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Welcome to Sophie Weatherley! 5 Questions to find out more about Moorhouse’s new Principal
We’re delighted to welcome Sophie Weatherley to Moorhouse. Sophie joins our Transport team as a Principal.
After qualifying as a Chartered Management Accountant, Sophie’s career in Transport began at The Automobile Association, followed by 14 years at KPMG delivering Finance and Operational transformation. For the past eight years she has focused on delivering transformation in Transport, Infrastructure and Government organisations. Most recently, Sophie is proud to have used her expertise to work alongside many talented people from different industries on the Government’s COVID-19 response.
At Moorhouse, she will help drive transformation across frontline and corporate functions as the industry responds to the post COVID challenges it faces. In her role, she will support Moorhouse’s clients to deliver efficient and sustainable transport services and develop the Transport sector.
We interviewed Sophie to find out more about her background and what attracted her to Moorhouse.
What attracted you to Moorhouse?
I like Moorhouse’s pragmatic approach to client work and the opportunity to focus a large proportion of my time on the Transport sector. Moorhouse’s strength in complex project and programme delivery, focus on strategy, customer experience and sustainability really resonate for me in the challenges Transport clients are facing.
What got you into the Transport sector in the first place?
Working for the Operations leadership team at The Automobile Association gave me insight into delivering a customer focused 24/7 operation, understanding local, regional and seasonal travel patterns whilst efficiently matching supply and demand. My first few years in Consulting involved extensive travel around Europe and the US which I (nearly!) always enjoyed. I was offered an opportunity to work in KPMG’s Transport sector team having returned to work after maternity leave, so I jumped at the chance.
What are your predictions for the future of the industry in a post-pandemic world?
Travel patterns are changing. Many people are commuting to their place of work fewer days than before, and the shape of the morning and evening peaks are changing. I think passengers want better connectivity and a more seamless experience, especially where their journeys are best served by multiple modes of travel.
Increased local powers to deliver transport services will make for some exciting changes in towns and cities, with hopefully more options for active travel and focus on reducing the carbon impact of journeys. I’d love to see more focus on innovative rural transport options too.
What challenges do you see in the Transport industry?
I’m passionate about improving inclusivity and diversity in the industry. Thinking about gender diversity for example, fewer than 30% of roles in Transport and Infrastructure sectors are represented by women. But there is so much more to consider alongside gender diversity to be truly inclusive and representative of all transport users.
What areas are you excited to develop at Moorhouse?
I’m excited to have joined Moorhouse’s Transport team, who bring a wealth of industry experience and capability delivering complex programmes. I’m pleased to bring my experience of enabling clients to deliver on their strategic priorities. I’ve lived in the countryside for many years, so I am more aware than ever of the impact of climate change on the environment around us. I’ve especially looked forward to working with Moorhouse’s growing Sustainability practice to address Carbon net zero in Transport.
On Sophie’s new role, Jason Byrne, Moorhouse Transport Partner said:
It’s our pleasure to welcome Sophie to our Transport team. She brings outstanding experience from across the Transport sector and through the transformation lifecycle. We’re excited to work with our fantastic clients on the adventures ahead with our growing team!
