MATT THORPE - Director, Engineering & Program Services Level Crossing Removal Project

CONFERENCE TOPIC: FORUM 1 - Victoria's BIG BUILD

As part of the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP), which is now valued at over $15Billion with sites spread across greater Melbourne, Matt is responsible for a diverse range of Engineering and Program Services as a direct report to the CEO, including:

·      Technical engineering and assurance

·      Statutory planning

·      Environmental, cultural and heritage approvals

·      Land planning, survey and GIS

·      Digital engineering

·      Urban design and public art

Prior to his current role, Matt was Program Director for the LXRP North Western Program Alliance responsible for construction of several level crossings including those near Coburg and Moreland Stations, Preston and Bell Stations, Glenroy, Reservoir, and Pakenham.

Matt has also worked in a diverse range of other sectors over his 30 year career, whilst always being involved in public and large scale infrastructure, which he finds most rewarding, including:

·      CitiPower/Powercor – 2016 to 2019 - Head of Electrical network distribution safety and compliance

·      Murrumbidgee Irrigation – 2013 to 2015 - Executive General Manager of Operations providing bulk and irrigation water to several communities of regional NSW within the Murray darling basin.

·      GHD Consulting – 2006 to 2013 - Head of infrastructure project management services including clients in Defence, boarder security, transport, aviation, education, food and beverage manufacturing.

·      Royal Australian Air Force – 1991-2005 – Airfield engineer involved in construction, operations planning, training systems, and asset management, and including a deployment with NATO to Bosnia.