Management team
Phillip Walker
CEO
Phillip was appointed CEO of Evolution Rail in November 2016 with extensive experience in the delivery of large infrastructure projects in the rail and utilities sectors.
He previously held senior executive roles focused on managing growth, transformation and change management in medium to large businesses including Metro Trains Melbourne. As CEO of specialist asset management company Asset Co Management, Phillip was responsible for successfully commissioning and managing large Public Private Partnership (PPP) portfolios and maximising commercial returns of projects across Australia.
Phillip completed corporate recovery and restructure assignments and participated in the first Middle Eastern utility privatisation in Saudi Arabia from 2000-2003. Prior to this he worked in the electricity and gas sector in Victoria.
David Cooper
General Manager
As the General Manager during the Delivery Phase, David oversees the operational readiness of the HCMT project, with oversight of the service delivery and transition into Maintenance phase.
David has over 30 years’ experience in Maintenance gained within the aerospace industry having started his career with Qantas, with the past ten years having been dedicated to Rail. In the Rail Industry, David has worked with companies such as Railcorp, in the Rollingstock Engineering Division, Downer at Auburn Maintenance Centre during the introduction of the Waratah Fleet, and UGL in both Projects and as Operations Manager of the Heavy Maintenance business for the Sydney Trains Fleet. David brings experience across Operational, Engineering and Management disciplines.
Rebecca Dunlop
Director, Legal and Commercial
Rebecca is a Director, Legal and Commercial for Evolution Rail and manages and advises on legal and commercial issues for the project. She has oversight of contract administration and management, and monitors legal compliance to minimise contract delivery risk.
Rebecca has worked in private legal practice advising on all sides of major infrastructure and transport PPP projects. Rebecca’s advisory roles on these projects have involved advising various state governments, private investors and SPVs, financiers and major subcontractors on all sides, both during bid phase and throughout the project lifecycle. In particular, Rebecca has worked on the Queensland New Generation Rollingstock Project, Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Project, Melbourne Metro Tunnel and Stations PPP, Regional Rail PPP and several other major social infrastructure projects in Australia and other international jurisdictions.
Victoria Kempe
Commercial Manager
Victoria is a Commercial Manager for Evolution Rail and is responsible for managing legal and commercial issues as the project transitions from delivery into maintenance phase. Victoria is responsible for contract administration, modifications, payments and risk management.
Prior to joining the HCMT project, Victoria has worked both in private legal practice and in house, advising on various major infrastructure projects. Victoria’s role in these projects primarily involved advising SPV parties both during the project lifecycle and in dispute. Victoria has worked in various Australian jurisdictions on projects including (amongst others) Inland Rail, the new Royal Adelaide Hospital PPP and a major Victorian hospital PPP.
Ajay Shanmugavel
Maintenance Service Manager
As the Maintenance Services Manager, Ajay is accountable for managing the operational performance of the HCMT Project. He is also responsible for providing engineering advice on technical issues occurring during operation; and monitoring the reliability and availability of the revenue service fleet.
Ajay has significant experience in rolling stock engineering, operations and maintenance. Prior to joining the HCMT team, he was working for Yarra Trams as the Engineering Coordinator for the Victorian Government’s tram upgrade program to improve the reliability of Melbourne’s tram fleet. During his time there, he has worked in various other rolling stock engineering roles predominantly focused on delivering engineering for sub-system level maintenance and overhaul to maintain the safety of the fleet, availability and performance.
Board of directors
Chair
Glenn has been a Director of Evolution Rail since the start of the project and was appointed Independent Chair in October 2022.
Previously, Glenn had an 18 year career with Plenary Group acting as Plenary Group’s Chief Operating Officer carrying ultimate responsibility for project delivery, transition and ongoing operational performance of all Plenary projects.
With over 25 years of PPP project experience, Glenn successfully delivered and transitioned more than 15 PPP projects and still chairs 10 Special Purpose Vehicle Boards encompassing the following sectors – health, transport, education, defence, tourism, research and justice. Glenn also worked for the public sector for over a decade.
Glenn is also the Chair of the Western Health Foundation.
Nicholas Kuys
Nicholas Kuys is part of the Private Infrastructure Asset Management team, as part of the Asian Private Infrastructure business unit, based in Sydney. He has twelve years of industry experience. Prior to joining Partners Group, he worked at Australian Industrial Energy, DUET Group, Macquarie Group, Westpac Banking Group and Deloitte and Touche. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Cape Town, South Africa and a Masters of Business Administration from the Australian Graduate School of Management in Australia. He is also a Chartered Accountant.
Alistair Leighton
Alistair is part of Partners Group Private Infrastructure Asset Management team based in Sydney. He has 10 years of industry experience in offshore oil and gas and offshore wind project delivery as well as management consulting. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Business Administration from the Ivey Business School, Canada.
Robert Regan
Robert Regan is the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary of Downer EDI and holds a range of directorships within the Downer Group. Robert has been a practising lawyer for over 30 years and has extensive experience in infrastructure projects, including in the area of rail. Robert is an alumnus of the University of Sydney and of Harvard Business School, and prior to joining Downer was a longstanding senior partner and Partner in Charge of a premium Australian law firm.
Damien Augustinus
Damien is responsible for leading the bidding and development of PPP projects in Australia and New Zealand for Plenary. His project experience includes leading numerous bids and involvement in projects such as the Sydney Metro Northwest, and Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Damien gained significant Australian and international PPP experience as a Director in the Infrastructure Finance team at Babcock & Brown based in Singapore and Melbourne, and as an Associate Director in the Infrastructure Capital Group of ABN AMRO.
Cao Yafei
Cao Yafei joined CRRC Changchun in 2002 and is currently Director of Department II, International Business Division, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd and has responsibility for overseas market development and delivery of overseas projects particularly in Australia and South Asia. This includes the Sydney Waratah Trains Project, Supervia suburban EMU in Brazil, Sydney SGT project and the HCMT project.
Cao Ran
Cao Ran is the Assistant General Manager of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd(CRRC Changchun) and Executive Deputy GM of the International Business Division. She carries the responsibility for development and delivery of the overseas market for all of CRRC Changchun’s overseas projects. She has been leading CRRC Changchun’s International Business Division for over 20 years and has extensive experience in railway rolling stock projects. She is also the General Manager of CRRC Changchun Changke Import & Export Ltd., Co and Board Members of a range of subsidiary companies of CRRC Changchun.
John Andrew
Company Secretary