Anne Connors was appointed as SRA’s Managing Director in May 2023. She is responsible for the Australian business and has led the development of SRA's ESG Strategy, Indigenous Participation Plan,  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.

Kyle joined Swietelsky Rail Australia in 2020 and leads the financial and commercial functions of the Australian business.

He brings extensive experience across finance, commercial and governance roles in the rail, mining, banking and not-for-profit sectors. Kyle is recognised for his strong commercial acumen, strategic mindset and board-level governance capability, supporting sound decision-making and sustainable business performance in complex operating environments.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Newcastle, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Ben Senior joined Swietelsky Rail Australia in early 2024 as Manager Plant Maintenance and now serves as Engineering & Operations Manager, leading the performance, reliability and operational readiness of SRA’s rail plant fleet, while also overseeing the project management function and the successful delivery of projects across the business.

With more than 18 years of experience across rail infrastructure, rollingstock, plant and mining, both in Australia and internationally, Ben brings deep expertise in maintenance leadership, reliability engineering and project delivery. He has built a strong track record in driving asset performance, supporting operational excellence and embedding quality-focused maintenance practices.

Ben holds a Master of Engineering Management, a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, and diplomas in Project Management and Front Line Leadership.

Tahnee Sumner joined Swietelsky Rail Australia in 2017 as Commercial Administrator and, within three years, progressed into her current role as Human Resources Manager. Since then, she has become an integral member of SRA’s senior leadership team, helping to shape the business’s people, wellbeing and culture agenda.

Tahnee’s progression within the business reflects her capability, professionalism and strong work ethic, as well as the proactive and thoughtful approach she brings to her portfolio. She has played a key role in driving a number of SRA’s people-focused initiatives and achievements, including the introduction of industry-leading benefits such as Grandparental Leave and Balance Breaks. Her contribution has also supported SRA’s recognition through the 2025 Business Hunter Awards Employer of Choice category and the 2025 Wellbeing in Rail Award.

Before moving into human resources, Tahnee built experience in finance and accounting roles across the construction, health and automotive sectors. She holds qualifications in Business Administration and Financial Services, a Diploma in Human Resources Management, and has most recently completed postgraduate studies in Human Resource Management at the University of Newcastle. In 2025, Tahnee was also individually recognised as the Young WHS Leader of the Year at the Hunter Safety Awards.

Dean Rowe has been part of Swietelsky Rail Australia since 2015, progressing through a number of safety, quality, environment and systems support roles to his current position as HSEQ Advisor.

In this role, Dean supports the effective implementation and continuous improvement of SRA’s health, safety, environment and quality systems, while also contributing to incident investigations, risk controls and practical initiatives that strengthen safety and performance across the business.

With more than 13 years of experience in rail and civil construction, Dean brings solid operational knowledge and a practical, systems-based approach to supporting safe and compliant project delivery. He holds a Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety, a Certificate IV in Environmental Management and Sustainability, and a Diploma of Work Health and Safety.

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.

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.

As one of our technical specialists, 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.

Matthew brings more than 14 years of rail industry experience across both the United Kingdom and Australia, with deep technical expertise in maintenance, operations and diagnostics. His background includes extensive hands-on work with specialist on-track machinery, including tampers, resurfacing equipment, ballast cleaning systems and track vehicles.

In his role as Plant Supervisor at SRA, Matthew is responsible for supporting the performance, maintenance and operational readiness of key rail plant and equipment. His strong mechanical capability, practical problem-solving and commitment to reliability make him a valuable part of SRA’s operational team.

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. 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.

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 Project Engineer, 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.

Jackson Wells has been part of the SRA team for over three years, joining the business from the mining sector and quickly proving the value of strong transferable heavy industry skills in rail. He has adapted exceptionally well to the technical, operational and safety requirements of the rail environment and is now a highly regarded member of the team.

With more than a decade of experience across heavy machinery maintenance, diagnostics, repair and breakdown support, Jackson brings strong technical capability and a practical, solutions-focused mindset to his role as Plant Fitter. He is recognised for his mechanical aptitude, troubleshooting skills and commitment to keeping plant and equipment safe, reliable and ready for work.

Nathan Latu has been part of Swietelsky Rail Australia since 2014, beginning as a Plant Operator/Maintainer and progressing into the role of Leading Hand for the ballast cleaning team. As SRA’s longest-serving team member and the first to achieve 10 years of service with the business, he is highly regarded for his strong work ethic, attention to detail and deep technical expertise in the operation, maintenance and delivery of ballast cleaning projects, including significant experience with our RM80 and RM95 ballast cleaning machines. 

Nathan brings valuable hands-on experience across rail maintenance and track machinery operations, and plays a key role in supporting the safe, efficient and high-quality delivery of ballast cleaning projects. His practical capability, reliability and on-site leadership make him a valued member of the SRA team.

Nathan McGrath has more than 16 years of experience in the rail industry, specialising in track machines and resurfacing as an Operator/Maintainer. Having worked across Australia throughout his career, he brings broad industry exposure, strong technical capability and a practical understanding of rail operations in a variety of environments.

In his role as Leading Hand for the resurfacing team, Nathan is known for his steady leadership, operational knowledge and ability to bring teams together to deliver strong project outcomes. He leads by example on site and plays an important role in supporting safe, efficient and high-quality delivery.