Monday, November 6, 2023
ONRSR welcomes new Chief Executive
The search for Australia’s next National Rail Safety Regulator is over, with Dr. Natalie Pelham appointed Chief Executive of the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.
Dr. Pelham replaces Sue McCarrey - who left ONRSR at the end of last year - and joins from New South Wales’ Office of Transport Safety Investigations where she has been Chief Investigator since January 2021.
Dr. Pelham has more than 25 years in the public sector leading significant safety regulation, policy, strategy and reform at both state and national levels.
Dr. Pelham will be the third National Rail Safety Regulator appointed in Australia following the establishment of ONRSR in 2013, when the first of the seven state and territory regulatory bodies were brought together under the national banner.
In that time the Australian rail industry has benefitted from a range of national reforms including a consolidated accreditation process, a national “one invoice” fee structure and a risk-based national work program of audits and inspections.
ONRSR has also overseen significant improvements to the quality and availability of rail safety data now being harnessed to drive improved decision making by industry and governments alike.
Dr. Pelham will start with ONRSR on 6 November 2023.