CHAMPIONS OF TRANSPORT INNOVATION

From being the lone woman on the team to leading an AUD$27.5 billion forward programme, Julie Mitchell has always sought ways to do things differently and better in a constantly evolving world. As Deputy Director-General for Infrastructure Management and Delivery at the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Julie discusses the state of transport, the upcoming Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and how the department is partnering with industry

Writer: Julie Mitchell, Deputy Director-General, Infrastructure Management and Delivery Project

Manager:

Ryan Gray

If there’s one word that describes Queensland’s transport network – it’s multidimensional. From the sandy beaches in Cairns down to the Gold Coast, to the red earth of Childers and the wheat fields in Roma and the South West, this state covers an area nearly seven times the size of Great Britain.

While Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is responsible for a very important backbone of 33,000 kilometres (km) of state-controlled roads, this is augmented by a variety of services

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (TMR)

and physical infrastructure from policy to school crossing supervisors.

If you’re lucky enough to live in Queensland, you might be in the Torres Strait, where we regulate marine pilotage services to protect the world heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, or you may have travelled to the west of the state to see the Muttaburrasaurus Dinosaur on our freshly sealed very rural Cramsie –Muttaburra Road? Or maybe you’ll be taking your surfboard from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 (due for completion in 2025).

If you’re into bike riding, it’s possible you’ve used one of TMR’s cycleways or rail trails that are connecting people to places and encouraging more Queenslanders to ride their bikes. Moreover, if you’re in Queensland, it’s highly likely you’ll interact with us face-to-face over your lifetime for a driver, marine, or dangerous goods licence.

Across this broad network, TMR provides the regulatory, policy, and planning framework that keeps Queensland moving and connected.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (TMR) LOCAL GOVERNMENT

With a workforce of around 9,500 people, I’m in awe at the range of services we deliver that contribute to making Queensland a great place to live.

Every day I learn something more about the services and infrastructure we provide.

The Olympics Approach

With less than 10 years to the opening of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I can tell you we’re making every day until 23rd July 2032 count! Like many Queenslanders, I hope to be there at the opening ceremonies for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Being one of the biggest and most watched sporting events worldwide, we’re very aware of the task ahead of us.

APAC OUTLOOK: AS A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER AND FELLOW OF ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA, WHAT ADVANTAGES HAS THAT TECHNICAL BACKGROUND GIVEN YOU AS A TRANSPORT LEADER?

JULIE MITCHELL, DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL, INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERY: “Being a registered professional engineer has taught me the importance of technical capability in planning, design, and decision-making. In an engineering focused workplace, it has given me the credibility needed for positions I’ve held and has helped me to know what questions to ask; it’s honed my thinking and ability to evaluate risk and has taught me to actively listen, seek clarity, and enhanced my understanding.

“I’ve always valued continuous and life-long learning and how it brings value to the practical, on-the-job learnings I’ve accumulated in my career. I’ve completed a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Environmental Management in Sustainable Development and have found these both to be useful in how they have added a more strategic perspective to my approach, allowing me to identify, focus on, and explore opportunities and synergies.

“My commitment to continuous learning and my ability to be flexible has greatly benefitted me as has my respect for all professionals, valuing their input and what they bring. I’ve also encouraged the teams I’ve led to do what I have done; to look for ways to do things better and to embrace new things, to try something new and to take risks.”

However, it’s not the first significant sporting event we’ve held. Queensland had a ‘practice run’ with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) but there are a couple of things that are different for 2032. Firstly, the size of the combined Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are 7.5 times bigger than they were; the Paralympics alone will be bigger than GC2018.

Secondly, the duration means prolonged and significant network disruption with 30 days of competition, training and roll down, and then two weeks between the events, totalling nine weeks. We have to make sure we keep the state moving as well as deliver the games and lasting benefits.