We are pleased to announce that Transport Engineer Dilys Fong is a finalist for the ACE Emerging Leader Award – an award that recognises consultants who show excellent leadership skills and a strong commitment to their own personal growth. The award acknowledges those who actively promote and embody diversity and inclusion in their work environment and communities.
Dilys Fong’s Journey to Becoming an Emerging Leader
Dilys’ journey to the transport engineering industry was not linear; she entered the workforce as a high school physics teacher, encouraging students into STEM pathways. Inspired by these conversations, she was surprised to find that engineering could allow her to mix her love for learning, problem-solving, and community engagement into a career as a Transport Planner and Engineer.
Transport engineering is a varied discipline at Tonkin + Taylor, spanning geometric designs and calculations, writing consent applications and business cases, and planning for climate change adaptation – as only a few examples. ‘I find this work exciting, because I get to see behind the scenes where decisions are being made, and what’s influencing or constraining our infrastructure. You really start thinking about who the end users are, how it impacts our lives and how we can make things better or do things differently so that we are more effective as a society,’ Dilys says.
With projects all over Aotearoa, Dilys’ work includes pioneering climate change adaptation planning for transport assets with Auckland Transport, design for cycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the award-winning Te Ara Tupua Alliance, business cases and consenting inputs, and Mana Whenua and stakeholder engagement. Dilys also has key roles in internal company initiatives including those promoting Te Ao Māori, providing learning opportunities across the business.
Her exceptional contributions to the consulting industry shows remarkable promise in leading at the intersection of transport, climate change adaptation, and kaupapa Māori. Dilys Fong is an empathetic and collaborative leader, seeing leadership as an opportunity to bring people together for better outcomes, to champion others in their strengths, and to grow collective capability.
Whakamihi Dilys – Thank you for your hard work and dedication.
To read more about Dilys’ research, Click Here for her piece on embedding fun in Transport.
