Roads Australia People

Roads Australia Board

The current members of Roads Australia Board are:

  • President - Ray Fisher
  • Vice President - Tim Boyle, Chief Operating Officer - Global, Sinclair Knight Merz
  • Cr Paul Bell AM, President, Australian Local Government Association
  • Phil Lovel, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Transport Association 
  • Ken Mathers, Chief Executive Officer, Linking Melbourne Authority
  • Phil Mumford, Chief Executive, Queensland Motorways Ltd
  • Brett Smythe, Roads Division Manager, Leighton Contractors
  • David Stuart-Watt, Parsons Brinckerhoff
  • Alan Tesch, Director General Main Roads, Austroads
  • Peter Walton, GM, Major Projects & Technical Services Group, Abigroup Contractors

Profiles

President - Ray Fisher

Ray FisherRay Fisher is currently President of the Australian Road Federation as well as World Executive Board Member of the International Road Federation and a member of the Arts Angels Council for the Victorian Arts Centre.

Over a period spanning the last 25 years, Ray has managed a number of large and medium size companies in both Australia and overseas, as a Chief Executive and Director. Until December 2003 Mr Fisher was CEO of Emoleum, a joint venture between Rinker (previously CSR) and ExxonMobil.

He has an MBA (Deakin University) and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Sydney University).

He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Member of the Institute of Engineers and a Life Member of the Graduate Management Association of Australia.

Ray has a very extensive range of interests in sport - including golf, skiing, bush walking, bike riding and tennis; in the arts - especially dance, theatre and music. He has travelled extensively and lived in several parts of the world and still enjoys discovering new lands, people and cultures.

Vice President - TIM Boyle

Tim BoyleTim Boyle is Global Chief Operating Officer at Sinclair Knight Merz.

Prior to his appointment as global COO in July 2007, Mr Boyle was SKM's General Manager, Infrastructure. He remains an Executive Director of Sinclair Knight Merz Management Pty Ltd and member of the Audit Committee.

Mr Boyle is a civil engineer with over 30 years experience. During his career he has been involved in projects across a broad range of SKM's businesses, including mining, industrial, water, environmental, building and urban infrastructure projects. He has also played a significant role negotiating major Alliance and Design & Construct Contracts and has successfully integrated new businesses into the Sinclair Knight Merz Group.

BOARD MEMBER - PAUL BELL

Paul Bell

Paul is presently Deputy Mayor of the Central Highlands Regional Council and has given 23 years continujous service as a Councillor including 9 years as Mayor.  Paul has extensive experience in all aspects of local democracy.  Paul is currently President of the Australian Local Government Association and President of the Queensland Local Government Association.

Paul represents Local Government at the Council of Australian Governments, Australian Transport Council, Local Government Planning Ministers Council and the Augmented Australian Police Ministers Council.

Paul has been awarded an honorary Bachelor of Business Administration CQU, Centenary Medal and was appointed a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the 2005 Australia Day honours.  

board member - phil loveL

Phil LovelPhilip Lovel is the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Transport Association, representing over 800 freight and logistics companies in all sectors of the industry.

Philip has represented the freight and logistics industry for over twenty years and holds many senior positions on industry and government bodies. He is passionate about the need to provide new infrastructure for the freight industry to meet growth over the next twenty years.

In 2007 Philip was awarded as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia, in recognition of his work in the transport industry. Mr Lovel was honoured for: “Service to the transport industry through the Victorian Transport Association, particularly road transport and workplace safety, to the implementation of safer and higher productivity vehicles, and to community liaison on behalf of the industry.”

Board Member - KEN MATHERS

Ken MathersKen Mathers is the Chief Executive Officer of Linking Melboourne Authority.

A Civil Engineer with a wealth of experience in road infrastructure planning and implementation, Ken has been involved in some of Victoria’s most significant road infrastructure developments including the Western Ring Road, Monash Freeway and Melbourne CityLink.

After an involvement in the planning of CityLink at VicRoads, Ken joined the Melbourne City Link Authority as Director, Engineering and Operations in 1995. He participated in the development of documentation, bid assessment and the overview of design and construction until completion of the CityLink Project.

Ken then worked as a private consultant specialising in major road projects from 2001 until appointment to his current role in SEITA on establishment of this new special purpose statutory authority.

Ken’s professional endeavours include involvement with Engineers Australia where he served as Chairman of the Victorian Division in 1999 and on the National Council between 2000 and 2003. In 2006 and 2007, Ken was included in the list of Australia's 100 Most Influential Engineers.

Board Member - PHIL MUMFORD

Phil MumfordPhil Mumford joined Queensland Motorways as Chief Executive Officer in July 2004. Phil leads the Company's commitment to delivering the highest level of service to the users of Queensland Motorways' road network. He has extensive experience in consolidating organisations and driving customer service strategies.


With a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy), Phil has a strong financial background including substantial involvement in both public and private sectors. Phil has also held a number of significant senior positions primarily within the maritime industry.

Key leadership roles he has held are Queensland State Manager for Towage & Salvage with Adsteam Marine, and 10 years as Chief Executive Officer with Bundaberg Port Authority.

Board Member - Brett Smythe

Brett SmytheBrett Smythe is the Roads Division Manager with Leighton Contractors in NSW and the ACT, with the accountability for the road infrastructure operations of the business.  Key projects for the Roads Division currently include the Southern Hume Duplication Project (Northern Hume Alliance), the Ballina Bypass Alliance and the M2 Upgrade Alliance.

With a construction career spanning more than 17 years, Brett has amassed a wealth of experience across a wide range of civil infrastructure projects in Australia and South East Asia.

Prior to his appointment as Roads Division Manager in October 2007, Brett spent 10 years with Leighton International Ltd, working in both senior management and project roles.  Brett was the Project Director for the US$120 million Tangguh LNG project in Papua, Indonesia and a Supervisory Board Member on the US$145 million BHP Port Headland Marine project in Western Australia.  As Project Manager, Brett also negotiated and led the delivery of a 65km rail duplication and station upgrade project in Indonesia and the Musi Pulp Mill project in South Sumatra.

Prior to joining Leighton Contractors, Brett spent two years in senior engineering roles with Balfour Beatty International in Malaysia and Indonesia and he began his career as a Structural Design Engineer with various companies in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Brett holds an Honours degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Newcastle (Australia).

Board Member - David Stuart-Watt

David Stuart WattDavid Stuart-Watt is the Director of Licensing, Registration and Freight with the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, as well as a Director of ARRB Group, Transport Certification Australia and the former Tow Truck Authority of NSW.

David has held senior executive roles for the past fourteen years and has over thirty years experience in infrastructure, regulation, traffic and transport. He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Engineering, a Master of Business Administration, FIEA and MAICD.

Board Member - Alan Tesch

Alan TeschAlan Tesch has over 20 years experience in senior positions across the Queensland public sector, with the principal focus being on policy development, implementation and service delivery.

Alan was appointed Director-General of Main Roads in 2005.  Prior to joining Main Roads, Alan was Deputy Director-General in Queensland Transport.

Prior to his move into the Transport portfolio, Alan was at Treasury where, as Assistant Under Treasurer, he variously had responsibility for overseeing and delivering economic policy for the State Government, Statge Government finances (including the State Budget), State tax policy, capital markets and financial markets policy, infrastructure and commercial negotiations and intergovernmental relations.

Alan also had responsibility for runnigng the Queensland Government's Aligning Services and Priorities agenda and was responsible for establishing and leading the Office of Energy in the early 2000s.

Alan holds a number of board positions and company directorships on behalf of the government, including Queensland Motorways Limited, the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority, Austroads, Roads Australia and ARRB Group.  He is currently the Chair of Austroads.

Formal qualifications consist of an Economics Honours Degree from the University of Queenlsand and maintenance of a number of professional associations, including Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Finance and Treasury Association, the Australian Institute of Management, Engineers Australia, CEDA and the Economic Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Board member - peter walton

Peter WaltonPeter Walton is General Manager, Major Projects & Technical Services Group with Abigroup Contractors. Peter has worked for Abigroup since 1982 in the procurement and delivery of many types of civil and building construction projects.

Most recently, Peter was the Engineering and Controls Manager on the Westlink M7 Motorway in Sydney and previously Project Director and Project Manager on Warragamba Dam upgrading, two Olympic Infrastructure projects, several RTA NSW freeway projects, four other large dams and open cut mining operations.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil).

Roads Australia Secretariat

Chief Executive - Ian Webb

Ian WebbIan Webb has an extensive background in the management of strategic issues at peak industry level. He has also worked in industries with a strong emphasis on road transport.

After gaining political and negotiating experience through 15 years as a career diplomat, Ian served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Premier of NSW. His subsequent appointments include Chairman of the NSW Egg Corporation, and Chief Executive of both the Sydney and the Melbourne Wholesale Markets (1991 - 1999). Most recently, Ian has been Executive Director of the United Dairy Farmers Association of Victoria. Ian has also headed a number of industry inquiries.

Ian applies this experience to the challenges that now confront the Roads Australia. "I enjoy working with industry stakeholders to add value to what they can achieve individually", Ian said. "Success depends on building a common purpose and developing the linkages needed to be persuasive in key policy areas."

According to Ian, the expansion of the road transport sector and the proliferation of related public policy issues make Roads Australia membership a sound investment. "Serious players in the industry cannot afford to be without representation at industry level in policy formulation and debate which may ultimately impact on their own bottom line. Beyond this, a raft of environmental, safety and infrastructural issues are now being addressed at both state and national level"

"My top priority is ensuring that what the Roads Australia delivers is relevant to the needs of members - adding value to what they can already do individually."

Advocacy is a case in point. Ian says that to be effective, the Roads Australia needs to be credible and responsible. "Our members manage the road transport sector on behalf of the entire community. All road users and consumers are ultimately stakeholders. The Roads Australia is by no means a sectional interest group. Instead, it helps to bring the combined expertise of the industry to bear on transport issues in the public interest. This is reflected in a membership base that includes government agencies as well as commercial service providers."

Ian also believes that the Roads Australia can add value by facilitating information exchange between members and creating opportunities to access new ideas. He sees the Roads Australia as a forum for innovation and review. It also provides a resource for members to draw on the experience and expertise of their industry peers.

Ian sums it up by saying, "Putting it simply, the Roads Australia needs to be a member-driven organisation. As Chief Executive my number one priority will be to put 'more rubber on the road' in terms of value for members."

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POLICY Director - Christine Keyes

Christine Keyes medChristine Keyes has worked in the roads and transport sector for 13 years at the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), Olympic Roads and Transport Authority (ORTA) and as a consultant.  She is experienced in policy development and stakeholder engagement, both in the public and private sectors.  She rejoins Roads Australia as the Policy Director after working for RA as the first Media Director in 2006.

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Events Director - Rachael Rooney

Rachael RooneyRachael has 15 years of HR and Marketing experience across a number of industries.  Rachael has worked for National Rail, CRA, Minenco (CRA/Rio Tinto), AAPA and more recently CSR Emoleum/Emoleum as their Marketing Manager until 2004 and and as a Consultant.  Rachael then joined Roads Australia to assist with event management, website management and member services.

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Media Director - Mark Bowmer

Mark BowmerMark Bowmer's career in journalism and corporate communications spans almost 30 years. He started in metropolitan and print media before stints with a Federal Parliamentarian and the NSW Chamber of Manufactures. For the past 15 years he has worked in the public relations field, specialising in the building and construction markets with clients including BlueScope Steel and Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia.

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Executive assistant - sarah hendy

Sarah Hendy

Sarah Hendy manages Roads Australia's head office and the front of house at most of our large events.  Sarah is an experienced office and association administrator.  Her previous experience includes office management within a Minister's office and as Board Secretary for the Royal Australian Chemical Association.  Sarah has been working with Roads Australia now for 4 years and can assist with all general enquiries.

 

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