With the population of NSW expected to grow by 42 percent to 11.5 million by 2061, the demands on public transport will increase. Transport for NSW Secretary Rob Sharp provided an update on the future of transport in NSW. He discussed how Transport is building a transport system that will support customers, communities and businesses into the future by delivering projects that are designed to create better places, vibrant precincts and a stronger NSW economy.
After his address, Rob Sharp participated in a Q&A with Erin Flaherty, Chair, National Intermodal Corporation, facilitated by Paul Nicolaou from Business Sydney.
As Secretary of Transport for New South Wales, Rob leads more than 30,000 people dedicated to making NSW a better place to live, work and visit.
Working in partnership with the private sector, Transport is delivering a once-in-a-generation $76.7 billion transport services and infrastructure program across NSW, with a focus on world-first technology and innovation to drive better customer outcomes. This is in addition to running essential daily transport services and operations to connect people right across NSW.
Rob has over 30 years’ commercial and operational industry experience delivering across transport, infrastructure, technology and engineering operations. This has included high technology, including research and development, manufacturing & distribution and software development. He has led large scale, consumer focused operational businesses and brings a world-class track record in delivering exceptional customer experience and driving digital innovation.
Before joining Transport, Rob played an integral role in the aviation sector. At Qantas Airlines, he led the development of global airport infrastructure, mega project delivery and business transformation activities. He was also responsible for all aspects of Virgin Australia Airlines’ global operations including customer product and services, digital, network, scheduling and day-to-day operations, strategy, finance and people.
Erin’s career spans over 30 years in both private and Government sectors, with extensive experience in corporate governance, finance, infrastructure and law. Most recently she was jointly appointed by the Commonwealth Minister for Finance and the Minister for Cities and Urban Infrastructure as Chair of Moorebank Intermodal Company Limited, now National Intermodal Corporation, with the mandate to deliver three open access intermodal terminals in Melbourne and Brisbane, to complement the open access interstate rail terminal at Moorebank Intermodal Logistics Park, the largest multi-modal freight terminal currently under construction in Australia.
She is a Board Member and Member of the Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee of Venues NSW, a Board Member and Chair of the Remuneration and Outsourcing Committee of The Infrastructure Fund, a $2.5bn infrastructure fund managed by Macquarie Asset Management and also sits on the Boards of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the NSW Police & Citizens Youth Clubs.
Erin was previously a Guardian of the Commonwealth Future Fund and a Non-executive Director and Chair of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee for Primewest Group Limited, before its merger with Centuria Capital.
Erin was Deputy CEO and Commercial Manager for the Waratah train project from 2008 to 2012 and in 2012 joined the newly formed Advisory Body, Infrastructure NSW, with responsibility for developing strategic directions and key objectives for the transport, social and cultural sectors. She was involved in the development of NSW’s first 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy, ‘First Things First, 2012-2032’ and subsequently, the ‘State Infrastructure Strategy Update 2014, and co-authored the ‘NSW Cultural Infrastructure Strategy’ in 2017.