New Director General of Transport appointed

Transport Minister Dean Nalder has announced the newly appointed Director General of the Department of Transport, Richard Sellers, will take up the role on September 12, 2016.

The Liberal National Government endorsed Mr Sellers to the role for a five-year term and the appointment was approved on August 16 by Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AC, Governor of Western Australia, in Executive Council.

"As the head of Western Australia's Transport portfolio, Mr Sellers will concurrently hold the positions of Director General of the Department of Transport, Commissioner for Roads WA and Chief Executive Officer of the Public Transport Authority," Mr Nalder said.

"Key responsibilities will include setting the strategic direction of transport in WA, shaping the development of a number of major integrated transport plans and leading the implementation of WA's transformational capital projects."

Mr Sellers is currently the Director General at the Department of Mines and Petroleum, a position he has held since June 2009.  Prior to this role, he was the Executive Director of Minerals and Energy and the Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines in the Northern Territory.

Mr Sellers holds a Bachelor of Applied Science Biology, Graduate Diploma in Education and Master of Public Policy and Management.

The Minister said Mr Sellers was a highly skilled public servant who had taken a lead role in improving WA's mining approval process and encouraging exploration to ensure WA's ongoing development.

"He has well established credentials as an outstanding organisational leader, with the ability to implement innovative and significant reforms," Mr Nalder said.

"The transport portfolio is one of the largest and most challenging in this State.  Mr Sellers' track record has him well placed to deliver further improvements to our integrated transport network in WA over future years."

Fact File

• Mr Sellers replaces Reece Waldock who retired on July 29, 2016, as the Director General of Transport in WA