The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) has today welcomed the announcement that its Chief of Future Impact, Rob McInerney, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours List. The prestigious award recognises his distinguished service to road safety in Australia and 140 countries worldwide that has supported the estimated saving of more than 850,000 lives and serious injuries by the end of 2025.

Rob’s work has helped transform the way road infrastructure safety is measured, funded and delivered across the world, ensuring that investment decisions are guided by evidence and focused on saving the maximum number of lives and serious injuries.

For nearly twenty years, he has led the global charity iRAP in its vision for a world free of high-risk roads. iRAP works with governments, development banks, mobility clubs, industry and road safety NGOs across the world, providing the free tools, training and support to make their roads safer.

Under Rob’s leadership, iRAP’s team and partners have pioneered the development of the globally recognised iRAP Star Rating methodology and tools which are supporting countries’ achievement of minimum 3-star or better infrastructure safety standards for all road users.

His advocacy has driven global support for, and the embedding of minimum 3-star or better safety standards for roads in national and development agency policies, the establishment of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety to halve road deaths and injuries by 2030, and the UN Member State agreed Global Road Safety Performance Targets for the achievement of 3-star or better roads worldwide.

Supported by the programme, iRAP partners have assessed the safety of more than four million kilometres of roads and nearly 2,500 schools in 140 countries, trained over 92,000 engineers and road safety stakeholders, and informed evidence-based investment to the tune of US$120 billion in safer roads and designs.

His work has supported global innovation in technologies, tools and financing mechanisms that have helped embed safety at the heart of transport decision-making to deliver impact on scale.

In Australia, Rob has played a pivotal role in the success of the Australian Road Assessment Programme (AusRAP) working closely with automobile clubs, road authorities and governments. He was one of a small team of advisors to Australia’s independent National Road Safety Inquiry in 2017. His contributions have supported the embedding of 3-star or better road safety targets in national and state policies, AusRAP partners’ assessment of more than 734,000 kilometres of roads influencing the safety of billions of dollars of infrastructure investment across the country, and Australia’s National Road Safety Strategy which sets the target for 80 per cent of travel to occur on roads rated three stars or more by 2030.  AusRAP analysis shows 73% of travel in Australia currently meets the benchmark, and Star Ratings for over 71,000 kilometres of major roads across five states and territories are shared in an AusRAP National Dashboard, providing critical road safety information to decision-makers and road users.

Lauchlan McIntosh AM, former President of the Australasian College of Road Safety, Chairman of ANCAP (the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme) and the international Towards Zero Foundation and Global NCAP, said this Australia Day honour reflects Rob’s tireless commitment to the introduction of a successful road safety evidence-based action programme with massive global collaboration.

“From his earliest days as a civil engineer at the Australian Road Research Board helping to develop the iRAP model which led to the Australian Automobile Association launching AusRAP for national highway assessments in 2006, and throughout Rob’s appointment as CEO for iRAP, I have been continually impressed with his engineering and management expertise, personal commitment to road safety, and the team and partners he’s championed. Rob’s work has fundamentally demonstrated how a successful technique can be understood and delivered globally. Improving road safety is almost a thankless and unrecognised essential task, too often the community accepts unnecessary risks, we recognise the trauma to victims and their families, tend to blame the other user, but rarely celebrate the many successful programmes such as iRAP, which Rob has effectively introduced, not in a silo view, but integrating it with so many other successful techniques.”

Reflecting on today’s announcement, Rob McInerney AO said, “I am honoured and humbled by this recognition. Every single life that we have saved is the main reward for our efforts. Road crashes are preventable and we know how to build forgiving roads that reduce risk for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and vehicle occupants. The honour is shared with the amazing iRAP team and the many partners and practitioners working with iRAP to end road trauma.  We have lots more to do to eliminate high-risk roads and this appointment will strengthen our resolve to ensure every dollar invested in roads delivers the greatest possible safety impact, and that safe journeys are a right, not an exception.”

John Crozier AM CSM FRACS FACRS, former Chair of the National Trauma Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) said, “Rob was a pivotal advisor to Australia’s Independent National Road Safety Inquiry in 2017. He stewarded 12 recommendations to abate the country’s road crash burden. His selfless, tenacious and diplomatic advocacy, magnifies the effectiveness of his teams, as they develop the evidence-base and safer roads which have protected thousands of lives in communities across Australia and overseas.”

iRAP CEO Greg Smith said, “We are delighted to see this well-deserved recognition for Rob. He is a global visionary and leader who has worked tirelessly to make safer roads a reality enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. He is creating a better world, not just in safer roads, but in harm and poverty reduction, access to equal opportunity, the fostering of future road safety leaders, and economic advancement for countries.”

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About Rob McInerney

• Download Rob’s bio
• Download Rob’s shared thoughts on his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia

About the Order of Australia

The Order of Australia recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement to the community – at a local, national or international level. People who are recognised go above and beyond what is reasonably expected (or could be expected) to make life better for others. There are four levels of award, The Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), Member of the Order of Australia (AM), and Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). The Order of Australia also has a Military Division. All nominations are independently researched before they are considered, and the Council for the Order of Australia considers the information and makes a recommendation to the Governor-General.
gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awards/order-australia

Media contacts

Judy Williams, Global Programme and Communications Manager, iRAP
Mob: 0400 782 204 | Email: judy.williams@irap.org

Rob McInerney, Chief of Future Impact, iRAP
Mob: 0405 493 030 | Email: rob.mcinerney@irap.org