Three of our team – Fiona Reid (Chief Executive Officer), Shaun Hunter (Head of Innovation), and Lauren Strpko (Product Design Specialist) – recently attended the PTAANZ Travelling Together conference in Auckland. One event, three very different lenses. Here's what stood out.
What struck us most was how consistently the same underlying tensions surfaced throughout the day: the push and pull between shared challenges and local context, between data collection and meaningful action, between large metropolitan agencies and smaller regional operators finding their own path forward.
Each member of our team came away with something distinct, and we think that's the point.
Fiona Reid, CEO: "The biggest take-out for me was recognising that while Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) face similar core challenges, each operates in a unique local context that requires tailored approaches and solutions."
Shaun Hunter, Head of Innovation: "My takeaway is that there is so much value in having the public transport industry come together to share knowledge. PTAs across the country are tackling similar challenges, and sharing those learnings is incredibly valuable."
Lauren Strpko, Product Design Specialist: "Agencies of any size can use whatever data they have alongside customer feedback to get a clear picture of how to get customers on board the service, and staff on board with the mission and purpose."
Lauren also moderated a panel on maximising data and insights to improve customer experiences, bringing together voices from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Auckland Transport, Greater Wellington, Cubic Transportation Systems, and Arup. The discussion moved beyond data collection towards how agencies can build genuine knowledge from it, and turn that into better outcomes for the people using their networks every day.
Conferences like this reinforce something we already believe: that New Zealand's transport future needs solutions that are both deeply tailored and broadly informed. No two agencies are the same, but the sector is stronger when it learns together.
Whether you're a large metropolitan agency or a smaller regional operator, we'd love to explore how TransitDash can help tackle your biggest challenges. Get in touch to start the conversation →
