Commissioners

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Chair

Carolyn commenced as Chair of the National Transport Commission on 1 January 2018. She has been a Commissioner since 1 January 2014.

Carolyn is currently a member of the Board of the NSW Environment Protection Authority and a member of a number of NSW Government agency audit and risk committees. She also provides consultancy services in safety and risk management.

Her past roles with the NSW Government have included Chief Executive of the Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator and Executive Director, Office of the Coordinator General of Rail. She has also held several positions within the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Carolyn has a Bachelor of Economics and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

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Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner

Michael Hopkins brings significant expertise in transport reform to his role as both the National Transport Commission (NTC) CEO and as an NTC Commissioner.

Michael is focused on delivery of our work program, the provision of robust and independent evidence-based advice to Australia’s transport ministers and engaging with our many stakeholders. As a leader Michael is driving change at the NTC, focusing on staff engagement and ensuring the NTC is a great place to work.

He has previously been an Executive Leader at the NTC driving the organisation’s work program, the delivery of reforms and the Commission’s relationship with its partner governments.

As a consultant, Michael provided expert evidence-based advice to industry and national, state and local governments on responding to the contemporary challenges faced by a transport sector in transition.

As a senior executive in Victoria's Department of Transport, Michael delivered future-focused policy reforms, network strategy and planning, as well as stronger governance to improve the way transport works. 

Michael has a Masters in public administration from the Australian and New Zealand School of Government (via the University of Melbourne), a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and chairs the Monash University Institute of Transport Studies’ industry advisory group.

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Commissioner 

Jim was appointed as Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport Regional Development, Communications and the Arts in July 2022. He's spent over 30 years working in government agencies in the U.K, Victoria and New South Wales. 

Prior to becoming Secretary, Jim was a partner at strategy consultancy EY Port Jackson Partners and previously led the New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment as Secretary. During that period, the Department undertook transformational reform in areas like land use planning, water, urban design, sustainability, climate change, biodiversity conservation and energy. 

From 2013 to 2019, Jim was Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure NSW where he led the development of two State Infrastructure Strategies, oversaw the state’s infrastructure program, delivered major state infrastructure projects and developed a state plan for the construction sector.

Before moving to New South Wales, Jim held roles as Secretary for the Victorian Transport Department and Victoria’s Director of Public Transport. 

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Commissioner 

Jon Whelan is the Chief Executive for the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport with over 35 years of extensive experience with the Department. He is passionate and committed to deliver valuable social and economic infrastructure, as well as service delivery.

Jon is the Rail Commissioner and Commissioner of Highways, with responsibility for ensuring well-connected and customer focused services are delivered safely, efficiently, and sustainably.

Jon prides himself on fostering collaborative relationships with industry and key stakeholders.

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Loretta Lynch is an experienced senior executive with extensive experience in transport, mining and construction sectors nationally and internationally. She is currently a member of the Board of Queensland Rail, and a director of Fawkes Infrastructure, the owner of Ventura Bus.  

Loretta has previously led three iconic Australian public transport networks - Sydney Ferries, Melbourne Metropolitan Bus and Gold Coast Light Rail. She led the Gold Coast Light Rail operations through Stage 2 network expansion, delivery of transport during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and project managed a  renovation of the Sydney ferry vessel fleet.  

Loretta holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and is a CPA Australia Fellow and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

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Michael Byrne brings his significant experience in leadership roles in the freight and logistics sector to the Commission. He has held senior leadership positions at Toll Group Holdings and Linfox and advised the Australian Government on export supply chains during the COVID pandemic. 

In recognition of his contribution to the sector, Michael was appointed as the inaugural Adjunct Professor at the Centre for Supply Chain and Logistics at Deakin University in 2017.  

Michael holds a Master of Science in Transportation and Infrastructure from the University of Denver, has completed management training at the Darden School of Management at the University of Virginia, and the International Management Program at the MIT Sloan School of Management. 

He acts as a Strategic Advisor on Infrastructure to IFM Investors and holds board positions with Sydney Airport, CBH Group, and the National Intermodal Corporation.  

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