palazzirail is a specialist, independent consultancy to the rail industry in Australia and internationally. palazzirail provides strategy, engineering consultancy and management services, with a focus on the business objectives of our clients. Our aim is to work closely with our clients to develop innovative and commercially-focused engineering solutions that enhance our client’s business.Project work has included:* Strategy development and leadership of the business cases for the Digital Systems Program in Sydney, as well as ongoing roles in delivering the project.* Member of the Peer Review Panel for Public Transport Victoria, reviewing the Metro Tunnel Project (including CBTC deployment), Airport Rail Link, Suburban Rail Loop and other projects.* Development of a Train Control Systems Strategy for the National Interstate Rail Network, for the Freight on Rail Group (FORG).* Preparation of the Operations Specification for the Inland Rail Project.* Lead advisor to the Port of Brisbane to develop a proposal for a new freight corridor into the Port, including strategic advice and managing pre-feasibility work.

The role of Section Executive, Rail was responsible for leading and developing the rail business in Parsons Brinckerhoff across Australia and New Zealand. The role included responsibility for staff management and leadership, capability development, business development, project delivery, client interfacing and for the financial performance of the rail section. During my time in this role I was responsible for developing the rail team from around 25 people to a team of 150. In the same period, the organisation’s total work in the rail industry across Australia /New Zealand increased to over $100M. Budgets for revenue, profits and staffing numbers were exceeded each year. PB’s presence in the rail industry across Australia and New Zealand developed in parallel, moving from a minor player to become one of the most significant providers of rail engineering services.I also managed the bidding, winning and the delivery of many projects, including the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Alignment Study where I led the techncial and engineering work. The success of the project was recognized with the award of PB’s international Project of the Year award for 2009.

I joined Parsons Brinckerhoff as its first signalling engineer and one of the first rail specialist staff in Australia. I played a key role in developing PB as a provider of rail engineering services and, in particular, as a leading provider of signalling expertise in Australia.I was responsible for providing signalling and project management expertise and for developing PB’s signalling capability. The signalling team grew over this period to be, in October 2006, around half of PB’s 25 rail staff and making up more than half of the revenue of the rail group. This provided the basis for the future growth of the rail group and the development of other engineering disciplines.Project work won and successfully delivered during this period included development of a strategy for implementation of Train Order Working throughout NSW and delivery of signalling designs to support this, provision of a Signal Engineering Team to support the Clearway Programme of work in Sydney and working with ARTC to scope and deliver capacity improvements on the Gap to Narrabri corridor to accommodate increased coal tonnages from the Gunnedah Basin.

I worked as part of Scott Wilson’s Rail Operations and Planning unit, a multi-disciplinary team covering such aspects as freight and passenger operations, logistics, rail economics and operational modelling. I also led the Swindon portion of the team, as well as working as a consultant in railway operations and providing project management and advice for many of the unit’s projects. This role also included responsibility for marketing, client care and bidding for work throughout the UK and internationally.