Queensland Rail: Executive Leadership April 2012

[Fares_Fair]

Executive Leadership Team
(Source: QR website)
http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AboutUs/Pages/ExecutiveLeadershipTeam.aspx
   
Structure
Our organisation is split into nine key areas:

Corporate and External Affairs
Customer
Finance
Human Resources 
General Counsel and company secretary 
Network
Operations   
Safety and Environment   
Strategy and Corporate
The Queensland Rail Executive Leadership Team is outlined below:

Jim Benstead
A/ Chief Executive Officer

Jim joined QR Limited in July 2008 and brought with him experience in driving business improvement and leading outcome focused finance and commercial teams.
Jim has held various senior management positions including lead roles in finance, shared services, credit management, commercial and procurement.

Theo Taifalos
Chief Operating Officer

Theo is responsible for Queensland Rail's overall day-to-day operations, overseeing the alignment and smooth running of integral network and rail operations, customer service and project delivery.

Theo has been with the organisation for about four years and brings with him more than 17 years experience in business development, retail and customer service, specialising in major infrastructure based industries servicing large customer bases.

Greg Ford
Chief Safety and Environmental Officer

Greg leads the overall safety, workplace health and safety, environment, investigation and assurance, and emergency management functions for Queensland Rail. He brings with him more than 35 years experience in safety and quality roles across both the defence and transport industries.

Before Queensland Rail, Greg held the position of the Rail Safety Regulator for Queensland Transport for 10 years.

Cathy Heffernan
Chief Customer Officer

Cathy is responsible for developing and implementing Queensland Rail's customer strategy, ensuring all aspects of customers' pre-trip, during trip and post-trip expectations are satisfied.

Cathy has more than 20 years experience in senior positions across Queensland Rail, including her previous role as Chief Human Resources Officer. Cathy has an extensive understanding of the organisation, and the importance of high quality customer service and positive relationships.

Courtney Petersen
Chief Strategy and Corporate Services Officer

Courtney is responsible for creating, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives. She also leads procurement, property, ICT, innovation and business planning services.

Courtney has over 18 years experience in the corporate sector and has held senior strategic, customer focused roles in major organisations such as Telstra and Tabcorp. Courtney joined QR Limited in 2008 to lead its corporate strategy.

John Pistak
Chief Network Officer

John is responsible for Queensland Rail's infrastructure design, construction and asset management, as well as the provision of train control in regional Queensland. He also manages third party access across the entire regional and South East Queensland network.

John has more than 25 years of railway executive management, infrastructure maintenance and construction experience, both in Australia and overseas. John has worked throughout regional Queensland in civil maintenance and engineering roles, including several years in Mackay and Barcaldine.

Laurie Lefcourt
A/ Chief Financial Officer

Laurie Lefcourt was appointed Acting Chief Financial Officer of Queensland Rail in January 2012.

She previously held the role of General Manager QR Services for QR from July 2008 until the separation of Queensland Rail and QR National in July 2010, when she was appointed General Manager Finance and Administration for Queensland Rail.

Laurie has more than 20 years experience in the senior finance roles and has held positions at Rio Tinto, Ansett Australia and Ernst and Young before joining Queensland Rail.

During her time with Queensland Rail, Laurie and her team have strengthened the financial control and governance of the business, delivered improvements to financial systems and processes and introduced contemporary planning and reporting practices.

Martin Ryan
Chief Communications Officer

Martin is responsible for managing the communications opportunities and risks of Queensland Rail, both internally and externally. The organisation communicates to a wide range of stakeholders, including but not limited to customers, employees, shareholding Ministers, government departments, media, business partners, the press, the community and the public.

Martin has more than 25 years experience working in communications and marketing roles, with a major focus in the travel and tourism industries.

Mark Williams
Chief Rail Operations Officer

Mark is responsible for safe and efficient rail operations, ensuring the quality, movement and delivery of train services. This includes overseeing the areas of rollingstock engineering and maintenance, South East Queensland and Far North Queensland operations, Travel network operations, train service delivery and operations facilities and program coordination.

Joining the organisation in 2008, Mark has a strong commercial background and a long history of customer focused business operations, working with major companies including Harvey World Travel and Flight Centre. Prior to this, Mark owned his own businesses for 15 years, winning recognition with national industry awards on eight occasions.

Kevin Wright
Chief Project Delivery Officer

Kevin manages Queensland Rail's extensive project portfolio, ensuring that activities are aligned and resources appropriately distributed across infrastructure, rollingstock, operational and enterprise projects.

He has more than 47 years of experience in rail operations, safety and customer service, including more than 12 years in Queensland Rail. Kevin was recognised for his career achievements when he was awarded a NSW Public Service Medal in 2003 and an Australian Public Service Medal in 2008 for services to the rail industry.

Robin Franklin
A/ Chief Human Resources Officer

Robin is responsible for leading the Human Resources function and providing strategic direction for Queensland Rail. This entails strengthening the organisation's capability, embedding a high performance culture and integrating the organisation to embrace a 'One Queensland Rail' philosophy.

Robin has more than 30 years experience in senior executive positions working for companies such as BP Australia Ltd, MIM Holdings Limited and Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd. More recently, he has led Queensland Rail's Legal and Governance area, and was Director of the Integration Management Office for the establishment of Queensland Rail.

Susan Campbell
General Counsel / Company Secretary

Susan is responsible for the effectiveness of the organisation's corporate governance frameworks, including the provision of company secretarial support to the Board and management of Queensland Rail's legal issues.

Susan is familiar with the environment in which we operate, joining us from North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation (NQBPC), where Susan has held the equivalent position since May 2008. Prior to that, Susan held the role of General Counsel / Company Secretary at Ergon Energy, having developed from the role of Group Legal Counsel.

Susan brings to Queensland Rail over 20 years experience in private practice and corporate in-house roles. She specialises in commercial and corporate law and was formerly a senior associate at national law firms Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Mallesons Stephen Jacques.

[Stillwater]

While there is a network operations person, who is in charge of new line development and future planning?  Ms Petersen?

[Jonno]

While there is a network operations person, who is in charge of new line development and future planning?  Ms Petersen?

Department of Transport & Main Roads