26 November 2020
ITS Australia Board Election Result Announced

ITS Australia
The election of ITS Australia’s Board of Directors took place this week. Coinciding with the association’s Annual General Meeting held online. This year’s election resulted in a recomposed board, with several new entrants. There was signicant and continued interest in the directorships with 13 candidates nominating for the seven vacancies for the second year running.
ITS Australia congratulates the elected board members:
Elected Directors

Richard Delplace
Director Emerging Technologies / Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries
Richard is the Director Emerging Technologies at the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, the peak representative body for the manufacturers and importers of passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles and motorcycles in Australia.
He is responsible for the coordination of the FCAI members and the development of the FCAI’s approach and policy response to new and future technologies in vehicle safety, autonomy, and environmental performance.
Richard is also a Director on the Boards of ITS Australia, the Australian Automotive Service and Repair Authority (AASRA), and the Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA).


Jeremy Nassau
Co-Vice President ITS Australia / Head of Future Transport and Partnerships / Transurban
Jeremy was elected as Co-Vice President of the ITS Australia Board in November 2023.
Jeremy Nassau is Head of Future Transport and Partnerships at Transurban, where he has worked for 19 years in a range of roles at the intersection of strategy, technology, smart infrastructure and innovation. For the last 6 years Jeremy has been leading Transurban’s automated vehicle activities, safely delivering a wide range of trials across various jurisdictions and CAV use cases, together with key government and industry partners.
He is currently leading a group in Transurban’s Strategic Innovation function, exploring and establishing innovative new transport businesses.


Professor Majid Sarvi
Director, AIMES / The University of Melbourne
Professor Sarvi is the chair in transport engineering and the director of Transport Technology program at the University of Melbourne. He is the founder and director of the Australian Integrated Multimodal EcoSystem (AIMES). AIMES is a world first; a grid mapped with smart sensors to test emerging, multimodal connected large-scale transport technologies in a complex urban environment.
Through AIMES, Professor Sarvi is bringing the transport network together, collaborating with more than 50 domestic and international partners from industry and government. AIMES’ key objective is to deliver safer, more efficient and sustainable transport solutions for all road users to enable smarter cities to thrive.
Professor Sarvi has more than 25 years of professional, academic and research experience in the areas of intelligent transport systems. His research is multidisciplinary with an international outlook applying theory to combat real-world challenges. His expertise covers a range of topics, including: Artificial Intelligence in Transport, connected and automated multimodal transport systems and CITS.
He has been the author/co-author of over 350 refereed publications in top transportation journals and various conference and symposia proceedings. He currently serves on the editorial board of several journals including Transportation Research Part B, Transportation Research Part C, and Transportmetrica.


Kim Thomas
Managing Director / Integrate
Kim Thomas is the founder and Managing Director of Integrate, a specialist ITS consultancy based in Queensland. Kim has worked in the ITS industry for over 20 years, with executive roles in management, business development and technical delivery. Her key skills are in leading Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Systems Analysis and Design and ITS Infrastructure Engineering Management.
Kim holds Masters degrees in physics and engineering. She has worked on an extensive range of projects from software design; systems engineering; strategy and program development through to detailed ITS design on major rural, urban and inter-urban projects, in Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.
She is a strong proponent of systems engineering in the transport industry and diversity in the workplace.


Silje Troseth
President ITS Australia / Vice President APAC & General Manager Australia / Q-Free Australia
Silje Troeth was elected President of the ITS Australia Board of Directors in November 2023.
Silje has been working in the ITS industry for 15 years both with the private sector and the public sector within project management, project delivery, sales and marketing. Silje has been with Q-Free Australia since 2004 and has held various positions within the company in Norway, Australia and the Asia Pacific region, most recently as General Manager and Senior Vice President for AMPEA (Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa).
Silje has been a director of ITS Australia since 2018, and in addition to serving as President, Silje also serves as Chair of the Marketing & Communications Committee, and sits on the Membership Committee. Silje holds a Bachelor degree from the University of Western Sydney and a Master’s degree from the University of Technology Sydney.


Tom Walker
Chairman / iMOVE Australia
Tom is a recognised leader in the transport technology industry, with over 35 years of experience developing, delivering, and supporting next-generation solutions in Australia and overseas. Tom is currently Chair of the Board of iMOVE Australia, a national centre for transport and mobility R&D that runs the iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre. Tom also provides strategic and business advisory services to the transport sector.
Tom's previous roles include as Managing Director of Cubic Transportation Systems' APAC regional business, Board Member of ITS Australia, and Advisory Board member of the Tourism & Transport Forum.


Michael Watts
Director - Strategic Projects & Partnerships / Transmax
With over 25 years in the Australian Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) industry, Michael is passionate about the application of technologies to enable organisations to provide improved transportation outcomes, being instrumental in the development and integration of ITS technologies across many of the Australian Road and Transport Agencies.
He has served as a board member of ITS Australia since December 2013 contributing in roles on the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee and as chair of the Membership Committee. Michael is also active in the organisation of ITS Australia events including the ITS Asia Pacific Forum 2020. Transmax

They will join ongoing members of the Board:
Ongoing Directors

Dr Dale Andrea
Chief Information Officer, Transport Services / The Victorian Department of Transport
Dr Dale Andrea is the Chief Information Officer, Transport Services at the Victorian Department of Transport. There, he helps create transport solutions with customers that deliver better journeys and productivity to the state. Dale is a Director on the Board of ITS Australia and the Australian Integrated Multimodal Ecosystem (AIMES), connecting with industry professionals across the globe on the technological disruption occurring in transport.
Dale’s job is to design and enhance customer-facing and operational transport technologies; his passion is creating inclusive and inspirational workplaces that empower people and activate exceptional talent. Dale’s career has spanned academia, R&D, policy development, corporate strategy and international consulting. Dale uses these experiences and insights to guide around 200 ICT professionals to deliver technology and digital services that move people.


Dr Chen Cai
Senior Manager / Ernst & Young
Dr Cai is a senior manager at EY, working towards accelerating the adoption of AI and digital twin in transformational industries. He obtained a PhD in Transport at University College London, began his research career at National ICT Australia (NICTA), moved to CSIRO as NICTA was merged with CSIRO to form Data61, where he founded the Transport Analytics group.
The group was the recipient of numerous awards: NSW Premier’s Innovation Initiative, Committee for Sydney Award, iAward, CSIRO Collaboration Medal, and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Australia Awards. The core of group followed him to join EY in June 2022. He was an elected board director of ITS Australia from 2017 to 2021.


Jeff McCarthy
Head of Sydney Delivery / Transport for NSW
At Transport for NSW, Jeff leads a branch of over 500 staff across Greater Sydney, delivering a portfolio of large and complex projects with a value of over $30 billion AUD.
Jeff previously lead the organisations push into ‘big data’ and analytics, which has recently peaked at over 30 data analysts utilising Agile techniques to understand more about customers and their use of the network. This work is being fed back into the ITS area, where Jeff has been integral in driving the future development of the ‘SCATS’ adaptive traffic system. This will include a major reinvestment in the SCATS global traffic control product.
Jeff has over 30 years’ experience in infrastructure and utilities, both in Australia and overseas, and has held numerous leadership positions in a range of organisations.


Brian Negus
Ambassador, ITS Australia / Chairman, CICA Group
With a career spanning more than 50 years, Brian Negus is one of Australia’s most respected and influential transport and mobility leaders. Brian has held senior positions in both Government and the private sector.
Brian remains engaged in Australia’s ITS industry, being an Ambassador for ITS Australia, the past Chairman and current Associate of Collaborative ITS Consulting Australia, and Director of the Victorian Chamber. He is also a past Director of the ITS World Congress Board, and was a driving force behind the hugely successful 17th ITS Asia Pacific Forum in Brisbane hosted by ITS Australia.
Brian continues to lead, guide, and mentor organisations and individuals on a broad range of transport issues, especially smart technology solutions to improve transport.


Nathalie Sassen
Head of Customer Experience & Network Design / Keolis Downer
Nathalie has worked for Keolis for the past six years. As Head of Customer Experience and Network Design her role is to deliver best-in-class mobility solutions to passengers and Public Transport Authorities. This has given her a very accurate understanding of the mobility needs in the different regions, each with their own regulatory and contractual framework, and an ability to innovate to meet the evolving needs of local communities.
Nathalie’s expertise in network design and planning, customer experience and new mobilities, has been a real value for the development of Keolis in Europe and now in Australia.


Dennis Walsh
Co-Vice President ITS Australia / Chief Engineer / Queensland Department of Transport & Main Roads
Dennis is Co-Vice President of the ITS Australia Board.
Dennis is Chief Engineer of the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. He oversees a range of technologies including Geospatial Technologies, Road Design and Hydraulics; Pavement, Materials and Geotechnical Engineering; Structures; and Safer Roads Infrastructure.
A Chartered Professional Engineer, member of Engineers Australia and graduate of Australian Institute of company directors
Has worked across areas including strategic planning, traffic and transport planning, road safety policy and engineering, road design, road operations and Intelligent Transport Systems. He has contributed to a range of national groups and is Queensland Director on the ANCAP Board. Board member and Vice President of ITS Australia. Has recently been appointed as a Board member and Interim Chair of Transmax and Queensland's board Austroads board member. He is also on the interim board of CCAT. He is a member of Institute of Public Works Engineers Australia.
Dennis is committed to bringing together skills and knowledge of his team and their partners to embrace new technologies, engage with customers and drive new ideas into action for benefit of the community.


Dean Zabrieszach
International Ambassador ITS Australia / CEO & Director / HMI Technologies
Dean was appointed to his current position at HMI Technologies in Australia in March 2015. Prior to joining HMI Technologies, he worked with VicRoads, the state road authority of Victoria, from 1984 to 2015, in a number of senior positions including Manager Program Development, Manager Maintenance Program, Manager Intelligent Transport Systems, Director Road User Services and Director Road Operations.
As International Ambassador for ITS Australia, Dean pushes for member value across all aspects of the association–including gender, cultural, and capability diversity–and represents the organisation professionally and ethically both nationally and internationally as we continue to be one of the best ITS National Associations in the world.

ITS Australia President, Dean Zabrieszach, reflected on the significant voter turnout for this year’s board election.
“It is hugely encouraging to see that more than 50% of our eligible voters participated in this online election. ITS Australia’s member base is keenly interested in the governance of the association, and I am pleased to see this engagement grow year after year,” said Mr Zabrieszach.
“Despite the substantial challenges posed this year, ITS Australia is poised to begin 2021 with renewed energy and a continued focus on supporting Australia’s transport technology industry. The strength of ITS Australia is due, in no small part, to the support of my colleagues on the Board. I welcome our newly elected members, and I thank our outgoing members for their outstanding work on behalf of the association.”
ITS Australia President, Dean Zabrieszach recognised the contribution of outgoing board members, David Bolt, Kapsch TrafficCom Australia; Gino Dompietro, Jacobs Group; Cecilia Warren, Insurance Australia Group Limited (IAG); and Chris Woods, Robert Bosch Australia. In particular, he thanked Gino Dompietro for his ten years of exceptional service to the Board.
Dean Zabrieszach also acknowledged the two new members of the ITS Australia Board of Directors, Richard Delplace, Program Manager - Transport Network Operations, Austroads and Kim Thomas, Managing Director, Integrate.