Lauren Streifer was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of PTAANZ in April 2023.

Lauren is an experienced leader in transport, infrastructure and international relations, throughout Australia, the US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

Before joining PTAANZ, Lauren led boutique consultancy firm Streifer&Co, which advised leaders and built collaborative partnerships across multiple sectors including government, transport, infrastructure, technology, finance and sport. She also founded Skillsy - an initiative that brings together industry and government leaders to mentor and train professionals in the Australian infrastructure sector, with the goal of addressing skills shortages and improving industry culture.

Previously, Lauren served as Executive Director of Roads Australia (RA) where she represented over 160 global infrastructure companies and state governments. During this period, she significantly expanded the organisation's membership, spearheaded unprecedented collaboration among stakeholders and built lasting industry programs - including the RA Fellowship Program.

Lauren's background is in international relations and diplomacy. She previously served as a Project Manager at the Australian office of APEC, where she managed trade relationships across 21 regional economies. She has also held roles within the Mayor's Office of Economic Development in New Orleans and the Australian Consulate-General in New York City.

Lauren is passionate about building relationships, supporting young talent and travel. She is also obsessed with Spain.

Sally is the Director-General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the head of TransLink, where she leads the delivery of customer-focused passenger transport services across Queensland including policy, planning, ticketing, contract management and customer services.    

TransLink Division is responsible for the integrated rail, bus, ferry and tram network in South East Queensland; and long-distance rail, coach and aviation services in regional, rural and remote Queensland, in addition to school transport, personalised transport and demand-responsive transport services.   

Sally has qualifications in Engineering and International Studies and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.   

The Hon. Jo Haylen is the Minister for Transport for the state of NSW, Australia.  

Jo is proud to be leading the delivery of Australia’s largest public transport pipeline, supporting the NSW economy, housing, and jobs.  

Jo has established vital reviews across the key modes of rail, bus and Sydney metro, working to restore resilience and reliability to the transport network while focusing on local jobs and manufacturing.  
  
Jo is committed to equitable transport for all, passionately dedicated to building an accessible, inclusive, safe and integrated public transport system.  

She has delivered groundbreaking policy to power NSW towards a cleaner future, including progressive zero emission targets with the Transport for NSW Net Zero and Climate Change Policy and Sustainable Infrastructure Program.  

A proven and accomplished leader, Jo has extensive experience and dedicated service across local, state and federal politics. As only the second woman Minister for Transport in NSW history, she hopes to inspire future generations of women.  

Jo is the Labor Member for Summer Hill, a vibrant and diverse community she takes great pride in representing.  

Bernt Reitan Jenssen is Chief Executive Officer of Ruter AS, the public transport authority of Oslo and the Akershus part of Viken, a position he has held since the company’s inception in 2008. Bernt has studied economics at BI Norwegian Business School. Prior to joining Ruter, Bernt was CEO of Nordic postal and logistics group Posten Norge AS for eight years. He has previously served as CEO of the logistics companies TNT Norge AS.

Bernt held a seat in the Norwegian government’s Expert Committee on Technology and Future Transport Infrastructure. Recently, he led the national strategy group Transport21, whose mandate was to recommend key areas for research and development and advise the government on how to meet the transportation challenges of the future. In the spring of 2020, Bernt chaired the Skift task force preparing a summary on the main shifts necessary to reduce emissions in the transport sector. Previously he has been a member of the governmental Council of Mobility and Technology, led by the Minister of Transport and Communications. 

He is the chairman of Spekter, vice chairman of Public Transport Norway, and member of the board in UAS Norway, Oslotech AS and DIGITALNORWAY – Toppindustrisenteret AS

Bernt Reitan Jenssen is Chief Executive Officer of Ruter AS, the public transport authority of Oslo and the Akershus part of Viken, a position he has held since the company’s inception in 2008. Bernt has studied economics at BI Norwegian Business School. Prior to joining Ruter, Bernt was CEO of Nordic postal and logistics group Posten Norge AS for eight years. He has previously served as CEO of the logistics companies TNT Norge AS.

Bernt held a seat in the Norwegian government’s Expert Committee on Technology and Future Transport Infrastructure. Recently, he led the national strategy group Transport21, whose mandate was to recommend key areas for research and development and advise the government on how to meet the transportation challenges of the future. In the spring of 2020, Bernt chaired the Skift task force preparing a summary on the main shifts necessary to reduce emissions in the transport sector. Previously he has been a member of the governmental Council of Mobility and Technology, led by the Minister of Transport and Communications. 

He is the chairman of Spekter, vice chairman of Public Transport Norway, and member of the board in UAS Norway, Oslotech AS and DIGITALNORWAY – Toppindustrisenteret AS

Sally is the Director-General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the head of TransLink, where she leads the delivery of customer-focused passenger transport services across Queensland including policy, planning, ticketing, contract management and customer services.    

TransLink Division is responsible for the integrated rail, bus, ferry and tram network in South East Queensland; and long-distance rail, coach and aviation services in regional, rural and remote Queensland, in addition to school transport, personalised transport and demand-responsive transport services.   

Sally has qualifications in Engineering and International Studies and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.   

Dr Ben McGarry is a Principal at engineering, design and advisory firm Aurecon, and leads its Decarbonisation team, helping clients create strategies, and identify and navigate pathways, impacts and opportunities, in our fast-changing energy and carbon landscape. Ben and his team have led decarbonisation strategies and projects for major emitters and asset owners in the energy, resources, water, telco, transport, freight, aviation, government and built environment sectors, including hard-to-abate assets for BHP, Rio Tinto, Alcoa, QAL, Bluescope and Tomago, and recently supported Australia’s largest ever wind and solar power purchase transactions. Ben has previously led decarb and energy transition strategy work in the US, including the Zero Emissions Vehicle Action Plan response for Caltrans, and renewables strategy for the California High Speed Rail Project, for Amtrak, and for the City Of New York.

Ever since graduating as an engineer, Denis has been fully committed to urban public transportation : he joined RATP Group (Paris Metro owner and operator) in 2006 to work on the renewal of Paris Central station Châtelet-les-Halles, which started his years in the Project Delivery Department, where he contributed to delivering metro extensions, commuter train stations and lightrail extensions projects in the Paris Region.

He switched to rail operations in 2015, becoming Head of RER line B, Paris' second-busiest commuter line serving 2 international airports, managing the day-to-day operations to ensure the safe journey of 1 million passengers everyday.

Since 2019, Denis has been driving RATP Group's expansion in Australia, leading his team to a first successful tender with the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport project.

Denis is a truly customer-focused expert, passionate about maximising the quality of each journey.

As the Regional Director ANZ at Optibus, Russ leads the expansion and adoption of cutting-edge mobility solutions for public transport in Australia and New Zealand. With over 20 years of experience across cities, major events, infrastructure and transport he brings a passion for creating more efficient, sustainable, and inclusive systems that improve the experience and quality of life for millions of people. 

James McConnell, a licensed architect in the U.S. and Canada, has been pivotal in HDR’s rise as a top global architecture practice in the transport sector. As Senior Vice President and Global Strategic Director of Architecture, he has led with a focus on business performance, program development, and design excellence. His leadership has resulted in award-winning projects like the NYC West 8th Street Station, Boston Government Center, and Fulton Center (post-9/11 Lower Manhattan Recovery Project).

His extensive portfolio includes planning, designing, and constructing various building and project types across multiple sectors, such as transit, aviation, historic preservation and restoration, commercial and transit-oriented development, housing, civic, healthcare, and education. From 2020-2022, James served as HDR’s Global Director of Civic, providing hands-on leadership on architecture projects across North America, including New York, Boston, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. He is currently leading TOD and Airport Terminal projects, showcasing his expertise with large scale, complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.

In 2023, James represented the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) at the PTAANZ Conference in Australia and New Zealand, highlighting HDR’s commitment to global collaboration. HDR has a significant presence in Australia, with offices in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, focusing on sustainable, community-oriented projects in healthcare, defense, transport, retail, and commercial development sectors. James’ strategic vision and leadership continue to drive HDR’s growth and success in the global transportation architecture industry.

Gary is Head of Engineering & Asset Management at Keolis Downer Adelaide and manages all aspects of engineering for the passenger rail operation in Adelaide.

In this role he has led the process to achieve ISO 550001 Asset Management certification and successfully onboarded the rolling stock maintenance from an external provider.

Gary has been involved in the Adelaide rail operation for more than 13 years managing the life extension of the existing Adelaide diesel fleet as well as all the major upgrades to the rolling stock systems.

With 40 years’ experience in commuter railway assets, high speed rail and light rail services, Gary has worked internationally and has a breadth of knowledge, having worked with numerous rolling stock manufacturers, maintainers and rail operators in various roles.

As Deputy Secretary, Infrastructure and Place at Transport for NSW, Camilla leads the Division responsible for delivering public transport, road, rail fleet, active transport, property development and urban development projects across NSW. 
 
The Division works with industry partners to deliver a dynamic project pipeline while supporting the priorities of the NSW Government including housing, local manufacturing and procurement objectives. 
 
A Civil Engineer, Camilla has over 25 years’ experience in the development, delivery, structuring and financing of roads, public transport and other large infrastructure and property development projects. 

Since joining the NSW Government in 2017, Camilla has held several roles in Transport, including managing the development, delivery, and operations of Sydney's Motorway network. She also led the Commercial, Performance and Strategy Branch to deliver best practice commercial and project management of infrastructure delivery, place making, property management, acquisition, and divestment. 

In her role as Deputy Secretary, she has overseen the delivery of game-changing road infrastructure projects including NorthConnex, WestConnex Stage 3, Sydney Gateway and Batemans Bay bridge replacement, while also supporting the delivery of Parramatta Light Rail and the introduction of zero emission buses and new intercity and regional rail fleets.  

Prior to joining the NSW Government, Camilla led the development of some of the largest Public Private Partnerships in Australia and New Zealand.  

Dr Richard Denniss is the Executive Director at the Australia Institute. He is a prominent Australian economist, author and public policy commentator, and previously an Associate Professor in the Crawford School of Public Policy at ANU. The Australian Financial Review listed Richard Denniss and Ben Oquist of The Australia Institute on their 'Covert Power' 2018 list of the most powerful people in Australia.

Prior to his appointment at The Australia Institute, Denniss was Senior Strategic Advisor to Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown and was also Chief of Staff to Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja, former Leader of the Australian Democrats. He was also a Lecturer in Economics at the University of Newcastle.

Richard Denniss writes regular columns in the Australian Financial Review and the Guardian as well as regular essays for The Monthly. He publishes regularly in academic journals and has written 6 books including Affluenza: When Too Much is Never Enough (with Clive Hamilton), An introduction to Australian Public Policy (with Sarah Maddison), Minority Policy: Rethinking Governance When Parliament Matters (with Brenton Prosser), Econobabble: How to Decode Political Spin and Economic Nonsense, Curing Affluenza: How to Buy Less Stuff and Save the World and the June 2018 Quarterly Essay, Dead Right: How Neoliberalism Ate Itself and What Comes Next which was also adapted into a book of the same title.

Jon Whelan is the Chief Executive for the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport with over 39 years of extensive experience with the Department. He is passionate and committed to deliver valuable social and transport infrastructure, as well as service delivery, with responsibility for ensuring well-connected and customer focused services are delivered safely, efficiently, and sustainably.  

Accountable to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Jon is responsible for the delivery of over $20 billion of social and transport infrastructure, over the forwards, all aimed at improving the lives of South Australians, including those in regional South Australia. This includes the delivery of the largest and most complex road infrastructure project undertaken in South Australia’s history, the $15.4 billion, North-South Corridor, River Torrens to Darlington Project.  

Jon has recently been asked to lead the pre-delivery and procurement of the Northern Water Project, a major water infrastructure undertaking to deliver a large-scale desalination plant and pipeline for industry in the Eyre Peninsula, Upper Spencer Gulf and the Far North regions of South Australia.  

Jon is also the Rail Commissioner and Commissioner of Highways, with overarching responsibilities for all modes of transport in South Australia. 

Evelyn Storey is Director of Eminence & Sustainability at Aurecon, responsible for embedding sustainability across all capabilities and projects at Aurecon and bringing appropriate thinking, solutions and technology to respond to the challenges of sustainable development and climate response.

Graduating from Imperial College in London in 1986, Evelyn has over 35 years’ experience as a structural engineer, design director and engineering leader and has successfully delivered a portfolio of complex and award-winning buildings and transport infrastructure in both Australia and the UK.

Evelyn has also held numerous leadership roles at Aurecon and was most recently the Managing Director for Queensland. She is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Directors. Evelyn is a Director and Board Member of Aurecon Ltd and Chair of the Structural College Board of Engineers Australia.

Natasha is Partner and head of LEK’s transport practice in Melbourne. Natasha experience spans transport operations, investment, services and infrastructure. She specialises in advising on the impacts of new and emerging technologies and the future of mobility. She has also worked extensively across the energy value chain, including renewable technologies and alternative fuels – bringing a deep understanding of the implications of the decarbonisation of the transport fleet. Natasha has led the development of several long-term strategies (often in the context of service/technology-driven disruption), advised Government on critical policy settings and investments, managed multidivisional project teams to execute organizational change and advised on several transactions.

Natasha is a frequent speaker and has written many articles about the future of mobility. Her expert commentary has appeared in The Economist, the Financial Times and a variety of other news publications. In July 2021, Natasha was appointed to the Victorian Government’s advisory panel to deliver a zero emissions vehicle future. She is also a member of the Commonwealth Government’s National Emerging Aviation Technologies consultative committee.

Prior to joining L.E.K., Natasha worked in the energy industry at AGL Energy. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree (Electrical and Computer Systems), a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Accounting and Finance) and an MBA from Melbourne Business School.

Helen leads Climateworks’ transport program, working with government and industry stakeholders to define a common vision and action plan to move the sector to zero emissions.

Helen’s contributions to Climateworks are supported by a strong track record in cities and sustainable transport, having held leadership roles in government, consulting and not-for-profits, as well as research roles. She worked in the Victorian Department of Transport for many years. including as Director of Sustainable Transport Programs and was then a driving force behind the startup CoDesign Studio, where she was principal consultant and Head of Innovation and Strategy for six years. She is a regular public speaker on cities, transport and innovation, and has significant expertise in engagement and facilitation.

Helen holds a Master of Environment and a Bachelor of Public Policy and Management from the University of Melbourne, and is currently completing a doctorate in sustainable transport and system change at RMIT.

Bernt Reitan Jenssen is Chief Executive Officer of Ruter AS, the public transport authority of Oslo and the Akershus part of Viken, a position he has held since the company’s inception in 2008. Bernt has studied economics at BI Norwegian Business School. Prior to joining Ruter, Bernt was CEO of Nordic postal and logistics group Posten Norge AS for eight years. He has previously served as CEO of the logistics companies TNT Norge AS.

Bernt held a seat in the Norwegian government’s Expert Committee on Technology and Future Transport Infrastructure. Recently, he led the national strategy group Transport21, whose mandate was to recommend key areas for research and development and advise the government on how to meet the transportation challenges of the future. In the spring of 2020, Bernt chaired the Skift task force preparing a summary on the main shifts necessary to reduce emissions in the transport sector. Previously he has been a member of the governmental Council of Mobility and Technology, led by the Minister of Transport and Communications. 

He is the chairman of Spekter, vice chairman of Public Transport Norway, and member of the board in UAS Norway, Oslotech AS and DIGITALNORWAY – Toppindustrisenteret AS

Scott is a senior technology leader having worked in the Transportation, Government, Financial Services and Telecommunication sectors encompassing business analysis, software engineering, systems engineering, mechanical systems implementation/integration and technical delivery management. Most recently, Scott built and led an APAC engineering delivery team (100+) to design, develop and implement the Opal card and Intelligent Congestion Management Programs in Sydney, Next Generation Ticketing System in Queensland and Thomson-East Coast Line in Singapore. Scott brings in depth knowledge of contemporary card and account-based ticketing systems having led engineering delivery for both the Opal and NGTS systems in NSW and QLD respectively, including the first two contactless payments implementations in Australia. His unique technical knowledge, engineering leadership and large program delivery experience stands out.

Jason Owusu is the Chief Data & Digital Officer at the Department of Transport and Planning, where he leads the end-to-end planning, delivery, operations, and management of the department’s data, analytics, spatial, and digital solutions and services for transport, planning, and land use. Jason is passionate about the intersection of data, AI, and machine learning, and their transformative potential in driving innovation and growth.

With a career spanning diverse industries, Jason has a proven track record in harnessing the power of data to drive strategic solutions and foster organisational advancement. He is a visionary leader who excels at embedding intelligence into design processes, ensuring that information is maximised for value through strong technical foundations. His approach combines cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of business needs, resulting in solutions that not only widen the analytical lens but also enhance operational efficiency, delivering tangible benefits to customers and communities.

Jason’s impactful tenures in the utility and retail sectors, where he delivered Business Intelligence and Advanced Analytics solutions, underscore his commitment to cultivating data-driven cultures. He is dedicated to empowering organisations by enhancing data literacy and building analytical capabilities, laying the groundwork for informed decision-making.

In an era where data’s transformative potential is key, Jason consistently advocates for a “less but better” approach, emphasising the importance of focusing on foundational elements and strong data governance. His work is driven by the belief that owning and understanding your data is essential to unlocking its full potential and driving meaningful outcomes.

Tithi Roy is a Solutions Architect at NEC Australia, specialising in Smart Transport solutions. She holds a Master’s degree in Geographical Information Systems, having earned a full scholarship and graduating at the top of her class. Tithi has built an impressive career around leveraging data and technology to enhance transportation systems.

Her passion for smart transport is driven by its potential to transform daily commutes through data analytics, IoT, and AI – improving efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Tithi is passionate about how smart transport fosters inclusivity and reduces environmental impact, aligning with her personal values. She believes that by embracing cutting-edge technology, smart transport can create a more inclusive and sustainable future, enhancing the quality of life for communities while reducing transport’s environmental footprint.

Jamie is a Passenger Experience Lead at Metro Trains Melbourne during the day, bringing her 16 years’ experience in the public transport industry to the Level Crossing Removal Project where she works to deliver a safe, seamless, and quality experience for passengers during rail disruptions.

Jamie brings her earnest passion for the capability and competency of young professionals in the transport industry to her role as the current Chair of PTAANZ’s Emerging Mobility Leaders, where she works to establish and develop emerging leaders as the industry’s future leaders.

Jamie is a nerd for all modes of public transport, though has a particular love for trains, and believes this further enriches her connection to the industry she serves.

Chief Executive Officer, High Speed Rail Authority

With over thirty years’ experience in mega‑ projects in Asia and Australia, Tim Parker was appointed to be the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the High Speed Rail Authority in January 2024.

Tim brings his considerable leadership and project experience in delivering complex infrastructure projects to the development of high speed rail in Australia.

Tim has extensive experience in developing, procuring and delivering significant infrastructure projects, as well as having complex infrastructure experience working in Hong Kong on a range of significant transport projects.

Tim led the Project Delivery Team for Australia’s largest public transport project, Sydney Metro, from 2018 to 2024. In this role he provided leadership, strategy and governance across a portfolio of innovative automated metro rail projects, covering front-end development, delivery management, contract negotiation and contract management, with a total value exceeding A$50 billion.

Tim is an experienced and influential leader whose measured and flexible approach to issue-resolution and risk-management ensures a cohesive and motivated team and strong partnership between client and delivery partners.

Tim’s notable mega-project experience includes Hong Kong International Airport, Epping to Chatswood Rail Link, Sydney’s new Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour, Northconnex and Sydney Metro.

Post nominals and other details: 
Chartered Mechanical Engineer
Member of Engineers Australia

As the Marketing & Portfolio Director, High-Speed Trains, Romain Bosramiez is Alstom’s global expert based in Paris, France. In his current position, Romain plays a pivotal role in shaping the marketing strategy and managing the portfolio of Alstom’s global high-speed train products, driving the overall success and growth of Alstom’s high-speed trains business through effective marketing, portfolio management and customer engagement strategies.  

 A renowned international speaker, Romain has presented at many key events on a global scale, including the UIC – International Union of Railways World Congress on high-speed rail in 2023.  

Romain is widely considered an expert in high-speed rail, with a wealth of technical knowledge and strategic insight that places him at the forefront of innovation in this field.  

Michelle is a senior transport executive with broad and diverse experience across management, strategy, service delivery, communications, and policy development. She is currently the Executive Director of Future Mobility at the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning. In this role Michelle oversees the transport and customer strategy, research and innovation functions of the Department, leadings teams at the forefront of responding to mobility trends and emerging technologies. 

Previously Michelle was the CEO of the Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand (PTAANZ), where she advocated for best practice public transport and sustainable mobility solutions for the region, focusing on issues related to customer experience, liveability, and sustainability of communities. She has previously held senior roles at VicRoads and Public Transport Victoria. Before transport, Michelle worked across the Victorian Public Service and is a qualified lawyer.

Michelle’s passion is supporting women in transport and women in STEM. She is the host of the Women Who Move Nations podcast produced by PTAANZ, is a member of the Federal Government’s National CEO Advisory Council for Women in Transport, initiated DTP’s ITGirls+ women in tech network and established the national Women in Mobility network which brings together senior female leaders from the public and private sectors. Michelle was recently awarded the Victorian Public Sector Network’s Ada Lovelace Award for ‘STEM-sational Mentor’ in recognition of her commitment to mentoring and supporting other women in STEM.

Vincent brings over 25 years of experience in major transport infrastructure programs, including metro, rail transit, high-speed rail, tramway or BRT, and the urban development which comes with these projects.

Through his client-side, operator, consultancy or designer roles, Vincent has a deep understanding of the relationships that exist between transport, urbanisation, customer experience, economic development and stakeholders’ engagement.

He has successfully led large national infrastructure programs and has commissioned multiple iconic transport infrastructure programs.

Some career highlights include Grand Paris Express Metro, French East HSR, Greater Avignon and Greater Orleans Light Rail Transit and an engineering transport department management.

He’s currently National Mobility & Transport Technical Director based in Sydney.

Charlotte, a Chartered Surveyor, Town Planner and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, has over 30 years of international experience from London, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Sydney.

With a background in rail and property development she's played pivotal roles in spearheading multibillion-dollar passenger and freight rail projects and major precinct developments including Barangaroo Wynyard Walk, Inland Rail, Parramatta Light Rail, early initiatives of Sydney Newcastle Higher Speed Rail and contributions to Sydney Metro, and globally, the world's first airside In-Town Check-In Airport Railway, for the Mass Transit Railway Corporation, Hong Kong, Canary Wharf, London Docklands and the Jubilee Underground Rail Line Extension.

As DB’s E&C’s Executive Director ANZ, Charlotte oversees the strategic direction of the Hub, as part of the Asia Pacific Region, working closely with Deutsche Bahn’s global leadership team.  

DB is the government owned operator and maintainer of Germany’s rail network of 33,300 km, 5,600 stations, 4.6 million passengers per day and 1 million metric tonnes of freight per day, and with over 300,00+ employees. Services provided include High Speed Rail (ICE), as well as regional, suburban, metro and other passenger services. DB Cargo and DB Schenker provide seamless freight rail to port and cross country and international services too.

DB ECO Group is DB’s consulting arm, and has just

Keiichi Kagayama serves as the Chief General Manager at JR Central’s Consulting and Coordination Office C&C Office)Office). Based in Tokyo, h e leads all overseas high speed railway projects in which JR Central is involved, including the US Northeast Corridor SC Maglev Project, Texas High Speed Rail Project, and Taiwan High Speed Rail Project.

He has been with JR Central since 1992 and has held several important roles. From 2009 to 2014 , he was involved in the launch of the C &C Office, and worked on projects including those in the United States and Taiwan . In 2014, he was appointed Deputy Director of JR Central 's Washington D.C. office, where he was involved in promoting the Texas High Speed Rail and the Northeast Corridor S C Maglev Project. In 2016, he was dispatched to Texas, USA, as a founding
member and the President of High Speed Railway Technology Consulting Corporation (HTeC), to provide technical support to the developer of the Texas High Speed Rail Project.

Prior to his current position, he served as the head of operations of the Tokaido Shinkansen . He made a significant contribution to the safe and stable operation in the area that extends not only to Tokyo and Osaka, but also to the Sanyo and Kyushu region.

Julien is a true believer in public transport. In his 15 years of experience in the rail and public transport industry across 3 continents, he has worked with both Government and operators to make public transport the preferred option. Julien is currently the CEO of Keolis Downer, the largest multimodal public transport operator in Australia, with train, tram, bus, ferry or new mobilities operations across 5 States. In this role, Julien’s focus is to increase the use of public transport, by delivering a great passenger experience and operational excellence, bringing international best practice to serve local needs, as well as driving engagement with the 5,300 Keolis Downer employees. 

Prior to this role, Julien was the CEO of Yarra Trams, the Melbourne tram network, the largest in the world, and held various positions at SNCF, the national French rail operator, including CEO of SNCF America (2010-2012) and Managing Director of RER D, SNCF’s busiest commuter line in Paris (2014-2017). In French Government, Julien was the Project Manager for the first franchising of Intercity trains (2008-2010) and Chief of Staff to the Transport Minister (2017-2019).  

Throughout his career, Julien has had a passion for transport policy, improving passenger experience and upgrading service delivery of large transit systems. He believes in building true partnerships between public transport authorities, experienced public transport operators and the broader industry, to deliver positive outcomes for local communities.  

A French national, Julien relocated to Melbourne in 2019 with his family. In his free time, he can usually be found on his bike or tram spotting with his son.  

Josh Murray is the Secretary of Transport for NSW, leading a team of 30,000 people dedicated to keeping NSW moving.  He is focused on delivering a once-in-a-generation transport system that is safe, sustainable, integrated and equitable.

Josh is passionate about evolving our state transport network to offer greater choice and seamless experiences to meet the diverse needs of its users.

He works collaboratively with passengers, the workforce, industry and across government to unlock better services, economic potential, and social connectivity. 

Under Josh’s leadership, Transport for NSW is embarking on a transformative agenda that builds on the commitment of its people and stakeholders, to offer world-class services. 

A respected global executive, Josh has 20 years’ experience in senior leadership roles and a comprehensive knowledge of the global infrastructure sector.

Prior to joining Transport, he served as a global director for one of the world’s largest privately owned construction and engineering companies, where he led teams from Sydney and London.

He also has a background in Government, serving in multiple portfolios and as Chief of Staff to a NSW Premier. Josh began his career as a journalist and won the prestigious Walkley Award for his coverage of the East Timor peacekeeping mission.

Lauren Streifer was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of PTAANZ in April 2023.

Lauren is an experienced leader in transport, infrastructure and international relations, throughout Australia, the US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

Before joining PTAANZ, Lauren led boutique consultancy firm Streifer&Co, which advised leaders and built collaborative partnerships across multiple sectors including government, transport, infrastructure, technology, finance and sport. She also founded Skillsy - an initiative that brings together industry and government leaders to mentor and train professionals in the Australian infrastructure sector, with the goal of addressing skills shortages and improving industry culture.

Previously, Lauren served as Executive Director of Roads Australia (RA) where she represented over 160 global infrastructure companies and state governments. During this period, she significantly expanded the organisation's membership, spearheaded unprecedented collaboration among stakeholders and built lasting industry programs - including the RA Fellowship Program.

Lauren's background is in international relations and diplomacy. She previously served as a Project Manager at the Australian office of APEC, where she managed trade relationships across 21 regional economies. She has also held roles within the Mayor's Office of Economic Development in New Orleans and the Australian Consulate-General in New York City.

Lauren is passionate about building relationships, supporting young talent and travel. She is also obsessed with Spain.

Peter Regan PSM – Chief Executive, Sydney Metro

Peter is leading the procurement, construction, delivery and operations of Sydney Metro, Australia’s biggest public transport project. 

The Sydney Metro program includes the operational M1 Line and three projects under construction and is the biggest program of urban rail infrastructure investment in Australian history.

Peter joined Sydney Metro in 2021, following more than 20 years’ experience in transport and infrastructure project development, financing and delivery in Australia and the UK. 

He has been in NSW Government since 2011, including as Deputy Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of Transport for NSW, the Chief Executive Officer for Sydney Motorway Corporation, and the Head of Infrastructure Finance at NSW Treasury. 

Peter was previously the Director of Corporate Finance at Transport for London, after commencing his career in corporate and project finance roles at Deutsche Bank and Price Waterhouse.

Frankie Carroll joined Suburban Rail Loop Authority in January 2021 as Chief Executive Officer, coming from the Queensland Public Service where he held a number of positions, including the Under Treasurer, where he led the Queensland Treasury. Frankie is a highly regarded senior executive with extensive leadership experience in major infrastructure and finance roles across both the public and private sectors.

Hailing from Ireland, Frankie spent 20 years living in his home country before travelling the world, to gain global experience in major financial service centres. 

As the former Director-General of Queensland’s Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Frankie was responsible for the delivery of planning reforms and infrastructure across Queensland. As former Chief Executive of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Frankie delivered a $13 billion program of reconstruction works, prioritising critical projects to aid Queensland’s recovery from major natural disasters. With experience as Chair and Director of Brisbane’s Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, he has a deep understanding of city-shaping infrastructure and mega-project delivery.

Frankie was also Director of Trade and Investment Queensland, Director of Building Queensland and Chair of Economic Development Queensland. He previously held the roles of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Water Infrastructure, where he delivered major water storage facilities across south-east Queensland.

Frankie was inspired by the once-in-a-generation opportunity that Suburban Rail Loop presents to make fundamental improvements to the way people live in and move around Melbourne, and provide better connections to jobs, retail, education and health services.

Frankie is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Charter Accountant of Australia and New Zealand, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a Member of the Association of Institute of Taxation in Ireland.

Judith’s core discipline is in transport, in particular operations, customer service delivery and change programs, spanning over 30 years. She has worked in private and public companies across heavy rail, buses and light rail in the UK and throughout Australia.

Judith’s main focus has been to successfully lead teams through change and delivery, including customer and business reforms as well as operationalisation of major infrastructure projects. In her current role of Executive Group Manager Transport Canberra, Judith is responsible for leading the teams managing the light rail PPP, contract Canberra bus operations and public transport planning and delivery, which includes major projects such as the Zero-Emission Transition Plan for Transport Canberra and the first purpose built zero emission bus depot, a new next generation ticketing system, as well as the strategic planning for future transport including light rail and public transport growth.

Emma Thomas is an experienced executive leader, with more than 30 years’ working within large public and private sector organisations. Known for operating efficiently and delivering outcomes through complexity and ambiguity, Emma has established a reputation for going above and beyond to support and galvanise her team for high performance. 

Emma’s current role—interim Chief Executive Office of the Games Venue and Legacy Delivery Authority (GVLDA)—sees her lead a newly established organisation with a focus on delivering new and upgraded venues that will be used during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and ready for the benefit of communities well beyond the Games. In addition, GVLDA will monitor the delivery of villages, develop a Transport and Mobility Strategy, and maximise the opportunity of hosting the Games through a range of programs focused on: Legacy, Sustainability, First Nations, Accessibility and Inclusion, and Procurement and Supply Chain. 

Emma’s extensive experience has shaped her personal and professional values. Leading with honesty, courage and kindness, Emma aims to influence every organisation and team she is a part of to achieve outcomes with a shared vision and purpose. 

Anna believes that the magic combination of insight-led, customer-centric, innovative strategies and great creative can truly transform and revitalise brands - and get brilliant results.

She's successfully taken this approach into sales and marketing roles for multinationals, large NZ organisations and start-ups; across FMCG, retail and public sectors. Each time bringing vision, critical thinking and a generous dose of creativity to complex business environments.

Unable to resist a challenge, Anna jumped at the opportunity to help transform Auckland Transport's brand. Since climbing on board, she's led the first complete brand identity refresh in 10 years, transformed marketing communications and reapproached how AT shows up for Aucklanders 

She relishes the opportunity to build and lead high-performing teams by cultivating an environment of collaboration, purpose, curiosity and optimism.

Anna is passionate about AT's potential to make a meaningful and positive difference to the lives of Aucklanders.

Sally is the Director-General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads and the head of TransLink, where she leads the delivery of customer-focused passenger transport services across Queensland including policy, planning, ticketing, contract management and customer services.    

TransLink Division is responsible for the integrated rail, bus, ferry and tram network in South East Queensland; and long-distance rail, coach and aviation services in regional, rural and remote Queensland, in addition to school transport, personalised transport and demand-responsive transport services.   

Sally has qualifications in Engineering and International Studies and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.   

Jon Whelan is the Chief Executive for the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport with over 39 years of extensive experience with the Department. He is passionate and committed to deliver valuable social and transport infrastructure, as well as service delivery, with responsibility for ensuring well-connected and customer focused services are delivered safely, efficiently, and sustainably.  

Accountable to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Jon is responsible for the delivery of over $20 billion of social and transport infrastructure, over the forwards, all aimed at improving the lives of South Australians, including those in regional South Australia. This includes the delivery of the largest and most complex road infrastructure project undertaken in South Australia’s history, the $15.4 billion, North-South Corridor, River Torrens to Darlington Project.  

Jon has recently been asked to lead the pre-delivery and procurement of the Northern Water Project, a major water infrastructure undertaking to deliver a large-scale desalination plant and pipeline for industry in the Eyre Peninsula, Upper Spencer Gulf and the Far North regions of South Australia.  

Jon is also the Rail Commissioner and Commissioner of Highways, with overarching responsibilities for all modes of transport in South Australia. 

Joining New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) as Chief Executive in February 2020, Nicole Rosie believes transforming New Zealand’s road network and transport system performance is critical to accelerating New Zealand’s economic success.

Nicole has extensive CE and senior executive experience across both public and private sectors, working in transport and commercial sectors, for companies including Toll NZ, KiwiRail, Fonterra and most recently 3 years as CE of WorkSafe NZ. She has a wealth of knowledge in building systems that are resilient and safe as well as driving change in regulatory environments.

She holds a Master of Public Health in law and public health from Harvard University, which she attended as a Fulbright scholar, a Master of Law from Auckland University jointly supervised by the medical and law schools, and Law and Arts degrees from University of Otago.

Nicole’s leadership approach has enabled her to successfully lead strategic change, develop high performing cultures and deliver operational excellence.

As a fifth generation New Zealander from rural New Zealand, Nicole is passionate about making a difference. She sees the land transport system and the critical roles NZTA plays across infrastructure and regulation as being at the heart of a successful New Zealand.

David commenced as the Director-General for the Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) Directorate on 28 May 2024. The TCCS Directorate’s responsibilities includes the delivery, management and maintenance of the ACT’s road related infrastructure, policy responsibility for road safety and transport regulation, and Canberra’s public transport system including light rail.  David was previously the Head of Access Canberra and ACT Registrar-General between 2019-2024.  David has extensive senior executive experience in law enforcement, emergency management, justice and community safety including 28 years as a police officer with both the Northern Territory and Commonwealth government.

David is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

“Because I care about the outcome, I create visions, and map the path towards achievement through being exceptionally strategic, well considered, and courageous in delivery.”

Natalie is a dynamic and highly motivated Executive with a strategic mindset. Natalie is Deputy Secretary of Strategy and Precincts at the Department of Transport and Planning.

Natalie has had a diverse career with senior executive roles in local and state government. In her current role, she leads the strategy underpinning the creation of Melbourne’s transport precincts.

Natalie thrives on her ability to build, lead and grow highly constructive, engaged and aligned teams that achieve outstanding results.

Natalie has enjoyed a diverse career and leverages this breadth on a day to day basis. Today, Natalie’s focus is on bringing the Transport Precincts to fruition, as well as developing and providing excellence in linking transport plans to the broader stakeholder cohort.

Natalie’s team seeks to translate transport and land use visions (strategies, policies & plans) into practice through collaboration with stakeholders and providing guidance and requirements for the planning, improvement, maintenance and operation of transport precincts and the transport network.

Natalie enjoys pondering behavioural management and how a sense of place impacts on the lives of community.

Trudi Mares is Deputy Secretary, Planning, Integration and Passenger, Transport for NSW. With a passion for authentic leadership, customer and people experience and digital transformation, Trudi has held executive roles and led teams across the NSW Public Service at NSW Police, Roads and Maritime Services, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Corrective Services and Attorney Generals and Justice.

Her background spans business management, policy, finance, people and culture and shared and corporate services and operations. Trudi holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).

Jamie is a Passenger Experience Lead at Metro Trains Melbourne during the day, bringing her 16 years’ experience in the public transport industry to the Level Crossing Removal Project where she works to deliver a safe, seamless, and quality experience for passengers during rail disruptions.

Jamie brings her earnest passion for the capability and competency of young professionals in the transport industry to her role as the current Chair of PTAANZ’s Emerging Mobility Leaders, where she works to establish and develop emerging leaders as the industry’s future leaders.

Jamie is a nerd for all modes of public transport, though has a particular love for trains, and believes this further enriches her connection to the industry she serves.

Lauren Streifer was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of PTAANZ in April 2023.

Lauren is an experienced leader in transport, infrastructure and international relations, throughout Australia, the US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

Before joining PTAANZ, Lauren led boutique consultancy firm Streifer&Co, which advised leaders and built collaborative partnerships across multiple sectors including government, transport, infrastructure, technology, finance and sport. She also founded Skillsy - an initiative that brings together industry and government leaders to mentor and train professionals in the Australian infrastructure sector, with the goal of addressing skills shortages and improving industry culture.

Previously, Lauren served as Executive Director of Roads Australia (RA) where she represented over 160 global infrastructure companies and state governments. During this period, she significantly expanded the organisation's membership, spearheaded unprecedented collaboration among stakeholders and built lasting industry programs - including the RA Fellowship Program.

Lauren's background is in international relations and diplomacy. She previously served as a Project Manager at the Australian office of APEC, where she managed trade relationships across 21 regional economies. She has also held roles within the Mayor's Office of Economic Development in New Orleans and the Australian Consulate-General in New York City.

Lauren is passionate about building relationships, supporting young talent and travel. She is also obsessed with Spain.