Anna Squire, principal at engineering consultancy Arup, has gained a seat on the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) board.

Squire has garnered an international reputation and has been named ‘Global Rail Leader’ after more than 10 years at the firm.

"I am delighted by this appointment and am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the future of the rail industry through my ongoing involvement with the ARA," she says.

The ARA emphasises the breadth and depth of experience Squire bring to the table.

"We are very pleased to have Anna Squire join the ARA board, at what is both an exciting and an important time for the rail industry," ARA chairman Bob Herbert says.

"Anna Squire brings more than 25 years’ experience as an accomplished project director, having successfully managed multidisciplinary teams throughout all stages of large, complex rail projects around the world.

"Ms Squire brings a depth of knowledge to the rail industry and the board more broadly with her skills in the development, design and delivery of high-quality, reliable and operations-focused rail projects, particularly in the context of planning and urban renewal.

"Ms Squire’s in-depth knowledge of industry best practice and her strong ability to deliver value has been gained in a range of design, construction and project management roles on major rail projects in Australia, the USA and the UK, including metro, heavy rail, freight, high speed rail, and light rail."