Global influencer Paul Comfort makes local connections with Zelra

Zelra’s powerful combination of local market knowledge and global industry expertise was showcased by public transport influencer Paul Comfort’s recent trip to Australia.  

Paul is a broadcaster, speaker, and author who presents the popular Transit Unplugged TV and podcast shows. He is also Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at Modaxo, the international collective of transport technology companies which includes Zelra. 

In just ten days Paul connected with customers, industry leaders, and government executives during 40 meetings in five cities. He addressed the AusRail and BIC conferences, met Monash University students, drove an electric bus, and visited Zelra’s Brisbane headquarters.  

Here are some of the highlights from his unforgettable trip Down Under. 

Shared insights and transformative rail projects

Australia’s rail sector is on the rise, and during his visit Paul was introduced to exciting projects and some of the visionary leaders shaping its future. 

Yarra Trams and rail technology

Yarra Trams in Melbourne is the world’s largest light rail network, and it was the perfect way for Paul to explore the city. He connected with Melbourne resident and former Zelra Managing Director, Sanket Nayak, to learn more about Yarra Trams and discuss the global potential for rail efficiency technologies that improve operations and sustainability. 

Beachfront networking at AusRail

The Gold Coast’s beaches were a stunning backdrop for the AusRail Conference, where Paul presented on synergies between rail sectors in the USA and Australia. The many networking opportunities included discovering how John Holland Group deliver much of Australia’s new rail infrastructure, and Paul was delighted to reconnect with his friend and UGL executive, Magda Robertson.

Cross River Rail in Brisbane

Touring the new Roma Street underground station and learning about the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project was a highlight of Paul’s trip. This transformative infrastructure development includes 5.9km of twin tunnels below the Brisbane River and CBD which will unlock urban connectivity for rail passengers right across South East Queensland. 

Collaboration and leadership in public transport

Paul’s visit also celebrated the people behind Australia’s public transport ecosystem and its leadership culture which emphasised mentorship and innovative thinking. 

Multimodal investments for an Olympic city

Brisbane’s preparations for the 2032 Olympics stood out for its forward-thinking investments into multimodal transport networks. Paul engaged with some of the city’s most influential public and private sector executives who showcased a range of projects including Cross River Rail, CityCat Ferries, Kangaroo Point Bridge, and Brisbane Metro. 

Global leadership perspective

Another highlight of Paul’s tour was reconnecting with Howard Collins, the Coordinator-General of Transport for New South Wales. This well-respected industry leader updated Paul about developments in Sydney, where the $20 billion Sydney Metro is a transformative project on the scale of London’s Elizabeth Line or Singapore’s MRT network.  

Emerging leaders and collaborative initiatives 

At Melbourne’s Monash University, Prof Graham Currie invited Paul to meet students participating in the innovative “Finding the Optimal Mix” public transport planning simulation. His conversation with Jamie-Lee Owen, Chair of PTAANZ Emerging Mobility Leaders, highlighted the influx of young, diverse talent driving Australia’s transport sector into the future. 

Australian conversations continue on Transit Unplugged  

Paul’s trip to Australia was also an opportunity to create new content that will be seen and heard around the world. Transit Unplugged is established as the leading podcast for transport executives, and the TV show was viewed more than 2 million times in 2024. 

The Zelra team was delighted to ensure that our Australian customers were featured in many of these interviews and behind-the-scenes tours. Want to watch and listen for yourself? Tap here!