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Mid-Career Trailblazer Award – Road Safety Policy and Practice

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Information, Nomination Requirements and Selection Criteria

The CARSP Mid-Career Policy and Practice Trailblazer Award for Road Safety is presented annually to individuals who have made a sustained and meaningful impact on road safety policy, programs, and professional practice in Canada. Candidates are CARSP members who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and influence in translating evidence, experience, and collaboration into effective road safety policies, programs, systems, or practices over the past 10–25 years.

There are two categories of Trailblazer Awards: Research and Evaluation AND Policy and Practice. This document provides the information for the Policy and Practice Trailblazer Award only. A separate document has been prepared for the Research and Evaluation Trailblazer Award. A person is only eligible for one of these two Mid-Career Trailblazer Awards over their career lifespan.

Nomination Criteria:

The award goes to someone who:
  1. Has been actively contributing to road safety policy development, implementation, and/or professional practice for 10–25 years, including through roles in government, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, or applied leadership settings.
  2. Has made a notable and demonstrable contribution to improving road safety outcomes in Canada.
  3. Is a current CARSP member and has been a CARSP member for a minimum of five (5) years.
  4. Has contributed to CARSP in some way.

Nominee Information Requirements:

There are five types of information requested: a Curriculum Vitae (CV), Impact Statement, Summary for Awards Ceremony, Letters of Support, and Nominator Information.
I.    Curriculum Vitae

(Page Limit: 4 pages)

The CV should include:

  • Nominee Name, Current Title, Current Organization, Province/Territory
  • Number of years the nominee has served with their current or most recent organization
  • List of positions or roles held related to road safety policy and/or practice (e.g., government at municipal, provincial/territorial, federal, or Indigenous levels; NGOs; community-based organizations; enforcement; public health; engineering; advocacy; consulting; or industry), including years served
  • Description of key policy initiatives, programs, legislation, standards, funding frameworks, or operational practices led or significantly influenced
  • Committees, advisory groups, task forces, or working groups related to road safety
  • Awards or recognitions receivedMentoring (e.g. students on placement; junior work colleagues)   
II.    Impact Statement

(1200-word limit)
This section must describe the extent to which the nominee has demonstrated leadership in shaping, implementing, and advancing road safety policy, programs, and/or professional practice in Canada, relative to their career stage. Emphasis should be placed on applied leadership and decision-making in real-world settings. The statement should emphasize real-world impact, sustainability, and measurable or observable outcomes (e.g., changes in legislation, improved programs, safer systems, enhanced intersectoral collaboration, or improved road safety performance).

Please organize the response under the following sections. Suggested word limits are provided. The overall word limit, however, should not exceed the applicable word limit specified above.

  1. Leadership in Policy and Practice (300 words) - How has the nominee demonstrated leadership in advancing road safety policy, programs, and/or professional practice? Examples may include leading or implementing major initiatives, influencing elected officials or senior decision-makers, stewarding legislative or regulatory change, embedding Safe System approaches into practice, or guiding organizations, communities, or jurisdictions toward effective and sustainable road safety action.
  1. Innovation, Impact/Outcomes, and Systems Change in Policy and Practice (300 words) - How has the nominee introduced innovative, adaptive, or equity-informed approaches to road safety policy, programming, or professional practice? What tangible impacts or measurable outcomes have resulted (e.g., adoption of policies or bylaws, program implementation or scale-up, improved service delivery, enhanced coordination, or safer infrastructure, vehicles, or behaviors)? How has the nominee contributed to long-term or systemic change in road safety systems? 
  1. Collaboration Across Sectors, Communities, and Jurisdictions (300 words) - How has the nominee collaborated across disciplines, sectors, communities, and jurisdictions (e.g., transportation, public health, policing, education, community organizations, Indigenous partners, advocacy groups, and the private sector)? How have these collaborations strengthened policy development, program delivery, implementation, or professional practice? 
  1. Evidence-Informed Decision-Making and Implementation (200 words) - How has the nominee used evidence, data, lived experience, and/or best practices to inform decisions and translate them into actionable policy, programs, or professional practice? Describe examples of implementation, scaling, or sustained delivery, including engagement with practitioners, communities, elected officials, or senior leaders. 
  1. Contributions to CARSP (100 words) - Describe the nominee’s contributions to CARSP, such as:
    • Served on any of the following: CARSP Board of Directors, a CARSP committee (i.e., Finance, Structure and Governance, Marketing and Membership and the Young Professionals’ Committee), or on the CARSP Editorial Board (i.e. for the Safety Network Newsletter),
    • Participated as any of the following in the CARSP Conference: Keynote Speaker, Panelist, Presenter, or Reviewer, played a key role in securing sponsorship funds or exhibitors for the conference and served on the Conference Organizing Committee.
    • Some other role not mentioned above, such as delivering a webinar, promoting CARSP to other road safety practitioners, and/or acting as a CARSP liaison to another association or organization.
III.    Summary for Awards Ceremony

(300-word limit) - Provide a concise and engaging summary highlighting the nominee’s key achievements, leadership, and impact on road safety policy and practice. This summary will be used when presenting the award at the CARSP Conference.

IV.    Letters of Support

Please arrange for two (2) to three (3) letters of support from fellow road safety professionals who can speak to the nominee’s impact on policy and/or practice. If this is not a self-nomination, at least one letter of support should be submitted by the nominator.  Letters should be sent directly by the referee to CARSP by emailing info@carsp.ca.

V.    Nominator Information Requirements

If this is a self-nomination, please indicate this clearly.  Provide the following information:

  • Name
  • Title
  • Organization
  • Phone number
  • Email address

Nominations Deadline: April 16, 2026

Please email nominations and any questions to: info@carsp.ca