Empowering Women on the Move: “She Drives Change” Toolkit Launch

PROGRAM

Opening remarks

Nicolas Peltier-Thiberge, Global Director for Transport, World Bank.

Presenters

• Carolina Isabel Burbano Simón, Manager of Social and Environmental Responsibility, Quito Metro, Ecuador
• Khady Ndiaye KEBE, Head of the Environmental and Social Unit, Conseil Exécutif des Transports Urbains Durable (CETUD), Senegal
• Sushmita Kakati, Additional State Project Director, Assam Inland Water Transport Development Society (AIWTDS), India
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Quick demo of the printed and online toolkit

Nato Kurshitashvili, Senior Transport Specialist, World Bank

Benjamin Holzman, Communications Specialist, World Bank

Q&A

Closing remarks

Emanuela di Gropello, Manager of the Gender Group, World Bank

Nicolas Peltier-Thiberge, Global Director for Transport, World Bank

Nicolas Peltier-Thiberge is the Global Director for the Transport Sector in the Infrastructure Practice Group at the World Bank. He joined in 2002 as a Young Professional and has since managed transport investments across regions, including North Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean. From 2012 to 2015, he was Portfolio Assistant in the World Bank Group President’s Office. He served as Practice Manager for Transport from 2015 to 2022 before becoming Global Director in May 2022. Previously, Mr. Peltier-Thiberge worked at the French Ministry of Economy and Treasury. He holds graduate degrees from Ecole Polytechnique, Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, and MIT

Sushmita Kakati, Additional State Project Director, Assam Inland Water Transport Development Society (AIWTDS), 

Sushmita Kakati is an dedicated Assam Civil Service officer with a master’s degree in economics. She joined the Assam Civil Service in 1999 and has served across several districts of Assam, gaining vast administrative experience. Her roles have included key positions in the General Administration Department and the Department for Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes at the state Civil Secretariat. Currently, she serves as Joint Secretary of the Transport Department and Director of Inland Water Transport, Assam. Known for her commitment to public service, she continues to contribute to the state’s development through her leadership and administrative expertise.

Carolina Isabel Burbano Simon, Manager of Social and Environmental Responsibility Quito Metro

Carolina Isabel Burbano Simon is the Manager of Social and Environmental Responsibility at Empresa Pública Metropolitana Metro de Quito. In this role, she leads the environmental and social management of the city’s metro system, focusing on sustainability, regulatory compliance, and community engagement. A sociologist with a specialization in Political Science and a master’s degree in clinical Psychopedagogy, she also serves as a User Service Delegate, working to enhance the passenger experience through operational improvements and quality monitoring. Previously, she was the Director of External Relations, where she led institutional partnerships and coordinated national and international cooperation agreements. Her work integrates environmental best practices with cultural and heritage considerations to ensure inclusive and responsible urban mobility.

Khady Ndiaye KEBE, Head of the Environmental and Social Unit, CETUD

Khady Ndiaye KEBE is a cartographer, environmental engineer, and specialist with a Master’s in Environment from Gaston Berger University and a DEA (Is DEA Diplôme d'Études Approfondies) from the UNESCO Chair on Coastal and Small Island Management at Cheikh Anta Diop University. Khady Mrs. KEBE started her career at Dakar Autonomous Port before joining public service in 2005, working in environmental impact studies and policy development across West Africa. She led regional environmental services (2007-2017), engaging in international training on clean energy, coastal erosion, and disaster risk management. Since 2017, Khady has managesd environmental and social policies at Conseil Exécutif des Transports Urbains Durable (CETUD), coordinating climate change actions and sustainable urban transport projects in Dakar.

Emanuela di Gropello, Manager of the Gender Group.

Emanuela di Gropello manages the Gender Group where she facilitates the implementation of the new World Bank 2024-2030 Gender Strategy, leads the gender unit’s work program, and engages with stakeholders to expand engagements and partnerships toward gender equality.

Previously, among other assignments, Emanuela was the Practice Manager for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean, Manager for Human Development & Corporate Evaluations in IEG, and a Program Leader for Human Development in several countries in Africa.  Emanuela brings a wealth of operational, analytical and policy experience in education and the broader human development sector, acquired in different regional and country contexts. She has also published extensively on a variety of development topics. She holds a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Oxford.

Nato Kurshitashvili, Senior Transport Specialist, World Bank

Nato Kurshitashvili is a Senior Transport Specialist at the World Bank, where she leads global knowledge products focused on transport and gender equality while supporting transport operations across several regions. Previously, she was Principal Gender Adviser at the EBRD, spearheading women’s economic empowerment initiatives in several sectors including infrastructure. Earlier, Nato worked with UNECE's Statistical Division. Nato holds an MSc in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics and an MA in Public Policy from Central European University, Hungary.

Benjamin Holzman, Communications and Knowledge Management Consultant, World Bank

Benjamin Holzman is a Communications and Knowledge Management Consultant in the Transport Global Department of the World Bank, based in Washington, D.C. In this role, he primarily focuses on the World Bank's road safety, active mobility, and transport decarbonization agendas. He previously worked on various World Bank initiatives including the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, the Parliamentary Strengthening Unit, and in the Governance global practice focused on citizen engagement and accountability. He has a Masters degree in Urbanization and Development from the London School of Economics.

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About the Transport Global Department | The Transport Global Department provides clients with physical and virtual connectivity solutions, to facilitate the movement of people, goods, and information, thus enabling access to food, jobs, health and education services, and stimulating economic and social development.