Amanda Yeates is a civil engineer and Deputy Director-General with the Department of Transport and Main Roads.  She leads the delivery of an integrated program of infrastructure projects and the maintenance and operation of the states just over 33,000 km of road network.  This includes the delivery of TMR’s record $21.7b program of works over four years and leading a team of around 3,300 staff right across Qld.

Amanda’s passion for transport engineering has always been the strong linkage transport and transport infrastructure can play in driving economic vibrancy and shaping local communities.

In 2013, along with her husband and two daughters, Amanda moved to the Sunshine Coast to take up a role as Regional Director with TMR.  Whilst she has since taken on a state-wide role our family has remained Sunshine Coast based. 

Tell us a little bit about your role and what you do on a day-to-day basis?

My role can involve everything from contract negotiations, disaster responses, stakeholder and customer discussions on projects, meeting with elected representatives, executive leadership governance responsibilities and leading a wonderful team of people delivering transport outcomes across the state.

I’ve watched your career path over the last few years and it is nothing short of brilliant… tell us how you have succeeded in forging such a successful career in a company that is very heavily male dominant? What do you feel have been the keys to your success?

I think my ability to articulate my value proposition and what I bring to the role has been the key to my success.  Historically to hold the sort of role I have you would very likely have spent all, or the majority of your career in the organisation and you would most certainly have been male. I have different skills and experience to most of my colleagues – some of that is because of the career experiences I have chosen and some of that is because of the person I am, and my gender is part of that. I think the real strength I bring to this role is my focus on balancing the right technical solution with the social, economic, environmental, and cultural overlays – so that solutions are informed by the local context.   I think diversity (and I mean demographic diversity not just gender) is vital to maximise success in how organisations plan, strategise and deliver and I am really pleased at the increasing recognition of that in workplaces.

In your experience do you feel that attitudes are changing towards women in the workplace gaining those higher level roles?

We are not at a stage where females in senior roles is a normalised part of business success.  It is still common to hear people say ‘I have never worked for a woman before’.  I know that for me it was more than 20 years into my career before I worked for a female.  I am heartened at how far we have come but I think we still have a long way to go.

What do you see as being the most important qualities of being a great leader?

I think it is critical to bring your authentic self to any leadership role.  If your leadership is contrived, people will quickly see through it.  I think you also need to be true to your own values –  it is really important to me that I articulate my personal values, because my personal and professional values are the same – and that is part of my authentic leadership.  I also am a big fan of the concept that the best way to grow your power is to give it away – that is the type of leader I aspire to be.

Working long hours, how do you prioritise and look after your own health and wellbeing?

As my organisation’s mental health, safety and wellbeing champion I am very conscious of making sure I am not consumed by work. Balance is critical for me.  I have periods of working incredibly long hours.  Even at those times, I have to make time to look after my health – especially to exercise and to get sleep.  I hate going to the gym (sorry to all those lovely trainers who are always trying so hard to be motivating!) but I feel a lot better after I have been. It would be so easy to let that slip when things get busy, but I know it is critical for my own health and wellbeing.

So what’s next on the cards for Amanda Yeates…?

In the transport sector we are right on the cusp of a step change to how we think about mobility.  That future will include new technology such as connected and automated vehicles that have the opportunity to dramatically improve safety and efficiency for transport.  It is exciting to be part of that future.

City or coast?

Coast.  Need to be close to the sea

What book are you reading at the moment?

The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion.  It is part of a delightful trilogy – I would highly recommend it.

Favourite movie and why?

No favourites but I just rewatched The Breakfast Club with my 15 year old daughter.  I was her age when it first came out so it was really interesting to watch it again with her.  And it reminded me that being 15 can be wonderful and pretty crappy all at the same time!