once again this year, we will be including our ‘Young Transport Planner of the Year’ category. The criteria will be anyone under the age of 30 or with less than 7 years of experience in transport planning.

All entries must be nominated by a colleague or third party and awards are made for contributions in the year from 1^st June 2024 to 31^st May 2025. 

All nominations should be submitted using our official nomination form. This helps judges to easily score and compare nominations. Only nominations submitted using this form will be accepted.

We are specifically looking for information/evidence against each of the following criteria, which will be used by the judges in their decision-making process:

·       Demonstrable achievement during the year 

·       Wider contribution to the profession (e.g. external activities such as conferences/presentations)

·       Illustration of a broad skill set

·       Offering something new, unusual or diverse

Please send your completed nomination form, to our Business Manager, Sarah McSharry at businessmanager@tps.org.uk 

The deadline is Friday 15^th August.

The prestigious awards will be presented at Transport Planning Day in London on 10^th November. 

Last year's winner of Transport Planner of the Year was Nicola Waight, Team Leader of Transport Planning Services at Hampshire County Council. Nicola was nominated for her outstanding work in establishing the Fixing Transport Assessments National Working Group. She was instrumental in holding transport assessment guidance accountable, ensuring it prioritises sustainability while remaining adaptable to evolving policies. Presented to the Department for Transport (DfT), her work promises to be transformative for the transport planning sector.

Last year’s Young Transport Planner of the Year was won jointly by Devon Barrett, CTO of Podaris and Hannah Donovan, a transport modeler at Transport for London.

 At just 28, Devon is already a leader in transport innovation, having led high-profile projects with the likes of Google and Arup. His work has also helped secure nearly £100 million in funding for bus service improvements. Invested in advancing the industry, Devon has trained over 500 planners and regularly leads impactful workshops, shaping the future of transport planning worldwide.

Hannah led the benefits analysis for a £200m Docklands Light Railway financing application, securing £10-15m in debt servicing savings for TfL. She also provided critical modelling for a £230m train order on the Elizabeth line, addressing crowding and environmental impacts. Dedicated to professional development, Hannah has mentored graduates and supported colleagues with TPS accreditations. She also played a pivotal role in the £19bn Elizabeth line analysis and has presented at major industry conferences, inspiring the next generation of transport planners.