Partner Profile: Dale Larkin

Dale’s background was in the bus and rail industry in South Australia, where he was Director of TransAdelaide which, at the time, operated the city’s entire public transport system (750 buses and 130 rail cars). He was also General Manager of AUSTRICS Ltd, a specialist developer and provider of transport software systems for timetabling, rostering, scheduling and fleet optimisation. In the mid-1990s, Dale joined CGEA (subsequently renamed Connex, now Veolia) and led successful bids for businesses in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and overseas in the Phillipines. In Melbourne, his team won the franchise for Hillside rail which accounted for 45% of the rail network.

Dale was CEO of Connex Melbourne until 2000 when he relinquished the position to pursue other business opportunities. However, he maintained a close relationship with the company which included negotiating a major shareholding in West Coast Rail (Victoria) and TransRail (NZ). He also worked on the development of the urban rail network in Manila and developed long term strategic plans for Connex’s monorail and light rail operations in Sydney.

Dale also assisted Pacific National to rationalise its rollingstock and infrastructure assets after its acquisition of National Rail and FreightCorp. In 2003, Dale became a part-owner and Director of Australian Public Trustees Ltd, which acquired West Coast Rail from Connex and onsold to V/Line, the Victoria Government Corporation. With APT, he also developed a bus leasing business and assisted NSW’s State Transit in its acquisition of 500 new buses.

Partner Profile: John Stott PSM

John is a transport professional who has worked as a policy developer, a regulator and an operator.

His most recent appointment was as Chief Executive of the NSW Public Transport Ticketing Corporation, which is supervising the development of a smart-card ticketing system for Sydney’s rail, bus and ferry operators.

From 1996 to 2004, John was the Chief Executive of the NSW State Transit Authority which operated 1900 buses and 30 ferries, in Sydney and Newcastle.

John’s earlier work included involvement in the rail and other transport reforms of the mid-90s, a spell as the State’s bus and taxi regulator, management of intrastate aviation licensing, and first managing director of what is now NSW Maritime. Prior to that, he worked at a senior level in motor vehicle regulation.

Having served the maximum allowable two terms as its Chairman, John is currently a deputy Chairman of UITPANZ, the Australian arm of the International Public Transport Association, a group which he was instrumental in setting up in 1998. He is also the senior vice chairman of the UITP’s Asia-Pacific Division, a member of the international policy committee and of the international audit committee.

John has a B.Sc in Technology from the University of NSW. In 1999, he was awarded the Australian Public Service Medal for his work in improving accessibility of transport for people with disabilities and other people with limited mobility.

Partner Profile: David Wark

David has a wide-ranging background in consulting to both the private and public sectors.

His key areas of expertise include strategic planning and project management of infrastructure access as well as regulatory affairs and contract management.

He is also widely-experienced in human resource management; employee relations and customer service systems.

David has a Diploma of Public Administration from RMIT (Victoria) and has worked widely in both the public and private sectors

Major assignments have included four years with the Victoria Public Transport

David also has extensive experience in the energy industries, particularly in respect of access and regulation.

Partner Profile: John Wilson

John has been involved in transport-related industries for most of his working life. His extensive experience includes metropolitan and long-distance bus and coach management, light rail, metropolitan and country passenger rail services as well as rail freight and shipping in the mining industry. He has worked in these roles across Australia and in New Zealand.

John’s previous positions include Managing Director of Met Bus (the Victorian public sector bus operator which he was recruited from the private sector to prepare for sale), and Chief Executive of Yarra Trams which he also prepared for franchise to the private sector. Subsequently he has been the Principal of WD & Associates, a transport consultancy specialising in public transport.

Assignments with WD include project management of major fleet acquisition programs, business transition management, business planning, due diligence, financial modelling and risk assessment. He has recently managed the Sydney Airport Rail business through its period of receivership, preparing it for sale and transition to its new owners.

John has a B.Business from Deakin University, is a Certified Practicing Accountant (FCPA) and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD). He is an active member of the International Association of Public Transport and travels widely to maintain a current perspective on transport developments around the world.