Road Safety Minister Paul Papalia has welcomed Katie Hodson-Thomas JP as the newly appointed Chair of the Road Safety Council.
After 25 years since it was formed, the Road Safety Council continues to play an important role in reducing fatalities and serious injuries on Western Australian roads.
The council is made up of members from key State Government agencies, as well as the WA Local Government Association and RAC. Together, they recommend priority road safety projects and programs to improve the safety of roads across the State and support community outcomes.
Ms Hodson-Thomas is the Director of Corporate and Public Affairs at the Perth-based arm of global consulting firm FTI Consulting, and has extensive experience in public policy development, government relations and stakeholder engagement.
As a member of the WA Parliament between 1996 and 2008, Ms Hodson-Thomas served as a Parliamentary Secretary to the Health Minister, held shadow portfolio responsibilities for transport, tourism, small business, environment and road safety, and was Deputy Chair of the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee.
In addition to her road safety experience in her Parliamentary capacity, Ms Hodson-Thomas took a proactive approach to road safety in her former role as Chief Executive Officer of the Caravan Industry Association WA.
She was formerly independent Chair of the WA Fishing Industry Council and is currently a member of the Gaming and Wagering Commission.
Ms Hodson-Thomas’ appointment comes as current Chair Iain Cameron has completed the maximum tenure of five years on the council.
Mr Cameron served as Chair of the council from July 2017 and during this time has made a valuable and lasting contribution to road safety in WA.
As Chair of the council, Mr Cameron has been a passionate advocate for a safe system approach to road safety and these principles are reflected in the Driving Change Road Safety Strategy that guides WA’s road safety journey over the next decade since it was released.
As stated by Road Safety Minister Paul Papalia:
“I would like to congratulate Ms Hodson-Thomas on her appointment as Chair of the Road Safety Council.
“The McGowan Government has set an ambitious target to reduce the number of people fatally, severely or seriously injured by 50 to 70 per cent by 2030 and the leadership of the Road Safety Council is key to achieving this.
“Ms Hodson-Thomas’s experience in representing the interests of the WA community at a federal and local level gives me every confidence in her ability to lead the council and improve road safety outcomes for the benefit of everyone who uses our roads.
“I would like to thank Iain Cameron for his significant contribution to road safety in WA during his five years on the council.
“Mr Cameron can feel proud that under his leadership, the council has supported a range of programs and projects that save lives on our roads.”
