About Transport Australia

Transport Australia champions an integrated and sustainable transport system as the enabler for a prosperous Australia

Our Mission

Champion: We are the peak industry body for the integrated transport system.

Integrated and sustainable: We connect government and industry to promote sustainable economic growth and liveability.

Transport system: We are focused on safety, system outcomes and the end-user now and into the future.

The enabler for prosperity: Transport is the connector of communities and underpins the prosperity and productivity of Australia.

Our Story

Transport Australia is the evolution of Roads Australia. Our origins lie in the Australian Road Federation and the Australian Road Forum, representing the industry since 1952. In 2005 the Australian Road Forum was recognised by the Federal Minister for Roads as the national peak body.

In 2008 the organisation relaunched as Roads Australia and has since been the peak body for roads within an integrated transport system. Today, our remit reflects a broader land‑transport view including roads, rail, freight and active transport, while preserving our collaborative DNA and focus on real‑world outcomes.

Leadership & People

Our Board guides strategy and our national team delivers programs, events and policy that create tangible value for members and communities.

Aneetha de Silva

Chair - Transport Australia | Deputy Chair - North East Link State Tolling Corporation

Aneetha de Silva is an experienced non-executive director with a 30-year professional career spanning the infrastructure, transport, government and consulting sectors in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Asia.

She is Chair of Transport Australia, Australia’s national peak transport industry association; Deputy Chair of the North East Link State Tolling Corporation and is a board director of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation.

Previously she was a director on the board of Aurecon Group, a global design engineering and infrastructure advisory consultancy. Also, Launch Vic, the Victorian government’s tech start-up agency.

Aneetha holds a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne and attended the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

She is a member of Chief Executive Women and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Silje Troseth

Deputy Chair - Transport Australia | Vice President APAC - Q-Free AS

Silje Troseth is Vice President APAC at Q-Free AS, Deputy Chair of Transport Australia and President of ITS Australia.

Her career in intelligent transport systems has seen her work with public and private sector organisations across Australia, Europe and the Asia Pacific.

Silje brings broad experience across governance, strategy, project delivery, sales and marketing. Her work centres on technology that makes roads safer, eases congestion, cuts emissions and supports more effective transport funding.

Silje holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Sydney University and a master’s degree from the University of Technology Sydney and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). She also serves as Norway’s Honorary Consul in NSW.

Josh Murray

Secretary - Transport for NSW

Josh Murray is the Secretary of Transport in NSW and one of Australia’s most senior transport and infrastructure leaders.

He leads a workforce of more than 30,000 people responsible for delivering essential services and some of the state’s most significant infrastructure investments.

Combining experience across government, infrastructure and executive leadership, both here and overseas, Josh is focused on ensuring transport investment supports productivity, housing, safety and liveability, and long-term economic growth for New South Wales.

Sally Stannard

Director General - Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads

Sally Stannard has been leading the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) since 2023. In this role Sally oversees TMR’s delivery of transport services and infrastructure, the shaping of current and future transport systems, and management of the State’s transport regulation, marine and road safety functions.

TMR has approximately 6810 staff and an annual budget of $17.8 billion, including capital expenditure of $8.1 billion and managed assets worth more than $145 billion. TMR’s network also includes 33,000km of state-controlled roads, service contracts worth over $4 billion per annum and important rail, bus, cycling and maritime infrastructure.

Sally is the Chair of Cross River Rail and Chair of the Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand. She is also a board member of Transport Australia and the Australian Rail Industry Standards Organisation. Sally is passionate about the role transport plays in equitable and sustainable economic development of our cities and regions.

Roberto Gallardo

President and Executive Director of CIMIC Group

Roberto Gallardo is President and Executive Director of CIMIC Group and Chief Strategy Officer of HOCHTIEF Group. A Civil Engineer with a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, he brings more than 30 years’ international experience in infrastructure investment, construction and business development across Australia, Europe and the Americas. His previous leadership roles include Managing Director of Pacific Partnerships, Chief Operating Officer of CPB Contractors, and Chief Executive Officer of AZVI.

Nicole Stoddart

Group Executive - Delivery and Risk, Transurban

Nicole Stoddart is an Executive with over 30 years’ experience in delivering large scale complex engineering and construction projects. She has worked in senior levels for major construction contractors, consulting, State Government, and now for Transurban.

In her current role as Group Executive Delivery and Risk and (Acting) Australian markets, Nicole oversees Transurban’s portfolio of major projects across Australia and the United States and works closely with Transurban’s Joint Venture and Government partners to help manage assets across Australia. She also leads the Health, Safety, Environment, Sustainability, Risk and Compliance functions for the Group and is a Transurban Director on the Sydney Transport Planners Board (WestConnex).

Alison Close

Deputy Chair - Transport Australia | Partner - Clayton Utz

Alison Close is a specialist construction Partner at Clayton Utz with over 16 years’ experience managing and resolving technically complex disputes by way of conventional and bespoke dispute resolution procedures. A contentious lawyer by training, she has spent most of the last decade assisting government or private sector principals resolve issues without formal dispute resolution procedures, including litigation, being called upon. Alison draws from practical experience to assist clients achieve their objectives sooner.

Alison’s hands-on and pragmatic approach to the administration of project agreements during project delivery has supported clients to improve contract documentation at procurement stage. Her background and ongoing experience in formal dispute resolution assists project teams to resolve issues in a strategic and practical manner.

Scott Power

Group Director, Chief Executive Officer – BMD Group

Scott Power is Group Director and Chief Executive Officer of BMD Group, a leading integrated engineering, construction and urban development business operating across Australia and internationally.

A civil engineer with more than 30 years’ experience in the construction industry, Scott commenced his career with BMD and has held senior operational and executive leadership roles across the business. He served as Group Executive Director – Operations from 2009 before being appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2020.

As CEO, Scott leads BMD’s strategic direction, growth and performance, including the continued diversification of the business across transport, water, energy, resources, defence, ports and aviation. As BMD scales in size and complexity, he remains committed to the collaborative, relationship-driven approach and family values that have underpinned the business since its establishment in 1979.

Scott is passionate about sustainable industry growth, strengthening Australian sovereign capability, supporting local participation and developing the next generation of construction professionals. He is an active industry advocate and serves on the Boards of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia and Transport Australia.

Under Scott’s leadership, BMD continues to grow as Australia’s largest privately owned civil contractor, employing more than 2,500 people and delivering complex infrastructure projects across Australia and internationally.

Kate West

Chief Officer for Business and Markets, APAC - Arup

Kate West is the Chief Officer for Business and Markets, APAC at Arup. She is responsible for implementing Arup’s business strategy in the Asia Pacific
through deepening the firm’s client relationships and harnessing the skills and expertise of its 6,400+ technical experts across 28 offices in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and East Asia to drive impact and shape a better world. Kate works with Arup’s APAC Leadership team to champion the strategic growth and diversification of the business across the Asia Pacific region.

Previously, Kate was the first women to hold the position of Co-Chair of Arup’s Australasia Region, where she oversaw a workforce of over 3,500
people across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia involved in the transport, property, energy, water, advanced manufacturing
and built environment sectors.

Mark McManamny

Chief Executive Officer - AECOM Australia and New Zealand

Mark McManamny is a seasoned executive and infrastructure leader with more than two decades of experience in strategic leadership, corporate governance, and the delivery of complex, transformational projects. As Chief Executive of AECOM’s Australia New Zealand (ANZ) region and a member of the company’s Global Executive Leadership Team, Mark leads a multidisciplinary workforce of more than 3,500 professionals delivering integrated infrastructure solutions across transport, water, energy, environment, buildings, and resources.

Mark is widely recognised for his ability to lead through change, drive sustainable growth, and foster inclusive, high-performing cultures. He is responsible for the region’s strategy, growth, and operational performance, in alignment with global priorities including energy transition and digital transformation.

Peter Regan

CEO, ACCIONA Infrastructure, Australia and New Zealand

Peter Regan is Chief Executive Officer of ACCIONA’s Infrastructure business in Australia and New Zealand, taking up the role in September 2026. He brings more than 25 years’ experience across infrastructure, transport, finance, and public policy.

Peter previously led Sydney Metro, overseeing the procurement, construction, delivery and operation of Australia’s largest public transport investment program.

Ehssan Veiszadeh

CEO - Transport Australia

Ehssan Veiszadeh is the Chief Executive Officer of Transport Australia, having commenced in the role in July 2023.

Ehssan’s experience spans public policy, media and small business.

As a senior adviser to the NSW Premier between 2015 and 2021, Ehssan provided strategic advice on a range of issues facing the State, including NSW’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He has previously served as Deputy CEO for urban policy think tank Committee for Sydney, leading advocacy efforts around increasing transport-oriented development, decarbonisation and reopening the economy during the pandemic. Ehssan has also worked in media, including five years as a journalist for Australian Associated Press (AAP) and as a cofounder of a publishing company.

Ehssan serves as President of the Alumni Council at the University of Sydney.

Get in touch
admin@transportaustralia.org.au

Nicole McLean

Executive Director – Policy and Government Relations

Nicole McLean is Executive Director of Policy and Government Relations at Transport Australia, commencing in the role in June 2025.

Her experience spans all aspects of public policy, government relations, advocacy, campaigns and stakeholder engagement. Nicole has worked in the private sector, in both small and large enterprises, and not-for-profit organisations.

Before joining Transport Australia, Nicole was Manager of Government and Public Relations at The Pharmacy Guild of Australia (Victoria Branch). Prior to that she was Principal Advisor of Policy and Advocacy at the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Nicole also serves as Board Director, Victoria at the Australia-Brazil Chamber of Commerce.

Get in touch
nicole.mclean@transportaustralia.org.au

Katherine Danks

Executive Director – Programs and Communications

With more than 20 years of experience across government, politics, private sector and journalism, Katherine brings a combination of strategic communication expertise and public affairs insight to her work.

Her most recent role was Group Manager, Communication and Marketing at John Holland, where she led corporate positioning, reputation management, brand strategy and media relations. In this role, she worked closely with government and industry partners to celebrate the transformative power of infrastructure projects across Australia. Before joining John Holland, Katherine held the role of Director of Media, Communication and Engagement at Fire and Rescue NSW. There, she restructured the communication branch to better align with strategic goals, improve team engagement, and led a shift toward proactive, high-quality storytelling.

Katherine also brings her experience as a Chief of Staff in the former NSW Government to Transport Australia. In this role she oversaw reputation management and public safety policy development in the counter terrorism and corrections portfolios.

Get in touch
katherine.danks@transportaustralia.org.au

Chantelle James

Events Manager

Chantelle joined Transport Australia in 2026, bringing more than a decade of experience in event management across the association, venue, and corporate sectors.

Prior to joining Transport Australia, Chantelle managed the national events program at Energy Networks Australia, delivering conferences, industry forums, seminars, and exhibitions that connected leaders from across Australia’s energy sector. Earlier in her career, she worked on the venue side of the industry, delivering high-profile events involving senior government representatives, ministers, and executive stakeholders, and established her own events consultancy.

Passionate about creating meaningful experiences, Chantelle believes events are a powerful way to connect people, share knowledge and strengthen industry relationships. At Transport Australia, she works closely with members, partners, and stakeholders to deliver a national events program that is professional, engaging and reflects the organisation’s commitment to bringing government and industry together.

Jane Solly

General Manager – Operations

Jane Solly is the General Manager of Operations at Transport Australia, commencing in the role in August 2026.

Jane has more than 20 years of experience in client engagement, operations, marketing and business development across the property, law, and career management industries.

Prior to joining Transport Australia, Jane built JLL’s national priority client program, driving collaboration and growth in client engagement. She previously led Ashurst’s global client and industry team.

Josh Brydges

Manager - Policy & Government Relations

With over a decade in the transport sector, Josh has experience working across all modes of transport, looking to find solutions that meet sustainability, operational, and community goals to advance a cleaner, safer, and more productive transport network across Australia.

Prior to Roads Australia, Josh was a Principal Transport Planner at AECOM where he worked on a number of infrastructure and transport strategy projects across the country, helping to shape both infrastructure and policy for clients in both the public and private sector.

Prior to that he led national network planning for GoGet Carshare where he worked with Governments and private industry to grow sustainable transport options.

Josh’s focus is on advancing the needs of the Transport sector, reflecting the critical role of transport infrastructure plays in ensuring Australia’s future.

Rebecca Baker

Head of Events

Rebecca joined TA in July 2023 as a passionate event professional with a background in brand activations. Rebecca recently moved to Melbourne with a track record of delivering remarkable events, bringing a wealth of expertise and fresh perspectives to her role.

Throughout her career, Rebecca has honed her skills in crafting unforgettable event experiences. Her ability to understand and connect with clients’ visions enables her to deliver events that exceed expectations while staying true to the organisations core values.

Get in touch
rebecca.baker@transportaustralia.org.au