Kathleen Williams doesn’t consider herself a trailblazer. But after spending much of her working life in the male-dominated trucking industry, the Little River resident has made her mark.
On Australia Day, as the first female chair of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the road transport industry through policies and regulations which promote a safe and responsible trucking sector.
“I’m honoured and proud of what I’ve achieved in my career,” Mrs Williams said.
Originally from a financial services background in Adelaide, Mrs Williams started working in the trucking industry in the 1990s.
She was elected to the ATA board in 1999 and served three years as chairwoman.
“I’ve always been a passionate advocate of better working conditions for drivers. They’re the ones doing the hard yards for what is a very important industry,” she said.
“The statistics show significant improvements when it comes to road safety and heavy vehicles.”
Outside the trucking industry, Mrs Williams is a board member of Concern Australia, a Christian welfare organisation supporting marginalised and disadvantaged children.
One of its programs is for teenagers who have dropped out of school.
“It’s a pre-apprenticeship in mechanics and spray painting,” she said.
“Most of these kids, who had no hope, now have a future. That’s very rewarding.”
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