Event Details

In 2019, New Zealand passed the Zero Carbon amendment to the Climate Change Response Act. The amendment set a target requiring all greenhouse gases to reach net zero by 2050. This target creates a challenge for all sectors of New Zealand business, including transport infrastructure such as rail.

The Women’s Infrastructure Network in association with Aurecon and KiwiRail is delighted to host a panel discussion on the role of rail in meeting New Zealand’s net zero target. Our panel of speakers bring diverse perspectives from across the rail sector - policy, consultancy, corporate and project delivery.

Join us virtually on 24 May at 12.30pm for what will be a lively discussion.

This event is designed to be collaborative and informative, so we welcome your questions on the role of rail in New Zealand’s journey to net zero or the decarbonisation of rail in New Zealand. If you have a question, please submit this when you register to assist us with shaping the event.

Presenter Details

Rebecca Hollett, Rail Client Lead, Aurecon (Facilitator)

Rebecca is Aurecon’s Rail Client Leader and Principal Infrastructure Advisor with 20 years of industry experience in infrastructure project definition, planning, design and delivery across Australia and New Zealand. She has recently collaborated with Auckland Transport, KiwiRail and Waka Kotahi on rail level crossing removals and related works to enable the realisation of benefits of recent investment in the Auckland Rail network and led the development of ‘Delivering the Goods – Auckland’s Freight Plan’ in collaboration with various agencies and the freight industry to navigate the critical challenges for road and rail freight networks in Auckland and the Upper North Island. Rebecca is passionate about the future of NZ Rail systems, where passengers and goods can travel on a safe, reliable and sustainable national network. 

Sarah Sutherland, Environment Sustainability Manager, Link Alliance

Sarah is responsible for managing both the Environmental and Sustainability teams at the Alliance. Her teams work closely with the design and construction teams to minimise the adverse effects of the project on the environment while maximising the positive environmental, social, economic and cultural effects. She manages the delivery of the Infrastructure Sustainability rating for the project, handling a broad range of sustainability aspects from sustainable procurement, energy and carbon emissions tracking and reduction, waste management, to stakeholder participation and innovation. 

Michelle Main, Sustainability Manager, KiwiRail

Michelle is the Sustainability Manager at KiwiRail where she manages the delivery of KiwiRail’s sustainability programme and influences sustainability outcomes across the business. Her primary focus is identifying opportunities in partnership with the business to reduce KiwiRail’s carbon footprint.  Michelle has a genuine passion for sustainability and her role with KiwiRail is fundamental in supporting New Zealand’s transition to a low emissions future.

Christie Marsh, Senior Advisor, Te Manatū Waka/Ministry of Transport 

Christie is a Senior Advisor at Te Manatū Waka, the Ministry of Transport in the Supply Chain Team. Christie’s role at the Ministry is on freight sector decarbonisation, and her work involves both long-term strategic thinking as part of the New Zealand Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, as well as developing and implementing more immediate decarbonisation actions. Christie has a background in climate change policy, working previously at the Ministry for the Environment where she helped deliver the Government’s first Climate Action Plan in 2019, and worked on the development of the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan.