INSPIRING THE BUSINESS WORLD

INSPIRE | Interview INSPIRING THE BUSINESS WORLD YOU’VE GOT THE TOP JOB Here’s how to keep it

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about DEMAND Gold Coast Light Rail Managing Director says preparations are on track, as the Glitter Strip readies itself for the arrival of the Commonwealth Games.

WORDS JOE MCDONOUGH • IMAGES ANDREW PORFYRI

s if channelling the great Darrell Eastlake, Loretta Lynch declares the Commonwealth Games “will be huuuuuge!” albeit in a higher tone and at a less ear-piercing volume. “It’s going to be such an exciting time to be around the Gold Coast. I can’t wait,” she grins. Neither can preparations. The opening ceremony is Ascheduled for 4 April, and every aspect of the sporting spectacle needs to be planned to infinitesimal detail long before the roadshow hits the Glitter Strip. This of course, isn’t news to Loretta, Managing Director of Keolis Downer Gold Coast, which operates and maintains G:link on behalf of GoldlinQ since operations began in 2014. “The Commonwealth Games will be the largest event we’ve seen here for some time, and there will be 11 days of very busy transport activity as a result,” she tells The CEO Magazine. “We will be doubling our workforce to more than 400 people and more than doubling our services to deliver the volume of people-moving required.”

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While it will be an unprecedented It’s a great example of the collaboration company’s annual benchmark evaluation, challenge, Loretta insists the tram network has within the Keolis network. “Knowledge which allows subsidiaries to measure shown it can cater to demand of that degree. transfer is important for any international themselves against their peers. “We already deliver for the Gold Coast 600 company, so they’ve implemented quite The beauty of the system, according to V8 car race each year,” she reasons. “Over sophisticated electronic tools to allow sharing Loretta, is that the categories all align to the those three days every October, we’re dealing in communities,” Loretta continues. “When it focus of ‘thinking like a passenger’. “Having with numbers similar to what we’ll see at the comes to something like the Commonwealth worked for a number of multinational Games. The difference is, instead of three Games, we posted to the operations companies, it’s the most elegant review days, we’ll need to sustain it over 11, but community, asking, ‘Who’s been involved in system I’ve come across. All the activities we’re extremely confident of doing so.” a big event? Who could help us peer review we are graded on have the aim of delivering She has every reason to feel assured too. our plans?’ and ‘Who would like to come world’s best practice in passenger transport. Keolis, one of the world’s leading providers and visit?’ This sharing of resources has been It aids your planning and budget setting for of mobility solutions and majority owner of invaluable in our preparation, and it fosters the next year too, as you ask yourself what Downer clearly saw those same traits Keolis Downer, has extensive experience fresh thinking and innovation.” projects can be undertaken to improve in in Loretta. “I might not have put my name managing the logistics of major sporting It is beneficial too that Loretta makes certain areas.” forward for this role if it wasn’t for the events. And Loretta has enlisted the counsel fact-finding missions a priority. The Keolis “Border Security enjoys Keeping in tune with the passenger focus, support of the company,” she reveals. working with Keolis Downer, of some of the company’s most astute leaders Downer Gold Coast chief has visited as our philosophies are G:link regularly surveys the public, engaging “The CEO and the Chair gave me great to ensure every base is covered. “Keolis has a comparable tram systems in Bergen (Norway), aligned – providing excellence through social media (including the My G: encouragement to do this, and I think it’s in customer service without proud history of delivering for events like the Nottingham (England), Bordeaux (France) compromise to security. app Loretta’s team developed), and sending so important for people to remember that Together, we have developed Olympics and Euro [football] championships. and of course Melbourne. The leadership a collaborative partnership managers out to meet and greet commuters sometimes the talent needs a bit of So we’re using the lessons learned, and team is also invited to annual conferences to deliver innovative security on platforms. “We refine our action plans encouragement. I have worked for really measures across the Gold experts from those activities have been in in Paris, where Keolis is based, to engage Coast Light Rail alignment.” according to the feedback, and I can honestly good leaders, and I’ve had some amazing touch with us and even visited us to ensure with CEOs and other thought leaders – Leanne Walsh, Director and say we receive overwhelmingly positive executive coaching as well. The leaders General Manager, Border our plans are as robust as possible.” – the same people who introduced the Security Services feedback. Trams are clearly the most popular I try to emulate aren’t always the smartest form of transport on the Gold Coast.” people in the room and often don’t have Loretta was promoted through Downer, a high profile; they just take an interest in the other half of the joint venture behind their team. Keolis Downer. She has an accounting I want people to know that their efforts background largely in the mining sector, and are being noticed and their career goals are Border Security is honoured to be the premium has held commercial management positions important. Success, for me, is having the security partner of Keolis Downer Light Rail Gold Coast. at Leighton Contractors, Macarthur Coal and people who work for me take on new Downer before the engineering giant made opportunities, get promoted and get all Border Security is proud of its demonstrated capability in managing high-profile, her point woman at G:link. the new opportunities they want. premium security contracts, made all the more challenging in today’s environment “I really love the of uncertain local and global security risks. We partner with our clients to deliver industry because at a holistic and custom-tailored approach to their entire security requirements. “This sharing of resources has been the end of the day we Our extensive range of services include: invaluable in our preparation, and it know that we’ve helped. Protective Security/Security Guarding Cash In Transit and Business Banking Services Whether that’s getting 24hr Patrol & AlarmHalf Response page Services advert Armed Guards fosters fresh thinking and innovation.” people to work, uni or Event Security Services VIP and Bodyguard Services around the coast while 1300 662 427 www.border-security.com InvestigationsBorder and Surveillance Security Services Security Consultancy & Risk Management Concierge Security Transit and Storage of Valuables “There has been a learning curve in on holiday, we are getting people to where terms of how I lead a team from an industry they need to go.” And come 4 April, Loretta that I haven’t been a part of before, but the and her team will be helping people travel rigour of the processes I learned at Downer between venues to see some of the world’s has definitely helped shape my expectations best athletes. of our people,” she explains. “The transition Gold Coast Light Rail is an 18-year hasn’t been that difficult because we have an public–private partnership between the Queensland engaged, young-mindset workforce, who love Government and GoldlinQ Pty Ltd, including innovation, love change and really want to do operations and maintenance contractor Keolis a good job.” Downer Gold Coast.

photo courtesy of Translink photo courtesy of Translink theceomagazine.com | 41