Alia Karaman didn’t start her career in construction - or plan to end up leading one of the biggest transport infrastructure projects in NSW. But with a background in social sciences, a master’s in planning and urban management, and two decades working across government, Alia has built a career defined by her grit, clarity, and belief in public infrastructure as a force for good.
Today, she’s the Project Director for Sydney Metro Southwest, overseeing the conversion of the T3 rail line into a world-class metro system connecting the very communities she grew up in. She’s a champion of strong leadership, culture-first teams, and backing people based on potential - not job titles.
In this episode, Alia shares how saying yes to unexpected opportunities (including the one job she didn’t want) led to her proudest career moments. She reflects on managing projects where she’s not the technical expert, balancing marathon training with boardroom meetings, and calling out subtle sexism with humour and honesty.
You’ll hear:
🛤 How Alia built a leadership career without an engineering background
💬 Why communication - not technical expertise -is her biggest superpower
💡 Her advice for future leaders (and what she wants her kids to say about her)
💪 The difference between flexibility and chaos - and why she’s okay with both
🎯 How she’s making decisions today that will shape Sydney for generations
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