Leila Frances, Chairman of the Board, Keolis Downer and President, Keolis - Middle East and India
As Chairman of the Board of Keolis Downer in Australia and President of the Middle East and India for Keolis, Leila Frances is a woman who moves many nations. As she explains to host Michelle Batsas, the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand (PTAANZ), Leila has built her expertise through on-the-ground operational experience, understanding people and line management, then switching to the commercial side of the business and growing that into an international perspective. She oversees the world's largest tram network in Melbourne, Australia's first multimodal network in Newcastle, Gold Coast light rail and new automated metro systems in Doha, Qatar and Hyderabad, India. Reflecting on her career in public transport, Leila feels fortunate to work in such a forward-thinking sector that’s all about changing cities and people’s lives.