The Australasian College of Road Safety (ACRS) has announced the winners of its 2026 ACRS Awards, presented at the Australasian Road Safety Conference Gala Dinner in Sydney on Tuesday 27 October.
These awards celebrate the outstanding individuals and organisations who help save lives and reduce injuries on our roads, acknowledging excellence and innovation in road safety leadership, research, initiatives and advocacy from across the world.
Addressing ceremony attendees, ACRS President Teresa Williams praised the valuable contributions and achievements of all the award winners and nominees and acknowledged the endless hard work of those operating within the road safety sector.
“From research and advocacy to practical, evidence-based initiatives and strong leadership, the contributions of those awarded tonight are shaping safer road environments in Australasia and beyond,” Teresa Williams said, “While we continue our vital work to eliminate road trauma, the achievements recognised through these awards show that meaningful progress is possible when we collaborate, share knowledge and turn evidence into action.”
The ACRS extends congratulations to all winners and highly commended recipients, recognising their outstanding commitment to advancing road safety. Through their dedication and efforts, they are helping to save lives, drive meaningful change and build safer roads for everyone.
2026 ACRS Women in Road Safety Award
Recipient: Melanie Suitor
Sponsored by: Austroads
Melanie Suitor is the Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer for Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils, with 24 years of experience championing road safety across regional New South Wales.
Throughout her career, Melanie has helped secure record funding for road safety initiatives and strengthened the application of Safe System principles within local government.
As the inaugural Chair of the ACRS Local Government Network, she leads a community of more than 400 practitioners across Australia and New Zealand, fostering collaboration, building professional capability and advocating for safer local roads.
Melanie is also a passionate mentor and advocate for women in road safety, supporting others to develop their careers and feel connected, valued and empowered within the sector.
2026 ACRS Fellowship Award
Recipient: Glenn Weir
Glenn Weir is recognised for his outstanding leadership, collaboration and longstanding commitment to reducing road trauma.
As Assistant Commissioner of Road Policing at Victoria Police, Glenn championed the Safe System approach, recognising the critical role of enforcement alongside prevention, evidence-based interventions and cross-sector partnerships.
His leadership was instrumental in shaping Victoria Police’s Road Safety Strategy 2024 to 2028 and strengthening collaboration between road policing agencies and road safety professionals across Australasia.
Glenn has also made a significant contribution to ACRS through his involvement in the Risk and Audit Committee and the Australasian Road Policing Network, supporting stronger governance, professional connections and knowledge sharing.
2026 ACRS Road Safety Reporting Award
Recipient: Julian O’Shea
Julian O’Shea is a researcher, content creator, designer and lecturer at Monash University who uses engaging storytelling to make complex road safety issues accessible to a broad audience.
His award-winning video, Why Did Cars Get So Big? – A Thorough Investigation, explores the growing popularity of oversized American-style pickup trucks and the safety risks they pose, particularly to vulnerable road users.
Travelling across the United States, Julian investigates vehicle design, front blind spots, car dependency and urban infrastructure, highlighting how these interconnected issues influence road safety and the pursuit of Vision Zero.
With more than 65,000 views, his video has brought important road safety issues to a wider audience, encouraging greater public awareness and discussion about vehicle safety and the design of our road environments.
2026 ACRS Young Leaders Oration Award
Recipient: Fritha Argus
Sponsored by Transurban
Fritha Argus is the Road Safety Research and Evaluation Manager at Main Roads Western Australia, where she leads research and evaluation that translates complex road safety data into practical, evidence-based improvements.
Through her work with iRAP and AusRAP methodologies, Fritha has strengthened the understanding of road network risk, helping inform infrastructure investment and road safety policy decisions across Western Australia.
Beyond her professional role, Fritha is Chair of the ACRS WA Chapter, where she brings together practitioners, researchers and policymakers to encourage collaboration, professional development and the sharing of road safety knowledge.
Her leadership and commitment to evidence-based practice demonstrate the important contribution emerging leaders can make to improving road safety outcomes.
2026 ACRS Excellence in Road Safety Award
Recipient: Austroads – AusRAP Coordination and Delivery Program
Sponsored by Acusensus
The AusRAP Coordination and Delivery Program, led by Austroads, is advancing road infrastructure safety assessment across Australia through a nationally coordinated, evidence-based approach.
Using the internationally recognised iRAP methodology, AusRAP brings together road authorities across the country to assess and monitor the safety of Australia’s road network.
The program has assessed and published safety information for more than 70,000 kilometres of roads through a national dashboard, providing unprecedented transparency into infrastructure safety performance.
Through Star Ratings, crash history mapping and geospatial visualisation, AusRAP enables governments, road managers and communities to better understand road safety risks, identify priorities and make informed investment decisions.
The program is making a significant contribution to safer road infrastructure and supporting Australia’s national target for 80 per cent of travel to occur on roads rated three stars or better by 2030.
2026 ACRS Excellence in Road Safety – Highly Commended Awards
Recipient: AIP Foundation
Project: Safe Schools Zones Guide
AIP Foundation’s Safe School Zones Vietnam Project has made a significant contribution to improving road safety for children travelling to and from school across Vietnam.
Beginning with a pilot in Pleiku City, the project brought together safer road infrastructure, education, enforcement and community engagement to address risks around schools.
Evidence gathered from 31 schools demonstrated substantial reductions in crashes and improvements in road safety ratings, providing a strong foundation for broader implementation.
These achievements informed the development of Vietnam’s first national Safe School Zones Design Guide, officially endorsed in 2023. The guide provides a framework for improving school-zone infrastructure and supporting safer journeys for children across the country.
Recipient: Road Safety Directorate of the. Ministry of Transport and Communications of Peru
Project: Safe School Zones Program
Peru’s National Program for Safe School Environments is improving road safety for children and communities through a coordinated, evidence-based Safe System approach.
Between 2024 and 2025, the program supported 52 municipalities to deliver 925 safer school zones, benefiting more than 700,000 students.
Building on this success, the program expanded to 141 municipalities in 2026, extending its approach beyond school environments to address safety risks at high-risk intersections and around health centres.
Through its national reach and commitment to safer infrastructure, the program demonstrates how coordinated action across government can deliver meaningful improvements in road safety for communities.
2026 ACRS Award Sponsors
The ACRS gratefully acknowledges the sponsors of the 2026 ACRS Awards
AUSTROADS
2026 ACRS Women in Road Safety Award
TRANSURBAN
2026 ACRS Young Leaders
Oration Award
ACUSENSUS
2026 ACRS Excellence in
Road Safety Award