Phillip Strachan to be new Queensland Rail Chairman

Inquiry Commissioner Phillip Strachan will be appointed Chairman of Queensland Rail, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said today.

The Premier said Mr Strachan, who was appointed to undertake the inquiry into QR train crewing practices in October, will now Chair the QR Board. The appointment will be effective from tomorrow.

“Phillip Strachan has undertaken a comprehensive review of Queensland Rail, interviewing senior staff of the organisation and gaining a thorough understanding of its culture and practices,” she said.

“He has made wide-ranging recommendations to ensure QR has sufficient drivers and a reliable pipeline of training to deliver the services that Queenslanders will need into the future.

“Phillip Strachan is uniquely placed to lead the organisation through what will be a significant transition to focus on its customers – the travelling public.”

The Premier said one of Mr Strachan’s first tasks will be to meet the shortlisted candidates for the position of QR Chief Executive Officer. He will meet those candidates later this week.

Acting Chair Nicole Hollows will return to her full-time position of Chief Executive Officer of government-owned SunWater.

“I would like to thank Nicole for her service as Acting Chair and her ongoing leadership of SunWater,” the Premier said.

Ms Hollows and Department of Transport and Main Roads Neil Scales were appointed Acting Chair and Acting CEO respectively following the resignation of QR Chairman Michael Klug and CEO Helen Gluer in October.

Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Premier’s office) 0417 263 791 

Phillip Strachan

Mr Strachan was President and Chief Executive Officer of Rio Tinto Bauxite and Alumina and a current Board Member of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and a Director of Tilt Renewables Limited. Mr Strachan spent 35 years working for the Rio Tinto Group in numerous finance and operating roles including in the head offices in London and Melbourne. He was Chief Financial Officer at Rio Tinto Aluminium for six years based in Brisbane, then Chief Financial Officer at Rio Tinto Alcan based in Montreal. He then became President and CEO of the Bauxite and Alumina global business unit of Rio Tinto up to his retirement in 2016. He is a former President and Director of the Australian Aluminium Council and a former Director of the Centaur Theater company in Montreal. Phillip is a Fellow of CPA Australia and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.