
Rail is the backbone of our society – connecting people and places and catalyzing growth. As rail owners and operators in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) respond to challenges associated with rapid urbanization, population change and growing freight volumes, our team is delivering holistic and integrated rail solutions that help clients plan, develop, finance, design, construct, operate and maintain transit infrastructure that connects people, communities and business.
Come and visit us at the Jacobs AusRAIL Exhibition Theatre to find out more.
Meet the team presenting at AusRAIL 2022
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Narelle Rogers, Jacobs Rail Systems Lead
Narelle’s career in rail spans 15 years. She is the current Jacobs rail systems lead for Australia and New Zealand and is actively involved in numerous committees. She holds a master's degree in Applied Positive Psychology and is passionate about the science of well-being with a specific interest in developing strategies that foster individual and organizational thriving and performance.
Narelle is presenting on the topic: From Surviving to Thriving: How self-determination and basic psychological needs satisfaction can improve the retention of women in rail – A Systems Thinking Approach.
11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m., Tuesday, December 6 in the diversity and workforce development session
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Stephen Rutherford, Jacobs Vice President & Global Cross Market Director of Transport Planning
Stephen is an internationally recognized transport consultant, with 38 years’ experience leading complex, multi-modal projects in over 40 countries. Throughout his career he has been at the forefront of developing new technologies and solutions for clients. He also has particular interest in the use of big data in transport planning.
Stephen is presenting on the topic: Driving Robust Investment Decisions Through Big Data Insights
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 6, in the passenger and light rail session
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Somoud Al Masri, Jacobs Director Sales Operations – New Zealand & South East Australia
After starting out with a degree in Civil Engineering from Damascus University, Somoud spent over 12 years in Dubai working across diverse markets, leading teams and winning work. Somoud’s adventure continued with a move “Down Under” to Melbourne where she manages a team of sales professional stars who chase and win complex projects in diverse markets across southeast Australia and New Zealand. Somoud also champions inclusion and diversity by asking the hard questions and challenging the accepted to create a work environment where everyone can be themselves. Somoud is the current implementation lead for our Global CEO commitment to the Champion of Change Coalition.
Somoud is chairing the diversity and workforce development session from 10:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6
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Nitika Duggal, Jacobs Project Architect
Nitika attended University of Technology, Sydney from 2017-2019 where she obtained her master’s degree in Architecture and developed an interest in the transportation industry.
At Jacobs, she’s part of the transportation team and is currently working on major rail projects in New South Wales and Victoria. Outside of work, Nitika is an innovation mentor for the Humanitarian Innovation Hackathon hosted by The Warren Center, University of Sydney annually since 2019.
Alongside colleague Tony Jin, Nitika is presenting on the topic: Go Rail – Making the world smarter, more connected & more sustainable
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 6 in the Jacobs AusRAIL Exhibition Theatre
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Tony Jin, Jacobs Architect BIM Specialist
Tony is a BIM and digital engineering specialist with over five years’ experience in the building and construction industry. He is currently completing his PhD at the University of New South Wales. Tony’s research interest includes topics relating to sustainable future cities, high-performance buildings, digital engineering and artificial intelligence.
Alongside colleague Nikita Duggal, Tony is presenting on the topic: Go Rail – Making the world smarter, more connected & more sustainable
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 6 in the Jacobs AusRAIL Exhibition Theatre
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Richard Hao, Jacobs Bridge Engineer
Richard graduated in 2019 from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with First Class Honors and received the Engineers Australia Civil and Structural Engineering Prize. In the same year he also featured in the Australian Financial Review’s list of Top 100 Future Leaders in Australia. Alongside his project work as a bridge engineer at Jacobs, he has established and is leading a team exploring life-cycle engineering of structures.
Richard is presenting on the topic: A journey to optimizing the life cycle of bridges
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Tuesday December 6 in the Jacobs AusRAIL Exhibition Theatre
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Paul Fergusson, Jacobs Strategic Rolling Stock Consultant
Paul is a chartered professional electrical engineer with over 20 years’ experience in the rail industry and 8 years in the Royal Australian Air Force. He has a passion for innovation and improving asset performance and function through creative and forward-thinking solutions.
Alongside colleagues Maria Alvarez-Bayona and Ian Sutherland, Paul is presenting on the topic: Lessons learned from hydrogen rail vehicle projects
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 7 in the Jacobs AusRAIL Exhibition Theatre
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Maria Alvarez-Bayona, Jacobs Project Manager/ Transport Specialist
Maria is a project manager with wide experience in the transport industry in multiple roles and extensive knowledge of rail frameworks, interoperability and the evolution of the transport sector. She is currently involved in a Californian rail project, coordinating the vehicle requirements definition, infrastructure requirements, hydrogen systems and coordination with stakeholders.
Alongside colleagues Ian Sutherland and Paul Fergusson, Maria is presenting on the topic: Lessons learned from hydrogen rail vehicle projects
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 7 in the Jacobs AusRAIL Exhibition Theatre
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Ian Sutherland, Senior Project Manager – Energy Transition
Ian is one of Jacobs’ subject matter experts in the use of hydrogen as a route to achieve the decarbonization of an organization’s operations and assets. He has deep knowledge of hydrogen technologies and their application in holistic systems to provide power for mobility and static needs. He is currently working on hydrogen projects in the aviation and rail transport sector and with colleagues in the Jacobs global team to communicate to clients the sustainability, resiliency and cost benefits of investing in hydrogen systems.
Alongside colleagues Maria Alvarez-Bayona and Paul Fergusson, Ian is presenting on the topic: Lessons learned from hydrogen rail vehicle projects
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 7 in the Jacobs AusRAIL Exhibition Theatre
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Julian Small, Jacobs ANZ Market Director Rail, Ports and Aviation
Julian has over 30 years’ experience in the UK, Asia, Middle East and ANZ, holding leadership roles on major international rail infrastructure programs including Dubai Metro, Kuwait Metro and Hong Kong’s Westrail projects. In his current role, Julian has oversight of Jacobs’ business in the rail market. Jacobs is delivering services across most of the major rail projects in ANZ.
Julian is delivering the Welcome Address in the Jacobs AusRAIL Exhibition Theatre on Tuesday, December 6
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Jason Walmsley, Jacobs Business Development Director, Rail
Jason has over 32 years’ experience within the rail industry, working in the public and private sectors in both the contractor and engineering arenas. He has worked on a diverse range of civil and rail projects across Australia and overseas, with strong experience in the management of multi discipline routine maintenance, asset management and major construction projects.
Jason is chairing proceedings in the Jacobs AusRAIL Exhibition Theatre on Tuesday, December 6
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Jessica Ghaleb, Associate Rail Engineer and Track and Civil Team Leader
Jessica is approaching 10 years’ rail industry experience, during which time she has worked on a broad range of heavy and light rail projects, from business case design through to construction, across Queensland and Victoria. She is currently a Track and Civil Team Leader for South Eastern Australia at Jacobs. Over her career Jessica has been involved in various industry bodies, including the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) as a Young Leaders Advisory Board (Y-LAB) member and was president of the Young Transport Professionals (YTP).
Jessica is chairing proceedings in the Jacobs AusRAIL Exhibition Theatre on Wednesday, December 7
Find out more about us
Public transportation systems, valued as some of the most equitable and sustainable modes of transportation, connect communities and help stimulate economic development. Expanding these complex systems and adding more advanced solutions, such as high-speed rail, to meet public demand can be an intricate, high-intensity ride.
Whether your journey includes keeping pace with capacity building and accelerating technology innovations, ensuring safety and security or maintaining transport networks, we’re on board to serve all aspects of high‐speed and conventional passenger rail, freight and logistics and mass/public transit solutions. We’re a globally recognized leader in the safe and efficient delivery of rail and transit solutions – from planning, design and development to delivery and management.
Discover how we're rerouting the future of rail

Our services include:
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- Transit and rail engineering design
- Program and construction management
- Vehicle engineering and procurement
- Train control and communications systems
- Feasibility studies
- Asset management
- Revenue collection systems
- Intelligent transportation systems
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- Safety and security
- Management consulting
- Sustainability planning
- Independent checking
- Tunnel and geotechnical engineering design
- Rail bridge and viaduct engineering design
- Station, platform and maintenance facilities design
Discover some of our recent projects
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Suburban Rail Loop, Australia
We’re helping deliver Suburban Rail Loop in Melbourne, Victoria – a once-in-a-generation city shaping project that will not just change how Victorians travel but also create jobs, reduce congestion, connect vibrant suburbs and have a positive impact on the environment.
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More Trains, More Services
Jacobs and John Holland are delivering design and construction services to Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) for the More Trains, More Services - North Works Package project. The project is upgrading critical infrastructure along the T4 Illawarra, T8 Airport and South Coast lines between Central and Hurstville in Sydney. We’re delivering rail design and construction support services for the project.
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Cross River Rail
As part of the Unity Alliance, we’re delivering the rail, integration and systems work package for the Cross River Rail project in Brisbane, Australia. Services include designing and reconfiguring the rail network at either end of the new cross city tunnels, supplying and installing supporting rail systems, integrating Cross River Rail into Queensland Rail's existing network and upgrading seven stations.
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Perth to Bunbury Fast Rail
We were recently appointed as the engineering and land use planning (ELUP) consultant for the Perth to Bunbury Faster Rail planning project. Jacobs, supported by Element Advisory and Calibre, will produce the engineering feasibility design to support the Strategic Business Case.
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Brisbane Metro
We helped Brisbane Metro find green transit solutions to their bus network congestion issues. The Brisbane Metro Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plan will introduce new battery electric, bi-articulated vehicles – the first of their kind in Australia – that have zero tailpipe emissions and involves a new public transport network design.
Still want to know more?
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Report
Fast Rail
Jacobs has released a new paper titled: Fast rail – A catalyst for growth in the regions. The paper explores how fast rail connections can benefit regional economies and populations, beyond providing improved connections to jobs, opportunities, activities and services in nearby capital cities.
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Report
Beyond the Baseline - How infrastructure can deliver transformative outcomes
In this latest series of thought leadership papers Jacobs, in collaboration with the Global Infrastructure Hub, explores how infrastructure can deliver transformative outcomes for people and the planet.
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Report
Net Zero Cities
Jacobs releases new thought leadership paper that asks the question: What if city stakeholders used a programmatic approach, looking beyond traditional project and asset boundaries, to co-develop solutions that reduce carbon AND address the most urgent and aspirational needs of the community?
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Report
Net Zero Rail
The U.K.’s rail industry faces an intensive period of infrastructure upgrade and new delivery. This paper provides insight and solutions on seizing the opportunity to help the industry deliver passenger first and net zero outcomes.
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News
Jacobs Releases Blueprint for Creating Social Value Through Infrastructure Investments
Jacobs, in collaboration with subsidiary Simetrica-Jacobs, has released a new thought leadership paper on the role of infrastructure investments in helping to address critical societal issues, asking the question: What if infrastructure could be planned, delivered, built and operated to generate enduring social value at scale to help overcome some of the most entrenched social issues in our communities?
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Podcasts
Sparks Episode 2: Green Transportation, North America
In this episode, we’ll explore some of the challenges surrounding America’s green transportation transition, how innovative solutions could expand electric mobility options, and how placing social value at the heart of infrastructure planning will be key to creating a successful network.