Our leadership team has a wealth of experience and varied backgrounds and qualifications. Read more about them in their employee profiles below.
Michael Hopkins – Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner
Michael Hopkins brings significant expertise in transport reform to the NTC. As a senior executive in Victoria's Department of Transport, Michael delivered future-focused policy reforms, network strategy and planning, as well as stronger governance to improve the way transport works. His focus is on delivering reforms that improve the lives of Australians, whether through shorter, faster journeys, cheaper goods because the freight network is more efficient or through safer roads and rail travel.
As a consultant, Michael provided expert evidence-based advice to industry and local, state and national governments on responding to the contemporary challenges faced by a transport sector in transition.
Michael knows the NTC. He has previously been an Executive Leader at the NTC driving the organisation’s work program, the delivery of reforms and the Commission’s relationship with its partner governments.
Michael has a Masters in public administration from the Australian and New Zealand School of Government (via the University of Melbourne), a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and chairs the Monash University Institute of Transport Studies’ industry advisory group.
Sandra McKay – Executive Leader, Facilitated Reform
Sandra McKay joined the NTC in February 2020 and is responsible for the facilitated reform portfolio, which includes the safety program and rail reform. She has made a career out of navigating complex policy environments, having worked at senior policy and executive roles across transport, the environment and health sectors.
A Walkley Award winning journalist in her early career and the first female transport reporter at The Age, she went on to advise governments and private sector on sustainability, health, renewable energy and transport reform. From overarching transport plans, a white paper on climate change, road safety strategies and stakeholder engagement plans, Sandra enjoys building enduring relationships through supporting public policy change for the better. For 10 years, she headed her own strategic consultancy before re-joining the public sector in Victoria where she was Executive Director, Strategic Communications and Engagement at the Department of Transport.
As a Monash University graduate in Communications and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she has held board directorships in government and the not-for-profit sector.
Dimi Rigas – Executive Leader, Strategy and Government Relations
Dimi joined the NTC in June 2021 from Transport for NSW where she was Director, National Policy and Reform for the past five years. In this role, she was responsible for directing the state-wide participation, governance and accountability arrangements for delivering the national transport reform agenda in NSW.
This involved complex stakeholder management and negotiations across government agencies, state borders and with industry, as well as the implementation of initiatives focused on customer and community improvements.
Having worked for more than 20 years in various strategic policy settings, including in the United Kingdom, Dimi has extensive experience in delivering best practice policy and governance frameworks, as well as advising on operational, policy and strategy solutions.
With a passion for developing communication and consultation approaches which are responsive, Dimi looks forward to driving positive outcomes across the NTC’s diverse portfolio.
Dimi has a Bachelor of Social Science (Hons) majoring in Political Science, a Masters in International Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management.
Aaron de Rozario – Executive Leader, Regulatory Reform
Aaron de Rozario joined the National Transport Commission in July 2021 and is responsible for NTC’s regulatory reform initiatives portfolio including the automated vehicle, heavy vehicle and legislative reform programs.
Aaron has over 20 years public sector experience in both Australia and the United Kingdom and has as a strong record of achievement economic development, education, social justice policy and transport portfolios. He has advised the Western Australian and Victorian governments on industry reform, regulatory matters and the impact of technology on public policy.
Prior to joining the NTC, Aaron was Chief Executive officer of Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria, where he led the Victorian government’s commercial passenger vehicle reforms and heavily influenced Australia’s policy response to the emergence of ridesharing.
Aaron has a passion for technology and the political economy of software development. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Masters in Public Policy from Murdoch University.
Graham Giannini – Executive Leader, Business and Resources
Graham Giannini is responsible for the business and resources portfolio, which includes finance, human resources, ICT and information management, legal services and the Commission secretariat. The group works closely with internal and external stakeholders to build or improve organisational capabilities and to maintain an effective system of governance and compliance.
Prior to joining the NTC, Graham’s career has been centred on designing and delivering major organisational transformation change programs, either through senior executive roles or as a consultant.
Graham has a Bachelor of Economics, Graduate Diploma Strategic Marketing, Graduate Diploma Securities Industry, and has completed the Graduate Diploma Company Directors Course.
Helen McInerney - Head of Engagement and Impact
Helen McInerney is the Head of Engagement and Impact in the Facilitated Reform portfolio.
Helen has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism, with distinction and has significant experience working as a communications and engagement expert at all levels of government – Commonwealth, State and capital city. She is passionate about the development of public policy that has positive community impact and works to communicate policy in a meaningful way that resonates.
Working at the National Transport Commission is an opportunity to bring together Helen’s significant experience in the transport sector with her other work communicating planning, legal and economic policy.
Mandi Mees – Head of National Rail Skills and Reform Design
Mandi Mees has held multiple executive leadership roles at the National Transport Commission (NTC) related to productivity and safety, including heavy vehicle driver fatigue and national heavy vehicle policy and law reform. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Mandi led the reform of the Australian Road Rules to produce national technology-neutral driver distraction and personal mobility devices legislation. A skilled engagement specialist, Mandi developed the NTC’s first partnerships strategy, and led the development of its inaugural program, National Women in Transport.
Today, her work is accelerating access to skilled labour in rail by leading the development of the National Rail Skills Hub. Mandi has led land transport policy advocacy and reform initiatives for over a decade, following an extensive international career in marketing, advertising and corporate communications across the pharmaceutical, IT, financial and engineering services sectors.
Jeremy Wolter – Head of Legislative Reform
Jeremy Wolter is the Head of Legislative Reform in the regulatory reform portfolio.
Jeremy played a leading role in achieving ministerial agreement to implement the Rail Safety National Law and Heavy Vehicle National Law national scheme legislation that commenced in January 2013 and February 2014 across participating jurisdictions. Since these laws commenced, Jeremy has been responsible for developing and delivering subsequent amending legislation to ensure they remain contemporary, effective, efficient and continue to meet the needs of stakeholders.
Prior to joining the NTC, Jeremy worked for the Queensland and Victorian state government justice agencies in the strategic and legislative reform areas. Jeremy played a key role in preparing regulatory impact material that underpinned corrective services regulations and other legislative instruments. During his time with the Queensland state government, Jeremy also served as a District Court Judge's Associate.
Jeremy has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in European History and French Language.
Ramon Staheli – Head of Economics
Ramon Staheli is the Head of Economics in the strategy and government relations portfolio.
Ramon has strong experience in pricing, market design and regulatory economics which he gained as a consultant in the electricity industry and through work in the public sector. Previous roles include Senior Market Regulatory Advisor and Pricing and Planning Manager for a large New Zealand electricity generator and retailer. He was also responsible for providing a range of strategic market design and operation advice to electricity market governance bodies in Singapore and New Zealand. Ramon has also worked as an analyst with the New Zealand Treasury, where he was responsible for providing advice on a wide range of transport issues.
Ramon has a Bachelor of Management Studies with First Class Honours in Economics from the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Robert Chamberlain – Head of Legal Services
Robert Chamberlain is the Head of Legal Services in the business and resources portfolio.
Robert has extensive experience in policy development and law reform – particularly in regulatory environments – at national, state and territory levels, including in areas such as Corporations Law, regulation of financial institutions and regulation of legal practitioners.
Robert has also practised as a commercial lawyer and has been the in-house lawyer for a large government department.
Robert has a Bachelor of Business, a Bachelor of Laws and a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management.
Robert Fois – Head of Information Services
Robert Fois is the Head of Information Services in the business and resources portfolio. Robert is responsible for the organisation’s information management and technology including cyber security.
With extensive experience across government in information management, technology and general corporate services, Robert works closely with government agencies and service providers to deliver information management and technology innovation and change programs to ensure ongoing organisational capabilities and compliance.
Robert holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physics and Computing) and Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management.
Raewyn Fisher – Head of Strategy and Partnerships
Raewyn Fisher has been with the NTC in a range of roles since 2017. She is responsible for the NTC’s corporate strategy, partnership arrangements, and Project Management Office, aligning these to advance NTC work program outcomes.
With almost twenty years’ public sector experience in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, Raewyn is passionate about driving effective government. She has worked to achieve this across law enforcement and emergency response, border security, health, housing, and transport sectors. In this time, Raewyn has successfully delivered a broad portfolio of work from strategic plans and frameworks to organisational change and transformation initiatives including IT systems. Raewyn has also been a key contributor to national and international reports, and developed numerous briefings and in-depth assessments to support operational, executive and ministerial decision-making.
Raewyn has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in History and English, and a First Class Honours degree in History. She also holds a Diploma in Intelligence Analysis.
Dominic L'Huillier – Head of National Rail Reform
Dominic L'Huillier is the Head of National Rail Reform. He joined the NTC in May 2021 after working as a director of economic consulting for a large global consulting firm. An economist with a passion for policy and reform, Dominic brings over 20 years' experience in regulation and policy to the NTC. He has deep experience in economic regulation and rail access having administered various rail access regimes across Australia.
Previous leadership roles include Director of Transport at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Director of Transport at the Essential Services Commission of Victoria. In the latter role, Dominic’s portfolio included operationalising the regulatory regime for the $9.7 billion privatisation of the port of Melbourne, setting and regulating Victoria’s taxi fares, reforming accident towing services and administering Victoria’s rail access regime.
Dominic started his career in microeconomic reform at the Queensland Department of Treasury, working on national competition policy reforms.
He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Masters in Economics, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) in public policy.
PaoYi Tan – Head of Automated Vehicle Program
PaoYi Tan is the Acting Head of Automated Vehicle Program in the Regulatory Reform portfolio, focusing on developing a nationally consistent regulatory framework to enable the safe, commercial deployment of AVs. PaoYi has an extensive career in public policy and regulation, with 20 years working across Federal and Territory governments and within government business enterprises.
Before joining the NTC in 2023 PaoYi spent over a decade specialising in the federal communications portfolio, across a range of government and private bodies including NBN Co, Australia Post, the Productivity Commission and Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. She brings experience in leading complex regulatory reform implementation in the telecommunications infrastructure sector.
PaoYi specialises in large-scale policy reform, greenfields legislation development and is committed to building strong and collaborative partnerships between industry and government.
PaoYi has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Communications, and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.