Behind Canberra’s light rail network is a team of dedicated people, and Bec’s journey is a testament to the many paths a career at CMET can take.
Her own path has been marked by growth, new challenges and a ‘fruit-salad’ worth of different tasks, taking her from behind the controls of a light rail vehicle to helping prepare Canberra’s expanding light rail network.
Currently acting as Operations Readiness and Commissioning Controller for Stage 2A, Bec plays a key role in ensuring the network is ready for testing, commissioning and safe operations. It’s a position that requires careful planning, collaboration and plenty of problem solving.
Having started with CMET as a Driver, Bec has progressed through a variety of operational roles including Duty Manager, Network Controller, Senior Network Controller and now her secondment role. Along the way, she also spent 18 months working on a rail project in Brisbane, gaining valuable experience before returning to our Depot.
“At the end of the day, everything we do is for Canberra’s community,” Bec says. “Whether it’s delivering a safe and reliable service, helping someone get where they need to go or supporting the teams that keep everything running, we all have a real sense of purpose behind our work.”
That people-focused approach extends beyond customers. Bec has built strong relationships across the organisation throughout her career and values the connections formed between Drivers, Controllers, Customer Service Officers and operational teams.
In her current role supporting Stage 2A readiness and commissioning activities, collaboration has become more important than ever. Bringing together different workgroups, projects and operational requirements means every day presents a new challenge.
“I’ve always seen the network as one big puzzle. There are so many moving parts, and everything is connected. When something changes in one area, it can affect something else entirely. Working through those challenges and finding solutions is incredibly rewarding.”
While uncertainty can sometimes be frustrating, Bec says it’s also what makes the job interesting.
“When you finally work through an issue and find a way forward, there’s a real sense of achievement. That’s what I enjoy most about what I do.”
A passionate cyclist, Bec enjoys both road cycling and mountain biking and has completed several major rides, including the Brisbane to Gold Coast charity ride, the Brisbane-to-Bay event and the 163-kilometre Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.
She also has a burning passion for rail trails – former railway routes that usually cut through hills, embankments or across gullies and creeks.
“I love that they connect communities,” she says. “By following the old rail track, you get to see small towns, stop at local bakeries and pubs, and experience places you might never otherwise visit.”
The Great Victorian Rail Trail currently sits at the top of Bec’s cycling bucket list, with plans to tackle more of Australia’s rail trail network in the years ahead.
When she’s not cycling, you’ll likely find her spending time with friends, or looking after her two dogs, including a Great Dane-cross Husky and a Dalmatian.
After seven years with CMET, Bec continues to bring energy, curiosity and a people-first approach to every role she undertakes. Whether helping prepare Stage 2A for operation or encouraging collaboration across teams, she’s helping ensure Canberra’s light rail remains more than just a transport network.