IRF Honors Tilly Chang as Woman of the Year
IRF Global presented its 2026 Woman of the Year in Transportation Award to the San Francisco County Transportation Authority's executive director.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Awards
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IRF Global named Tilly Chang, Executive Director of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, its 2026 Woman of the Year in Transportation. The award was presented at the Opening Ceremony of the 9th IRF Global Roads to Tomorrow Conference & Exhibition in Santa Clara, California.
Why it matters
The award recognizes leadership, influence on transportation policy, and commitment to an accessible, sustainable, and inclusive future for mobility. It highlights the role of local transportation officials in shaping regional transit and roadway decisions for Santa Clara and the wider Bay Area.
The award was presented at the 9th IRF Global Roads to Tomorrow Conference, the ninth edition of the annual event. The extraction does not report nominee counts or specific project metrics tied to the honoree.
The players
IRF Global
IRF Global is an international road federation that hosts the annual Roads to Tomorrow conference and presents industry honors.
Tilly Chang
Tilly Chang is Executive Director of the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, a regional body that plans and funds transportation projects in San Francisco.
C. Patrick Sankey
C. Patrick Sankey is President and CEO of IRF Global.
H.E. Eng. Abdullah Al-Mogbel
H.E. Eng. Abdullah Al-Mogbel is Chairman Emeritus of IRF Global.
The details
IRF Global presented the award during the Opening Ceremony of its 9th Roads to Tomorrow Conference & Exhibition in Santa Clara. The honor recognizes Tilly Chang's influence on transportation policy and her commitment to sustainable and inclusive mobility.
Timeline
2026: Tilly Chang named 2026 Woman of the Year in Transportation.
November 10, 2026: Announcement of the award published.
Awards Context
The 2026 honor continues IRF Global's Woman of the Year in Transportation series, which recognizes women leaders shaping global road and mobility policy. It places a San Francisco transportation executive alongside the federation's annual conference recognition program.
Residents of the Bay Area may see transportation policy shaped by leaders like Tilly Chang, whose agency oversees local transit and roadway planning. The award reflects continued emphasis on accessible and sustainable mobility options for commuters.
The takeaway
Recognition from global transportation bodies often highlights local leaders whose decisions affect everyday commutes. Following regional transportation authorities can show how policy priorities for accessible and sustainable mobility take shape.
Further reading
Explore more awards news to see how transportation and industry honors are recognized across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by American Journal of Transportation | AJOT | 1-800-599-6358.
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