Our people

Swietelsky Rail Australia People

Our most valuable asset isn’t our cutting-edge machinery or innovative track maintenance solutions; it’s the skilled and passionate individuals who make up our team.

Our unwavering commitment to putting the wellbeing of our people and their families first is what sets us apart and drives our success.

View our capability statement

Managing Director

Anne Connors

Anne Connors joined SRA in January 2023 as Director Client Relationships before being appointed Managing Director in May 2023. She is responsible for the Australian business and has led the development of SRA's Sustainability Strategy as well as aligned the business operations to a new strategic direction.

Anne is an experienced executive leader, general manager, project manager and civil engineer, having previously held key leadership roles in state and local government sectors, and rail and civil construction industries. Anne holds Bachelor Degrees in Engineering (Civil) and Business from the University of Newcastle, a Diploma of Project Management through Deakin University, and most recently a Masters Degree in Construction Law from Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne.

Anne has extensive experience in successful delivery of complex projects and building high performing teams in multi-disciplinary environments. She is a champion for safety, sustainability and diversity, and is active in her advocacy for increasing female participation in the rail industry and closing the gender pay gap.

Learn more about Anne Connors

Senior Manager Finance & Commercial

Kyle Mathieson

Kyle joined SRA in 2020 and is responsible for all financial and commercial aspects of the Australian Business.

Kyle has extensive professional experience in commercial and finance roles across rail, mining, not-for-profit and banking sectors. Kyle holds a Bachelor Degree in Commerce from the University of Newcastle, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Learn more about Kyle Mathieson

Engineering & Maintenance Manager

Ben Senior

Ben Senior joined SRA in January 2024 as the Manager of Plant Maintenance, overseeing the maintenance and reliability of SRA's fleet of rail plant. He has since transitioned into the role of Engineering & Maintenance Manager.

Ben brings over 18 years heavy industry experience both locally and internationally in Rail Infrastructure & Plant, Rollingstock and Mining. Ben is an experienced leader having previously held key roles in Project Management, Reliability Engineering, and Rollingstock and Plant Maintenance. Ben holds a Master's Degree in Engineering Management, a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration and Diplomas in Project Management and Front Line Leadership.

Ben's management and leadership expertise, combined with technical experience, makes him a valuable member of the SRA team, providing focus on quality assurance through maintenance practices and asset management principles.

HR Manager

Tahnee Sumner

Tahnee Sumner initially commenced in the role of Commercial Administrator in September of 2017. Within three years Tahnee progressed to her current role of Human Resources Manager, through which she has become an active member within our senior leadership team.

Tahnee's swift elevation within our business is testament to her capabilities, work ethic, commitment, proactive and professional approach she consistently applies to her assigned portfolio.

Tahnee’s previous roles were in finance and accounting, across industries including construction, health, and automotive. She holds accreditations in Business Administration and Financial Services, as well as a Diploma in Human Resources Management. Most recently, she completed postgraduate studies in Human Resource Management at the University of Newcastle.

Learn more about Tahnee Sumner

SQE Advisor

Dean Rowe

Dean Rowe has been with SRA since 2015 and over that time has progressed from SQE and systems support roles to SQE Advisor. In his current role, Dean is responsible for the effective implementation of our safety, quality and environmental systems, as well as incident investigation processes and safety innovations and improvements.

Dean has over 12 years' experience across both rail and civil construction industries. His qualifications include a Certificate IV in Work Health & Safety, Certificate IV in Environmental Management & Sustainability, and a Diploma in Work Health Safety.

Learn more about Dean Rowe

Project Lead

Gary Milligan

With over 35 years of experience in the Australian rail industry, Gary brings deep technical knowledge and proven leadership to his role as Project Lead – Rail at SRA. Beginning his career as a fettler, Gary has advanced through a range of technical and maintenance roles, gaining specialist expertise in areas such as ultrasonics and large-scale rail operations.

Gary has successfully led both client side and contractor side maintenance teams, earning a strong reputation for delivering complex rail and civil infrastructure projects on time and to a high standard. At SRA, he is responsible for overseeing ballast cleaning operations and managing a variety of rail and civil maintenance projects. His hands-on approach, deep industry insight and commitment to meeting client expectations make him a vital member of the team.

Technical Specialist Plant Maintenance

Sam Nicholls

Sam brings over 15 years of global experience in the rail industry, having spent his entire professional journey with Swietelsky. He specialises in a wide range of Plasser & Theurer machinery, and his strong passion for engineering has been the driving force behind his successful and dynamic career. In addition to his technical expertise, he has extensive experience managing maintenance projects, ensuring operational efficiency and long-term reliability of critical rail equipment.

Sam is a confident and adaptable professional who possesses a deep understanding of track machinery and control systems. His expertise, dedication, and forward-thinking approach make him a valuable member of our team as Technical Specialist – Plant Maintenance.

Reliability Engineer

George Massih

George joined our team in November 2024 as a Reliability and Maintenance Engineer. George holds a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and brings over 13 years of extensive experience in the rail and track maintenance machinery sector, having worked with renowned industry leaders such as Plasser India, Plasser & Theurer, and ZF.

In his role at SRA, George is responsible for overseeing the reliability and maintenance of our diverse fleet of track maintenance machines. He is well-regarded for his hands-on technical expertise, with deep knowledge spanning both legacy and modern track maintenance machines equipped with advanced PLC systems and electronic controls.

George's experience and strategic approach are playing a pivotal role for our business. George's focus includes optimising preventive and predictive maintenance programs, conducting thorough Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and advancing life cycle asset management, with a strong emphasis on proactive maintenance. George contributes significantly to the continued reliability and efficiency of SRA's fleet operations.

Logistics & Spare Parts Technical Specialist

Paul France

As our ballast cleaning technical specialist, Paul France brings over two decades of experience in ballast cleaning operations to the SRA team. A decade of this experience has been as part of the international Swietelsky team in the United Kingdom, providing a great connection to our Australian operations.

Paul holds tertiary qualifications with a Bachelor of Science (Quantity Surveying) with honors from the University of Central England, as well as industry and ballast cleaning technical qualifications spanning ballast cleaning operations, advanced PLC and electronic systems.

Paul's technical expertise, combined with his leadership and mentoring experience, makes him a valuable member of our ballast cleaning team, providing his relentless focus on quality, performance and operational effectiveness in his work with SRA.

Learn more about Paul France

Project Engineer

Jean El-Chami

Jean brings over 16 years of global rail industry experience, having worked on complex infrastructure projects across Italy, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Australia. His diverse background spans every aspect of rail maintenance and construction — from welding and diagnostics to plant management and large-scale project supervision.

In his role as Supervisor at SRA, Jean plays a critical part in the successful delivery of key rail infrastructure projects. His leadership ensures that complex works are executed efficiently, safely and to the highest standards. Drawing on his extensive international experience and deep technical knowledge — including expertise in ballast cleaning operations, on-track machinery, welding and heavy plant maintenance.

Supervisor

Matthew Harris

Matthew brings over 12 years of experience in the rail industry, with a strong technical background spanning maintenance, operations and diagnostics.

He has extensive hands-on experience with specialist on-track machinery, from tampers and resurfacing equipment to ballast cleaning systems and track vehicles. Over the years, Matthew has been entrusted with the operation, inspection and maintenance of critical rail equipment, ensuring safety, reliability and efficiency across a wide range of projects.

As Supervisor at SRA, Matthew plays a key role in leading maintenance and operational activities. His strong mechanical aptitude, problem-solving skills and ability to deliver preventative and corrective maintenance make him an invaluable asset to the team.

Plant Fitter

Jackson Wells

Jackson Wells is an experienced plant fitter with over 10 years of expertise working across various fields of heavy machinery maintenance and breakdown support.

Skilled in maintenance, diagnostics, and repair, Jackson has a proven track record of ensuring the operational efficiency and safety compliance of equipment through maintenance practices and troubleshooting skills.

Plant Electrican

Nathan Steggles

Nathan is a skilled plant electrician with a strong background in electrical and mechanical systems across the heavy industrial and rail sectors.

At SRA, Nathan plays a key role in maintaining and overhauling rail-bound heavy plant and rolling stock. His responsibilities include delivery of SRA's machine maintenance and overhaul programs, field service and emergency repairs, and operation of track resurfacing machines in live rail environments.

Nathan also brings expertise in the maintenance and repair of hydraulic and pneumatic systems. With a hands-on approach and a commitment to high performance, Nathan is a valued contributor to the success and safety of SRA's rail operations.

Ballast Cleaning Leading Hand

Nathan Latu

Nathan Latu joined SRA in 2014 beginning his career as a Plant Operator/ Maintainer, Nathan quickly developed a reputation for his strong work ethic, attention to detail, and safe railway operations expertise. Over the years, his leadership potential earned him a well-deserved promotion as Leading Hand for the ballast cleaning team.

Possessing hands-on experience in rail maintenance and track machinery operation, Nathan is committed to upholding high industry standards and delivering exceptional results.

Resurfacing Leading Hand

Nathan McGrath

Nathan Mcgrath has over 15 years of experience in the rail industry, based around track machines and re-surfacing as an operator maintainer.

Over the years that Nathan has spent in the industry, he has worked all across Australia, with a vast variety of people from all different backgrounds and experience levels, which has given him the vital skills necessary to execute his position as leading hand of the resurfacing team to the highest standard and achieve great outcomes for the business and his team.