Aurizon has officially disclosed important governance alterations as part of its scheduled Board renewal program. The firm revealed two important changes in the Aurizon top management after an in-depth recruitment process featuring the help of outside advisers. The turnover indicates a change in strategy as the Company is ready for further supervision, transformation and growth over the years to come.
  
Aurizon confirms major governance changes through planned renewal.
Who Will Lead Aurizon After Tim Poole Retires?
Aurizon disclosed that Chair Tim Poole is going to leave the Board on January 15, 2026. The Board chose Tim Longstaff as the new Chair unanimously. Longstaff has been an independent Non-Executive Director since June 2023 and has more than 35 years of experience in finance and global capital markets. He has worked in various senior positions with JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank and has been on the boards of several ASX-listed companies.
The Board judged his day-to-day operational involvement, legal expertise and strategic view as attributes that make him the best leader for the company. Longstaff is currently the chairperson of the Audit, Governance and Risk Management Committee, and he also has a Non-Executive Director position with Aurizon Network Pty Ltd.
Aurizon Leadership Changes Highlight Continuity And Fresh Perspective
The firm indicated that Longstaff’s promotion to Chair is in line with a gradual transition that started after the One Rail acquisition. In the farewell message, Tim Poole, the outgoing Chair, appreciated the selection, saying Longstaff’s combination of continuity and skill would be a great asset. Poole gave credit to the Board and staff for their dedication throughout his ten-year tenure.
Poole praises Longstaff and thanks team for decade-long support.
What Does Amanda McMillan Bring To The Board?
The announcement of the appointment of Amanda McMillan OBE as a Non-Executive Director by Aurizon was also made, to be effective from January 1, 2026. McMillan has an extensive background in leadership, having worked in the infrastructure, transport and utilities sectors. She is a board member at Perth Airport, Western Sydney International Airport and CHIF Investments at present.
Her career includes roles such as CEO of AGS Airports Limited from 2014 to 2018 and Senior Managing Director in Macquarie Asset Management’s infrastructure division from 2018 to 2025, to mention just a few. She has also been a Non-Executive Director of One Rail Australia Pty Ltd, and has had leadership positions in Diageo and KPMG.
New Aurizon Board Appointments Aim To Strengthen Strategy
The Company expects that McMillan’s appointment will add strength to governance and long-term strategy, because of her operational knowledge and infrastructure background. Poole said that her appointment not only brings great value to the Board but also to the entire team. Both appointments are signs of the company’s continuous transformation agenda and its pledge to renewal of leadership in a disciplined manner.
McMillan’s appointment strengthens Aurizon’s governance and strategic direction.
How Will The Incoming Chair Drive Aurizon’s Growth Plans?
Longstaff put forward his priorities and announced that he would give primary attention to operational and financial performance. He revealed the major milestones across the business units and indicated that there would be more updates at the Half-Year Results presentation in February. He pointed out that strong operational performance, disciplined capital allocation and the growth of the Bulk and Containerised Freight division would be the support for shareholder value.
He further assured that the process of Network review would continue to receive support and stressed that the decisions taken would be in accordance with strict governance frameworks. Longstaff expressed his gratitude to Poole for the latter’s leadership and loyalty to Aurizon over the years.
What do these changes imply for Aurizon’s strategic outlook?
This change in leadership brings along a transition towards better governance and long-term value creation with a strong signal. The merging of new skills and internal stability gives Aurizon a chance to speed up its transformation plans while at the same time holding on to its operational discipline. The Company is looking forward to the changes enabling it to grow in freight, network operations and capital projects as it moves into a new period of strategic execution.
Also Read: Macquarie Group Board Appointment: London-Based William Vereker Joins Leadership Team
Frequently Asked Questions
- When will the leadership changes at Aurizon take effect?
Tim Poole retires on 15 January 2026, while Amanda McMillan joins on 1 January 2026. - Who is the new Chair of Aurizon?
Tim Longstaff will become the new Chair after Poole’s retirement. - Why were these Aurizon board appointments made?
The changes align with the company’s multi-year Board renewal and strategic transformation plan. - What experience does Amanda McMillan bring?
She brings extensive leadership experience across transport, airports, infrastructure and utilities.
