Speakers

The Hon. Gabrielle Williams

Gabrielle Williams has proudly represented her local community as the Member for Dandenong in the Victorian Parliament since 2014. She currently serves as Minister for Transport Infrastructure and Minister for Public and Active Transport. As Coordinating Minister for the Department of Transport and Planning and Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Gabrielle is focused on delivering a pipeline of major road and rail projects that will respond to growth and improve how people move around Melbourne and Regional Victoria. As Minister for Public and Active Transport, Gabrielle believes that public transport is for everyone – and is committed to creating a transport network that is well-connected and accessible to all in our community. One of her key priorities is also to make active transport options safer and more attractive for Victorians. First appointed to the Cabinet in 2018, Gabrielle has previously served in a number of portfolios, including Government Services, Consumer Affairs, Ambulance Services, Mental Health, Treaty and First Peoples, Prevention of Family Violence, Women, and Youth. Prior to 2018, she served as Parliamentary Secretary across the Health, Carers and Volunteers, and Industry and Employment portfolios. Gabrielle holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from Monash University. She has previously worked as a lawyer and project manager and has served as a director of a not-for-profit disability sport organisation. Gabrielle is a passionate advocate for equity and social inclusion and is proud to be a member of Victoria’s first ever gender-equal Cabinet. She is committed to driving an ambitious reform agenda to improve outcomes for all Victorians.

Melissa Dobric

Melissa ​Dobric is an accomplished transport industry executive and strategic leader with extensive experience delivering complex infrastructure projects across road and rail. As Executive Director, Major Projects – Development & Integration at the Department of Transport and Planning, she leads a large high performing team and works closely with ministerial offices, central agencies, and industry partners to deliver transport initiatives. Melissa brings deep expertise in project delivery, procurement, supply chain logistics, commercial negotiation, governance, and risk management, supported by a career spanning both the public and private sectors.

Sarah Browne

Sarah Browne joined Port of Melbourne in September 2022 and is responsible for the Corporate Relations function. Sarah brings to Port of Melbourne over 20 years of experience leading corporate and regulatory affairs for both public and private sector organisations. Sarah specialises in public affairs for highly regulated and complex industries, across infrastructure, financial services and energy, most recently as national Director Public Affairs at the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association. She has also held senior roles in Premier and Ministerial offices and consulting firms such as FTI Consulting.

Jill Riseley AM

Jill Riseley AM is an accomplished executive and non-executive director with more than 20 years’ experience across corporate and public sectors. Prior to joining Infrastructure Victoria in 2024, Jill was a partner at Deloitte's and led their climate and sustainability consulting services. Jill was previously CEO of the Metropolitan Waste and Resources Recovery Group which transitioned to the newly formed Recycling Victoria. She has also held senior executive roles with Vicinity Centres, REA Group, Telstra, Sensis and Museums Victoria. Jill is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has served as a non-executive director on several boards including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Australian Council of Social Service and Launch Housing. Jill holds a Masters in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge, executive business qualifications from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts (Public Relations) from RMIT University.

Carol-Anne Nelson

Carol-Anne Nelson is the newly appointed CEO of Ventura Bus Lines. She has come to the role with extensive experience in transport and infrastructure having held senior executive roles including Deputy Secretary at Transport for NSW and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Customer Officer at V/Line. Known and widely respected for her customer focused mindset and leadership in innovation, Carol-Anne was named Victoria’s Chief Customer Officer of the Year in 2015. Her deep industry expertise is further reflected in her current role as an Infrastructure NSW Expert Review Panel Member. As a Non-Executive Director of Ventura since June 2024, she stepped into the CEO role with a strong understanding of the business and its operations.

Russell Hamilton

Russell Hamilton is a results-driven engineer with over fourteen years of hands-on experience spanning the full project lifecycle - from tendering through to onsite construction, commissioning in construction and maintenance works across northern Australia. Russell successfully managed the delivery of Tranche 1 in Victoria working with McConnell Dowell. Russell is now the Acting Project Director for Tranche 2 working with John Holland, with construction to be completed in 2027. Russell is a clear and confident communicator, skilled in delivering technical support and coordinating effectively with multidisciplinary teams and senior management. Russell consistently demonstrates the ability to perform safely and efficiently under pressure, and he excels at managing daily interface challenges with professionalism and precision.

Michael Hopkins

Michael Hopkins brings significant expertise in transport reform to his role as both the National Transport Commission (NTC) CEO and as an NTC Commissioner. Michael is focused on delivery of NTC’s work program, the provision of robust and independent evidence-based advice to Australia’s transport ministers and engaging with NTC’s many stakeholders. Michael has previously been an Executive Leader at the NTC driving the organisation’s work program, the delivery of reforms and the Commission’s relationship with its partner governments. As a consultant, Michael provided expert evidence-based advice to industry and national, state and local governments on responding to the contemporary challenges faced by a transport sector in transition. As a senior executive in Victoria's Department of Transport, Michael delivered future-focused policy reforms, network strategy and planning, as well as stronger governance to improve the way transport works. Michael has a Masters in public administration from the Australian and New Zealand School of Government (via the University of Melbourne), a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and chairs the Monash University Institute of Transport Studies’ industry advisory group.

Ben Phyland

Ben Phyland is the Head of Rolling Stock and Ticketing at the Department of Transport and Planning Victoria, where he oversees the Victorian Government's $9 billion train, tram and ticketing delivery program. With over 25 years of experience in the rail industry, Ben leads a team responsible for procuring, delivering, and upgrading all passenger rolling stock on the Victorian rail network, and delivering Victoria’s new Public Transport Ticketing System. Projects include High Capacity Metro Trains, Next Generation Trams, X’Trapolis 2.0 trains, VLocity regional trains, and a new Digital Train Radio System, as well various train and tram maintenance facility builds and upgrades. His team is also engaged in developing the Victorian rolling stock industry and skilled workforce. Ben has previously led major senior roles in rolling stock projects for Bombardier and was Head of Sales for Australia.

Dr Clarissa Han

Bernhard Conoplia

Alison McCormack

Ian Christensen

Ian Christensen is the Managing Director of the iMOVE Co-operative Research Centre. iMOVE undertakes industry-led research to help organisations in the transport sector solve problems and secure opportunities in the movement of people and goods. Amongst the technologies that iMOVE and its partners have been exploring, vehicle automation and connectivity have attracted a large amount of attention. Ian remains excited by the contribution these technologies could make to the safety and productivity of our road network. However, we are not there yet. Through iMOVE, Ian continues to seek feasible paths to adoption of these new technologies. Ian is an experienced innovator and is the inventor on two families of patents. He is passionate about the contribution that collaborative research can make to the Australian community.

Dr Tony Morton

Dr Tony Morton is an electrical engineer and President of the Public Transport Users Association, Victoria. Over three decades, Dr Morton has been involved in campaigns for sustainable public transport alternatives to toll roads to manage traffic congestion, for improved public transport to Melbourne's suburban growth areas, and for reform of governance and management arrangements for public transport, with a focus on multimodal network planning and community involvement in decision making. Aside from public transport, Dr Morton's interests include renewable energy, smart electricity grids and modelling of complex engineering systems. Dr Morton works as a consultant in the electric power industry and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University.