Dr Natalie Pelham has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR).
Dr Pelham (pictured) will take on the role from Sue McCarrey, who left ONRSR in December last year.
Dr Pelham will leave her current role in NSW Office of Transport Safety Investigations, where she has been Chief Investigator since January 2021.
“Rail connects communities and is a major carrier of goods in Australia, being responsible for around 49% of our total domestic freight – making it an important part of our economy and way of life,” said Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister, Catherine King.
“ONRSR plays an important role enforcing and promoting safe railway operations, to ensure that all those working on and using railways get home safely after each shift or trip.
“I welcome Dr. Pelham to this vital role and look forward to continuing to work with ONRSR as they continue to promote and improve national rail safety.”
She will be the third National Rail Safety Regulator appointed in Australia following the formation of ONRSR in 2013, when the seven state and territory regulatory bodies were brought together under the national banner.
In that time the Australian rail industry has benefitted from a range of national reforms including a consolidated accreditation process and a risk-based national work program of audits and inspections, said Minister King.
“ONRSR has also overseen significant improvements to the quality and availability of rail safety data now being harnessed to drive improved decision making by industry and governments alike,” she said.
Dr. Pelham will start with ONRSR in early November.
