Fiona McArthur is a Master of Technological Futures Alumni
Fiona McArthur had worn many hats. Events manager, sales leader, community volunteer. But it was standing roadside in high-vis that changed everything.
As a Site Traffic Management Specialist (STMS), Fiona saw what most of us don't: the real risk that road workers face every day, and the silent systems that shape those risks. She was making decisions on the ground without access to data that already existed. That didn't make sense.
In 2019, a fatal roadside incident claimed the lives of three workers. Fiona, also volunteering with Victim Support, felt the impact from both sides. The grief. The gaps. The questions.
It was this convergence - personal, professional, systemic - that pushed her to act.
The Turning Point
"It just hit my heart," Fiona says simply. "I could see that getting involved in that journey, and having a voice, could make a difference."
The Master of Technological Futures gave her the frameworks to go deeper. What began as a question about safety became a blueprint for industry-wide change. Using systems thinking and design thinking, Fiona mapped three forces shaping New Zealand's roadside worksites:
Frustration from the public
Fragmented access to critical safety data
An industry shifting from compliance-based to risk-based safety protocols
The "I like, I wish, I wonder" framework became her compass. Through it, Fiona didn't just reimagine how safety could be improved. She changed how safety conversations were started.
A Human Approach to Hard Problems
Fiona's thesis didn't stay on paper. It travelled.
Leaders at Fulton Hogan took notice, including board members who visited her worksite and spoke with her directly about the research. Her findings, rooted in empathy and strategy, are now influencing how safety is being led, taught, and talked about across the organisation.
In a time when frustration on the roads is high, Fiona's work offers an important reminder: the cones we grumble at are protecting someone's life. Understanding that starts with better communication, better data, and better design.
From Research to Real-World Impact
Fiona now works in quality and training—a shift made possible by her study at academyEX. She's developing smarter data tools, roadside-ready apps, and exploring robotic cone deployment to reduce harm.
But the biggest change might be the mindset shift she carries with her now: The impact you can make by diving deep into a question is life-changing!
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She attended classes from laybys, in Class 2 trucks, sometimes still in high-vis. What stayed with her most? The people.
"The cohort, the kaiako, the whole team at academyEX—they helped me believe that I could do this. That I had something worth contributing."
For Fiona, building what matters means "creating systems where everyone gets home safe, and where the people making safety decisions have the information they need to make them well."
Change Starts with People
Today, Fiona continues to champion safety as both a systemic and human challenge. She brings lived experience, design thinking, and real-time data together in a way few others can.
From steel-toed boots to strategic leadership, her journey reminds us: policy doesn't drive change. People do.
And sometimes, the most important questions come from the roadside.
Fiona McArthur is a graduate of the Master of Technological Futures. Her research is helping reshape how roadside safety is understood, measured, and improved across Aotearoa.
Your Future at academyEX
For those ready to begin their own transformation journey, academyEX offers various programmes, from full masters degrees to micro-credentials, all designed to empower the next generation of change-makers.
In a world seeking solutions, Louise's journey from corporate strategist to environmental pioneer shows us that with the right education, mindset, and support, we can redesign our world for the better. Visit our programme page to learn more about our programs and join our community of exceptional innovators.
This article is part of our Student Series celebrating remarkable journeys in technological innovation. If you are keen to share YOUR learning story, send us a message - we would love to hear from you.