PACIFIC National managing director and CEO Paul Scurrah has joined the Australasian Railway Association board as a general director.

Mr Scurrah’s board appointment comes as the ARA sets out to deliver a program of work to support for the growth of the rail freight sector in Australia and New Zealand.

ARA chair Danny Broad said the appointment would ensure senior representation from major rail operators are at the ARA board table.

He said the critical issues of moving freight on rail, improving productivity, interoperability and network resilience and addressing skill shortages are high on the agenda for both government and industry.

“I am absolutely delighted that someone with Paul’s experience and passion for transport and freight has accepted our invitation to join the ARA board and I look forward to working with him to advocate for greater use of rail freight across Australia and New Zealand,” Mr Broad said.

“Paul will support the ARA’s significant work to achieve greater interoperability, improve productivity and build resilience in the network as the sector works to meet the national growing freight needs.”

Mr Scurrah has more than 20 years’ experience in transport, logistics and aviation, including at the helm of DP World Australia and Queensland Rail.

“I am passionate about getting freight back on track in Australia. Rail is at the heart of our economic and social development and plays an essential role in the national supply chain for communities across the country,” Mr Scurrah said.

“We have seen through the Covid crisis and recent extreme weather events the significant role that rail freight plays in moving Australia’s economy. At the same time, this has also exposed a growing skills shortage in our sector that we must address.

“Rail freight also plays an important role in the decarbonisation of transport and meeting Australia’s future net zero targets by dramatically increasing the volume of goods and commodities that can be moved in one journey.

“With unprecedented investment in the rail sector, now is the time to create transformational change and I am really pleased to have this opportunity to work with the ARA Board to achieve this.”

Mr Scurrah is to attend his first ARA board meeting in June this year.