The Melbourne Airport Rail Link (MARL) project has taken an important step forward, with the appointment of Ms Merren McArthur as the independent Chair of the MARL Steering Committee.
This follows the agreement of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached between the Australian Government, Victorian Government and Melbourne Airport earlier this year.
As part of the MoU, all three parties committed to establishing a Steering Committee led by senior officials from each organisation to progress this project.
In her role, Ms McArthur will foster a collaborative and constructive environment, enabling the parties to work together to develop a clear and effective pathway for the successful delivery of the MARL.
Ms McArthur is a Non-Executive Director and CEO with significant governance experience in the aviation, rail and broader transport and freight sectors, including:
- as CEO of Tiger Airlines, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines and Virgin Australia Cargo
- as a Non-Executive Director of Airport Development Group and National Intermodal Corporation
- as an Executive Director and Chair of the People and Safety Committee of Queensland Rail, and
- as a legal advisor to governments on commercial governance issues.
Ms McArthur's wealth of experience makes her well placed to Chair the Steering Committee that will navigate the complexities of this major urban infrastructure project.
All parties recognise the importance of the Steering Committee having strong leadership and the experience and capability to effectively and responsibly agree to the pathway for the delivery of MARL. The appointment of Ms McArthur is an important step towards reaching that goal.