National Transport Research Awards & Gala

Recognises an individual, an organisation, or group of organisations working collaboratively to improve transport infrastructure or operations resilience, ensuring continuity and safety in operations amidst challenges from natural and other causes.

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The project or initiative must have had some - albeit minor - implementation beyond theory or design.

Recognises an individual, an organisation, or group of organisations working collaboratively to reduce the carbon footprint of road, rail, airport or port transport infrastructure in Australia, New Zealand or Oceania through innovative design, materials or technologies.

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The project or initiative must have had some - albeit minor - implementation beyond theory or design.

Recognises an individual, an organisation, or group of organisations working collaboratively, to enhance community connectivity through innovative transport solutions, and interfaces between transport modes and surrounding places or precincts in Australia, New Zealand or Oceania.

The project or initiative must have had some - albeit minor - implementation beyond theory or design.

This is an occasional award to recognise outstanding leadership in the public, private or academic sectors which has led to the creation of an enabling environment for sustained innovation.

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The nominee will be a leader in any level of government, in private enterprise or in an Australian research institution, including universities and TAFEs. Over an extended period of their career, they will have had and taken the opportunity to direct, or cause the direction, of financial and other resources to be used for research- and science-led transportation innovations which are demonstrably beneficial to the community at large.

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The call for nominations is perpetual, and nominations are to be made via NTRO’s website. The nomination is in the form of a monograph not exceeding 3,500 words, written in Microsoft Word.

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Successful nominees and their nominator will be advised by NTRO’s CEO of a successful outcome immediately after the outcome is known. Presentation of the commemorative plaque will be made at the NTRO Gala Dinner and Awards.

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Major criteria for evaluation are:

• The extent, quality and innovation levels of their efforts in creating an enabling environment for sustained innovation.
• The measured or estimated benefits – financial and otherwise – of works conducted within that enabling environment.
• The personal commitment they have shown – overcoming scepticism, taking considered risks, wearing out shoe leather - to bring their vision to life.

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Training of researchers is essential to ensure sustainability of our problem-solving capabilities. Because transportation has so many touchpoints with society, we need to be training experts in a broad range of disciplines – including but not limited to engineering, science, design, business, economics and the humanities.

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This award is made to an Australia, New Zealand or Oceania-based researcher under 35 years of age, who has made significant progress in tackling a transportation-related problem in the previous 12 months as part of their research activities. Nominees must be able to identify – when they are part of a research team – their specific contribution in the progress made.

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Nominees must be under 35 years of age on 31 December 2024. Nominees can self-nominate.

This award is presented in recognition of an individual’s outstanding leadership and contribution to the Australian, New Zealand or Oceania land transportation sector over 25 years or more, based on an enduring track record of research, development and implementation activities.

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This award recognises an individual who has:

• An established history of rigorous first principles and applied research
• A track record of creating implementable outcomes from their research
• Undertaken extensive knowledge transfer, training and education activities related to their work
• A track record of developing and mentoring younger professionals in their field

In doing all of the above this nominee has:

• Made a lasting and distinguished contribution to industry practice
• Exhibited leadership and provided inspiration to others in the industry
• Been a strong ambassador for Australasia in international circles

As such, they are stand-out inspirational figures for current and next generation research and development professionals.