Lance Hockridge

Recent Speaker

Chairman Australasian Railway Association

August 10, 2011

11.30am - 1.30pm

"Australia: On track to nowhere"

Chairman of the Australasian Railway Association, Lance Hockridge will launch a ground-breaking report commissioned by the Australian rail industry, the True Value of Rail. This report proves rail is the preferred land transport mode to combat Australia’s looming challenges of congested cities, carbon pollution and rising road fatalities.

The report puts a dollar value on the savings that can be achieved through rail travel in Australia. For instance, every passenger train trip, saves up to $8.50 in reduced congestion, carbon emissions and accident costs. This means rail’s current annual patronage saves up to $6 billion each year. In terms of non-bulk freight, the savings are estimated to be around 95 cents for every tonne kilometre, or a saving of almost $27 billion annually. These saving can be used to provide more hospital beds additional doctors as well as less cars on the road and better public transport for all Australians.

As well as detailing the results of the True Value of Rail Study, Lance will discuss emerging issues in the transport industry with a specific focus on rail. The issues include high speed rail, the establishment of national rail safety and economic regulators, road pricing, carbon pricing, inequitable allocation of spectrum to the industry and the role of the Commonwealth in public transport. He will also share his vision of rail as a central mode of transport for freight and passenger.

Lance joined QR Limited as Chief Executive Officer in 2007 with extensive experience in the transportation and heavy industrial sectors in Australia and the United States.

During a 30 year career with The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (now BHP Billiton Limited),and BlueScope Steel, he was a member of the leadership team that led to BlueScope Steel’s successful demerger from BHP and the creation of a new publicly listed company.

In 2005 Lance was appointed President of BlueScope Steel’s North American operations where he led a major turnaround in safety, production and financial performance. Other roles at BHP included Human Resources and Industrial Relations, General Manager of BHP Transport, head of Long Products Business and President of Industrial Markets.