Rigby Downs Consulting

Projects

Robert's work history includes the following:

Jun 2016 - Current

Consultant

I am currently doing consultancy work and board roles.

I am a Board Member of Infrastructure SA, who's statutory function it is to deliver high quality advice on South Australia's requirements for significant infrastructure. I chair the Assurance Committee and am a member of the Risk and Performance Committee

I am a Non-executive Director of Reliance Rail, responsible for financing, designing, manufacturing and maintaining new electric rolling stock under a public private partnership contract with Sydney Trains. Reliance Rail has financed, delivered and will maintain for 30 years 78 eight-car trains, simulators and a purpose-built maintenance facility.

I am Chair of the Independent Dispute Avoidance and Resolution (IDAR) Panel for City and South-West Metro, whose role is to first avoid and then, if required, assist in the resolution of disputes. I also Chair the Joint Project Committees (JPC's) for all three Metro Projects, the peak forum for collaboration between Contractor's and Sydney Metro.

Private Sector Clients:
  • Multiplex - Strategic Advice;
  • Transurban - Advice in relation to Sydney Motorway Corporation acquisition; and
  • BG&E - Strategic Advice
Public Sector Clients:
  • Vic Department of Treasury and Finance - Melbourne Airport Rail and Victorian Heart Hospital Gateway Reviews:
  • Infrastructure NSW - Sydney Metro Project Gateway Reviews and Deep Dive Reviews;
  • Transport for NSW - Sydney Metro City and Southwest Internal Contract Peer Reviews, Tender Evaluation and Review Panels and Chair of the Independent Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Panel and Joint Project Committee; Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport Strategic Advice, Tender Evaluation Panel and Chair of the Joint Project Committee; and Sydney Metro West Tender Evaluation Panel and Chair of the Joint Project Committee;
  • Brisbane City Council - Brisbane Metro Subway Systems Gateway Reviews;
  • NSW Treasury - Western Sydney Stadium Health Check (Construction);
  • Australian Naval Infrastructure - Strategic Advice; and
  • New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga - Preparation of two health related reports
  • Te Whatu Ora (NZ) - New Dunedin Hospital Executive Steering Group Member
Previous roles include:
  • a member of the EnergyCo NSW Advisory Committee which supports EnergyCo NSW with its work on the Electricity Roadmap. I was the interim chair for 3 months.
  • a member of the New Dunedin Hospital Project Steering Group, providing governance over the infrastructure component of the New Dunedin Hospital Project in NZ.
  • a Non-executive Director of Ontoit Global Pty Ltd., an Advisory and Project Management firm servicing the eastern seaboard of Australia, for a period of 5 ½ years and where I was the chair the Risk Committee.
  • the Chairperson of the School Infrastructure Advisory Council (SIAC) for over 5 years, responsible for developing and providing advice to the Chief Executive of School Infrastructure NSW (SINSW), the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education and the NSW Minister for Education on matters relating to building and maintaining infrastructure as part of the network of public-school facilities in NSW.
  • a Non-executive Director of Infrashore, the support services, parking, retail and redevelopment partner for Royal North Shore Hospital for 2 ½ years. Infrashore financed, designed and constructed the new main hospital, community health building, visitor car park and public space improvements, and will maintain all the facilities until 2036.
  • ARTC - Inland Rail Acting Delivery Director for 7 months and Interim Chief Executive for 3 months.
Feb 2014 - Feb 2016

WestConnex Delivery Authority

Acting Chief Executive (6 months), Chief Operating Officer (14 months), WestConnex Delivery Authority;

Chief Operating Officer (5 months), Sydney Motorway Corporation.

WestConnex is Australia's biggest transport project, a 10 year $15 billion 33 kilometre motorway development. WestConnex will extend the M4 to Sydney Airport via Rozelle and the city and duplicate the existing M5 East as an integrated scheme.

July 2013 - Jan 2015

Rigby Downs Consulting

Consultant

Consultancy work included:

  • ACT Government Health Directorate;
  • the Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate, ACT;
  • Transport for NSW; and
  • Capital Metro Agency, ACT.
Nov 2007 - April 2013

Health Infrastructure, NSW Department of Health

Chief Executive, Health Infrastructure, NSW Department of Health, NSW

Health Infrastructure is responsible for the planning, management and delivery of high value (>$10m), high risk, or high complexity major capital works projects and sub-programs within the NSW Health Asset Acquisition Program.

The portfolio of projects managed by Health Infrastructure and completed included 4 complex PPP's, being:-

  • Long Bay Forensic and Prison Hospitals - A$150M, completed 2008;
  • Orange and Associated Health Services - A$260M, completed 2011;
  • Newcastle Mater Hospital - A$200M, completed 2009; and
  • Royal North Shore Hospital - over $1.1Bn, completed 2012.
May 2007 - Nov 2007

Rigby Downs Consulting

Consultant

Consultancy work included:

  • Reporting to the Executive Programme Director: TIDC - providing strategic advice on the Metro Project; and
  • Reporting to the Chief Executive, Australia and New Zealand, Transfield Services - providing strategic advice on role on a number of desalination projects.
Aug 2004 - May 2007

United Group Limited

Executive General Manager, Commercial, Marketing and Project Development (5 months) for United Group Limited Rail.

Including:

Strategic Planning, Marketing, Business Development, Tenders and Proposals Preparation and Commercial Management.

Identifying strategic opportunities, including offshore bogie and wagon manufacture, locomotive leasing and offshore refurbishment and maintenance opportunities.

Bid Director for Star Transit, a joint venture between United Group and Mitsubishi Electric Australia, formed to bid for the RailCorp Rolling Stock PPP (29 months).

In August 2004 RailCorp issued an Expression of Interest invitation for the provision of both Single Deck and Double Deck Trains under a PPP arrangement to replace 498 non air-conditioned cars from their fleet.

Star Transit was one of four proponents short listed to provide a Detailed Proposal for both Single Deck Train Sets and Double Deck Train Sets. Three fully underwritten bids were submitted for various combinations of Single Deck and Double Deck Trains. Reliance Rail was ultimately awarded the contract for 624 Double Deck Train in November of 2006

Sep 1998 - July 2004

ALSTOM Australia Limited

Chief Executive - Development of the Transport Sector of ALSTOM Australia Limited.

Led the bidding for the following projects:-

  • Victorian Regional Fast Rail Project (successful on Ballarat and Geelong Lines);
  • Perth Urban Rail Development Railcar Tender;
  • The Basslink Project; and
  • Satellite Based Safe Working System Tender.
Oct 1992 - Aug 1998

Transfield Pty Ltd

General Manager - Commercial , Project Development Group

Within the Transfield Group, Transfield Project Development was responsible for pursuing large multi-faceted development projects, and in particular those involving project financing (BOO and BOOT).

Major projects of significance in which Robert participated included:-

  • Docklands Stadium, Melbourne;
  • Melbourne City Link, Melbourne (successful); and
  • New Southern Railway, Sydney (successful).
Sep 1987 - Sep 1992

Transfield Pty. Limited on secondment to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel Company

Commercial Manager, Sydney Harbour Tunnel Company - a joint venture between Transfield Pty Limited and Kumagai Gumi Co., Ltd, established to design, construct and operate of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel.