Bullas new rail commissioner for ATSB
Julie Bullas has been appointed as the new rail commissioner for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) for a three-year term.
Bullas brings with her an impressive industry pedigree, most recently serving for 10 years as Executive Director, Policy, Reform and Stakeholder Engagement at the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR), and before that project director for the National Rail Safety Regulator Project.
Prior to working with the national rail regulator, she was the road/rail interface specialist for Queensland Rail, and the Director of Rail Safety for Queensland Transport.
Bullas replaces Catherine Scott, who had served in the position for the past three years.
During that time Scott helped to review and shape a number of significant ATSB rail investigations, and helped the ATSB set and maintain its strategic direction during a time of significant uncertainty due to the COVID pandemic.
An independent Commonwealth Government statutory agency, the ATSB is responsible for investigating accidents and transport safety occurrences including rail operations in Australia.
Rail investigations are undertaken either directly by the ATSB, or, under a collaboration agreement, by the Office of Transport Safety Investigation in NSW, or by the Chief Investigator, Transport Safety, in Victoria).
The Statement of Expectations declares that the Chief Commissioner and other commissioners will continue to enable and enhance the effective operation of the ATSB as Australia’s national transport safety investigator.