SYSTRA ANZ Appoints Rob Scarbro as Director – Systems Integration

SYSTRA ANZ is pleased to welcome Rob Scarbro as Director – Systems Integration in the Major Projects team.

Rob brings over 30 years’ experience in the development and delivery of major projects across the transport, defence, and energy industries. He is a leader in the fields of systems integration, safety and systems assurance, governance, and broader rail engineering.

“Rob is a key appointment for the business as we bolster our systems team to become a systems integrator of choice for our clients. Rob will be an integral player in our global systems group and help leverage international expertise into Australia and New Zealand. We are thrilled to have Rob on our team and expanding our practice in the Victorian market.”

Alana Newbrook, Chief Executive Officer SYSTRA ANZ

Rob is an established transport executive engineering and systems leader, previously holding key roles at Metro Trains Sydney, Department of Transport Victoria, and Rail Projects Victoria.

He says, “It’s a great time to be joining SYSTRA as the business expands its footprint and expertise in ANZ, and I’m excited to be a part of a global leader in transport engineering and consulting. I am looking forward to delivering world-class critical infrastructure solutions on behalf of our clients.”

Rob is based in our Melbourne office. To find out more about Rob or to get in contact, please click here.

About SYSTRA:

SYSTRA ANZ’s mission is to be there where it matters; on the complex projects with the greatest impact, providing innovative solutions that will shape the future of our communities. As one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting groups, we are focused on building tomorrow’s mobility solutions today. Operating in more than 80 countries, we have designed 1 in 2 of the world’s metros and highspeed rail lines. The ANZ team is an integral part of part of our global network, backed by 9000+ experts, providing us the unique ability to be agile with global scale.​

For more information, please contact: Victoria Black, Director of Clients, Markets and Engagement, SYSTRA at vblack1@systra.com.

SYSTRA ANZ Appoints James Fuary as Director – Capability Systems Engineering

SYSTRA ANZ’s Security and Technology Solutions team continues to grow, with the appointment of James Fuary as Director – Capability Systems Engineering.

“James is a key appointment for our business as we look to grow and establish our capability” says Andrew Waye, Executive General Manager – Security & Technology Solutions. “James will provide leadership ensuring that our people deliver excellence and achieve customer satisfaction.”

James is an innovative engineering leader bringing 25 years’ experience and diversity across the fields of defence, transport, and government. In previous roles James has steered engineering functions and led multi-national teams in delivering large-scale programs.

James says, “I am looking forward to helping SYSTRA ANZ grow and reach its potential while retaining the organisation’s great culture and values. We have an opportunity to make a substantial difference in the Security and Technology Solutions domain and I am excited to be on that journey.”

James is based in our Sydney office and will be responsible for leading and advancing capability systems engineering services and solutions in the Security and Technology Solutions team. To find out more about James or to get in contact, please click here.

About SYSTRA:

SYSTRA ANZ’s mission is to be there where it matters; on the complex projects with the greatest impact, providing innovative solutions that will shape the future of our communities. As one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting groups, we are focused on building tomorrow’s mobility solutions today. Operating in more than 80 countries, we have designed 1 in 2 of the world’s metros and highspeed rail lines. The ANZ team is an integral part of part of our global network, backed by 9000+ experts, providing us the unique ability to be agile with global scale.​

For more information, please contact: Victoria Black, Director of Clients, Markets and Engagement, SYSTRA at vblack1@systra.com.

SYSTRA ANZ Appoints Michelle Bedson as Director Program Service Delivery – Federal

SYSTRA ANZ is pleased to welcome Michelle Bedson as Director Program Service Delivery – Federal, in the growing Security and Technology Solutions team.

Michelle brings over 15 years’ experience in delivering key Federal government initiatives focused on major Information and Communications Technology reform, complex program and project delivery, stakeholder leadership and cyber security resilience.

“Michelle is a key appointment for our business as we look to expand our expertise across Federal and nationally-based clients” says Andrew Waye, Executive General Manager – Security & Technology Solutions. “Michelle will provide leadership in critical asset and digital solutions to support resilience and respond to cyber threats.”

With strong leadership abilities, Michelle has directed and managed large teams involving project managers, business users, programmers, and analysts.

She says, “I am looking forward to the challenge of business leadership while providing delivery excellence and value to our clients in the Federal domain.  I want to produce excellent delivery outcomes for our clients that showcase our teams’ capabilities and skills.”

Michelle will be based in our Canberra office. To find out more about Michelle’s role or to get in contact with her, please click here.

About SYSTRA:

SYSTRA ANZ’s mission is to be there where it matters; on the complex projects with the greatest impact, providing innovative solutions that will shape the future of our communities. As one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting groups, we are focused on building tomorrow’s mobility solutions today. Operating in more than 80 countries, we have designed 1 in 2 of the world’s metros and highspeed rail lines. The ANZ team is an integral part of part of our global network, backed by 9000+ experts, providing us the unique ability to be agile with global scale.​

For more information, please contact: Victoria Black, Director of Clients, Markets and Engagement, SYSTRA at vblack1@systra.com.

SYSTRA ANZ Appoints Chris Hurst as Executive General Manager – Major Projects

As SYSTRA continues its growth across ANZ, Chris will be responsible for leading the newly formed Major Projects team – established to focus on the successful delivery of major projects for our clients, partners, and the communities we serve.

“2022 was a huge year for Systra in ANZ; we won our largest intake of orders in major projects as we successfully pivoted to taking on larger roles in complex projects. Due to the success of this strategy, it was clear we needed a new division dedicated to delivery. Chris was the obvious choice and has what it takes to lead this newly formed team,” says Alana Newbrook, CEO SYSTRA ANZ.

Alana adds, “Chris is well-known to many of our clients, having been part of the SYSTRA team for the last five years. He brings to the role extensive experience managing complex major infrastructure projects; most recently leading our operational integration teams delivering train control systems projects across ANZ. Under Chris’s leadership, the team will ensure that we not only continue to provide outstanding delivery to our clients, but we also grow our reputation as the partner of choice and signature team for transport solutions across ANZ.”

The creation of a new role and team for Major Projects is exciting to not just further strengthen and grow our own team, but to bring more of the global SYSTRA skill sets to our local clients. “I am excited to take on this new role overseeing a larger portfolio of complex projects,” says Chris.

“SYSTRA ANZ has been growing steadily for the last couple of years on the back of some significant wins. I’m looking forward to working with our teams in Australia, New Zealand and across SYSTRA to capitalise on this growth momentum and deliver world-class infrastructure solutions for our clients.”

With over two decades experience in project delivery and consulting roles, Chris has worked on numerous large-scale infrastructure projects including West Coast Route Modernisation in the UK and the roll out of the European Train Control System in Southeast Queensland.

About SYSTRA:

SYSTRA ANZ’s mission is to be there where it matters; on the complex projects with the greatest impact, providing innovative solutions that will shape the future of our communities. As one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting groups, we are focused on building tomorrow’s mobility solutions today. Operating in more than 80 countries, we have designed 1 in 2 of the world’s metros and highspeed rail lines. The ANZ team is an integral part of part of our global network, backed by 9000+ experts, providing us the unique ability to be agile with global scale.​

For more information, please contact: Victoria Black, Director of Clients, Markets and Engagement, SYSTRA at vblack1@systra.com.

Four to Join Horizons Program

We are excited to announce Ben Voss, Consultant – Systems Safety Assurance, Amine Aloui, Consultant – Train Control and Signalling, Gemma Main, Senior Consultant – Systems Safety Assurance and Thomas Britland, Principal Consultant – Human Factors have been selected to join the Rail Industry Safety Standards Board (RISSB) Horizons Program 5.0.

The Horizons Program offers a unique opportunity to up and coming technical professionals who want to broaden their knowledge and understanding of technology in rail. The program seeks to address the challenges of the rail industry by offering participants knowledge sharing and leadership development opportunities that focuses on improving critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, communication, and collaboration.

Ben Voss
Gemma Main

Dave Cahilap, Learning and Talent Development Manager, SYSTRA says, “We are incredibly excited for Ben, Amine, Gemma and Tom. All four are outstanding individuals who continue to uphold our values and who have all excelled in their roles helping to shape positive outcomes for our clients and the community.

“Their selection as part of the Horizons Program will provide them with a greater understanding of the industry as well as input into its direction.”

Ben adds, “I’m really looking forward to attending the Horizons Program, I’m particularly keen to hear from some of the industry’s most senior leaders as well as develop my professional network.”

The Horizons Program is aimed at technical professionals aged 35 and under who have been identified as emerging high potential leaders or those who would benefit from learning more about the rail industry and new technologies. The Horizons Program includes:

For more information on the learning and development opportunities available to staff at SYSTRA, please click here.

Connecting Teams through International Mobility

In October this year, Nieves transferred to our Sydney office from our headquarters in Paris.

Nieves a Senior Consultant in our Complex Structures team says, “The opportunity to come out to Australia to help grow our expertise in Tunnels and Bridges was too good to refuse. Firstly, the opportunity to work on some of Australia’s most significant projects was a big factor in our decision to move and then secondly the chance to bring our young family over to Australia was equally amazing. My family and I are both grateful for SYSTRA’s support to make the move possible.”

SYSTRA ANZ is focused on developing its skills in Complex Structures leveraging its Bridges & Tunnels international network of more than 900 experts across the world. In her role, Nieves will bring her decade of experience to connect our global network to the local market where she will also focus on the execution of tenders, negotiation of services and project delivery.

She adds, “In my career I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked on projects in Europe and Central America including roles onsite as a construction engineer so have valuable experience and networks that I think will be of value to our Australian clients.”

The Future must focus on Sustainability

When speaking about the future of Complex Structures, Nieves is passionate about the role sustainability will play.

“We are building all these amazing structures that are connecting people to one another as well as new opportunities, but it needs to be done in a more sustainable way. Transport is the world’s third largest emitter of carbon. That is why SYSTRA has placed sustainable innovation at the core of its offer because we cannot compromise the future of the next generation.

Nieves Penalba Perez

“An example of sustainable innovation is our CarbonTracker tool which measures, monitors and controls carbon emissions at each phase of the project. The application is a powerful solution during the tender design of a Design & Build project to evaluate the CO2 emissions of the reference design and the savings that our design could generate.”

A Champion for Social Responsibility

Moving to Australia was not the first times Nieves has lived abroad. Having grown up in Spain she moved to Paris for her first opportunity with SYSTRA where she began her career as an Alignment and Track Engineer.

Recently, Nieves was given the full support of the business to take a year off to travel the world and volunteer. Spending time in a remote Peruvian town in the Andes Ranges near the Cusco Valley, Nieves admits this experience made her more aware of the societal responsibility we have in our industry. Upholding our value of bold leadership, she has since championed SYSTRA’s involvement with ‘Bridges to Prosperity’ where we will help construct a footbridge in Rwanda.

She finishes, “I consider equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion as core values for the future of our industry. As a woman living abroad, I am very thankful for the opportunities that have come my way. Now, as a mum, I feel that it’s my turn to help us reach social equality. Our commitment to build a more sustainable future is essential to serve the coming generations.”

Upholding our Values

SYSTRA’s international mobility is embedded within our values. We connect our experts throughout the entire Group and coordinate them in order to respond to the most complex issues. This also extends to our people connecting with their loved ones overseas. We recently introduced an International Work Remote Program so our staff can visit family and friends anywhere in the world. Read more about that here.

To find out more about our ambitions and values, please hit the link here.

To get in contact with Nieves, please reach out to her here.

Andrew Waye Appointed to Lead SYSTRA’s Security and Technology team
SYSTRA welcomes Andrew Waye

Andrew brings to the business over three decades of experience across multiple government agencies and over a decade of service in the Royal Australian Navy.

Alana Newbrook, Chief Executive Officer, SYSTRA ANZ says, “Andrew is a key appointment for our business as we look to grow and expand our expertise across critical infrastructure to support resilience, respond to cyber threats and utilise analytics.

His background is well aligned to our target growth areas, having previously worked for government agencies and professional services firms. He also brings a diverse skillset that we are particularly excited to leverage with his experience spanning the maritime, aviation, national security, capability systems and critical infrastructure sectors.”

Alana Newbrook, Chief Executive Officer, SYSTRA ANZ

An accomplished leader and strategic advisor, Andrew specialises in implementing generational change capabilities and reform programs.

He says, “I’m really excited to get to work with SYSTRA, meet my new colleagues and to help expand our expertise. SYSTRA is well known across the industry for its work in this space, particularly in collaboration with Team Downer. I’m looking forward to taking on the challenge of a national role and getting to know my team as well as new and existing clients.”

Andrew will be based in our Canberra office and will also be part of our Executive Leadership Team for Australia and New Zealand.

To find out more about Andrew’s role or to get in contact with him, please click here.

International Work Remote Program

At SYSTRA ANZ, we care about employee wellbeing. We recognise that the past few years have not been easy on our people and their families especially as closed borders have kept many apart.

With international travel restrictions now having eased, we have introduced an International Work Remote Program so our staff can visit family and friends anywhere in the world.

Alison Scott, People and Culture Director, SYSTRA ANZ says, “We appreciate how challenging these last few years have been for people not being able to see their loved ones. With roughly 46% of our staff coming from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, providing the flexibility to work from an international location reflects how seriously we value our people and their ability to bring their whole-self to work.”

SYSTRA ANZ’s International Work Remote Program allows staff to work from anywhere in the world through 2022 and into the first half of 2023 for a one-off period of up to four-weeks.

Alison continues, “With our Headquarters in France, naturally we have a of people looking to head home for their first taste of the European summer in some time. We are hoping our staff take the time they need to reconnect with their families and enjoy some quality time together.”

So how have our staff used their time overseas?

Kate Moncrieff, Director – Human Factors, SYSTRA ANZ

I used a mixture of our work remote program and annual leave to extend my recent visit to the UK. I wanted to ensure I maximised the quality time I spent with the family and friends I have not seen since before COVID.

I worked two weeks over a five-week period which generally involved early morning starts in the UK to coincide with the afternoon in Australia. I communicated the plan to clients well in advance and then had the support of my team to provide cover as needed. It goes to show how far flexibility has progressed in recent years that this type of leave is not only accepted but also encouraged.

Kawtar Hadjadj, Senior Consultant – Transport Systems – Rail Engineering, SYSTRA ANZ

Kawtar Hadjadj
Kawtar (right) pictured with Sofiane Badouna, Director of SYSTRA Algeria at their office.

I utilised SYSTRA’s international work policy to catch up with friends and family who I haven’t seen for many years. I even visited colleagues in our Paris and Algerian offices. The experience offered a new perspective as to the benefits of working for a global business and I found that by going back home, my motivation for work increased and made my daily routine more dynamic.

Over a 3-4 week period, I mixed my time to find what worked best. I would typically start my day in the afternoon and use that as my focus hours. I would then login again later that night to attend client meetings and keep in contact with my team back in Australia. In the mornings, I relaxed and enjoyed quality time with my family and friends.

SYSTRA’s International Work Remote Program has been introduced alongside a host of additional policies and initiatives available to our employees that provide benefits across several dimensions.

To find out more about what it is like to work for SYSTRA, please click here.

Preparing for life after University

The second of our new staff-members is Theo Tselonis who joined our Transport team in June 2022 and is currently working on the Sydney Metro.

Theo Tselonis intern

In the second year of his Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science degree at UNSW, Theo was drawn to the industry thanks to his passion for the ever-changing world of applied math and science.

He says, “I’m really interested in learning more about the various aspects of design, teamwork, testing, and construction and hope to use my internship to discover more about these issues.”

When asked more specifically about why he was interested in beginning his career within the transport industry, Theo explains, “The sky is the limit quite literally. I’m excited because there is so much innovation and investment happening right now to shape the future of Australia and communities around the world.

“By joining SYSTRA, I get to see firsthand the day-to-day role of an engineer in the rail industry and get to find out what life would look like after university. I am keen to learn under the leadership of some of SYSTRA’s most experienced professionals while also getting an idea of what roles interest me. I get to be part of an amazing team, making real change in the world of rail.”

Theo’s excitement for transport is undeniable. When asked what his dream project to work on would be – historical or future – he’s quick to state, “Japan’s levitating bullet trains. They’ve already got an incredible record of accomplishment in rail and this project, where they are using superconductors to have trains suspended in the air to reduce friction while clocking speeds over 600km/h is going to go down in the history books.”

Theo will complete 60 days’ work experience with SYSTRA over the coming months. He is due to finish his studies in 2025.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

If you missed our previous article where we spoke to Lizzie Cormack, have a read here.

If you are an aspiring young professional looking for your next opportunity, check out our Graduate Program or get in touch with Nancy Nguyen.

Providing opportunities for the next generation

The first of our new staff members, Elizabeth or Lizzie Cormack joined the Delivery and Growth Markets team in June 2022 and is based in Sydney.

Lizzie Cormack - Intern

Studying Mechanical Engineering at UNSW, Lizzie decided to pursuit a career in engineering thanks to her passion for math’s and physics at high school. She says, “I have always enjoyed numbers so naturally wanted to apply my skills in these subjects to solve real-world problems.”

Due to finish her studies in late 2023, Lizzie believes the internship is a crucial steppingstone into launching her career. She adds, “I’ll be completing my internship 2-days a week over the next 6-months. During this time, I am hoping to further develop my knowledge and learn more about the transport industry.

We love offering young and aspiring engineers the opportunity to gain valuable experience.

Alison Scott, People and Culture Director at SYSTRA

“I am particularly interested in the transport industry because it means I can work on projects that are going to benefit the community for decades to come. I also want to apply my studies to a broad field so I can work on a variety of projects and expand my skillset.”

Alison Scott, People and Culture Director at SYSTRA adds, “We love offering young and aspiring engineers the opportunity to gain valuable experience. Giving them exposure to some of Australia’s biggest projects while sitting alongside some of our most experienced leaders at the start of their careers is an important part of their development and is a fantastic way for us as a business to give back to the industry.

“Our young professionals are the next wave of leaders at SYSTRA and under the guise of our core values; Excellence, Connected Teams, and Bold Leadership we are excited to welcome them to the business.”

When quizzed about her dream project – historical or future – Lizzie believes that working on Apollo-11 in the 1960’s would have to be the pick.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

If you are an aspiring young professional looking for your next opportunity, check out our Graduate Program or get in touch with Nancy Nguyen.