
Stephen Hodge
Director – National Advocacy , We Ride Australia
About Stephen
Stephen brings decades of experience and expertise as both a past elite road cycling competitor and, more recently, as a high-level advocate for active transport. Following a Bachelor of Science degree (ANU) in 1982, Stephen competed internationally in cycling for 13 years. Since establishing a corporate consulting business in 1998, he has worked across health, transport, environment and sport sectors and since 2008 as Director - National Advocacy for We Ride Australia.
In the corridors Australia’s Parliament, Stephen is the only professional focused purely on advocating for cycling. In this role Stephen advocates for federal investment in cycling and works in strategic alliances across political, health prevention, environment and built environment, and transport sectors. This experience and major reports such as the Australian Cycling and e-Scooter Economy Report has earned WeRide a unique role as the independent voice for cycling nationally.
Conference Topic
APCC Abstract – Australian Cycling and e-Scooter Economy Report
The Australian Cycling and e-Scooter economy Report is the most significant piece of work every undertaken in Australia to support the importance of cycling to our national economy and our future.
In the largest ever public cycling survey of its kind WeRide’s Report, conducted by Ernst and Young (EY), found cycling contributes more to the economy ($16.9bn) than motorsport or thoroughbred racing. With 60,000 jobs on the line and a significant and growing positive impact in the regions through cycle tourism ($1.9bn) cycling provides affordable, accessible and healthy mobility.
Stephen Hodge and EY’s research lead for the project, Megan Paybody, will present both the context and objectives behind the Report and a deep dive into the data. With widespread concern in transport circles that a shift to EVs alone simply will not meet our climate targets for transport, this research establishes the credentials of cycling to assume more of the task of moving people – vital to our transport future.