James McMillan is the Chief Safety Officer of Melbourne’s iconic Yarra Trams, proudly operated by Keolis Downer.
Leading safety on the world’s largest tram network, James is passionate about improving safety outcomes for vulnerable passengers, upholding the health and wellbeing of frontline employees, and improving personal safety for all on the network.
Joining Yarra Trams in 2019 as Manager, Safety Improvement Technical James moved into the role of Manager, Operational Safety two years later. He stepped into the Chief Safety Officer role in December 2022.
James acts as the Safety Management System (SMS) Co-ordinator, responsible for maintaining, developing, and implementing the SMS in line with rail safety accreditation for Keolis Downer. He works with the executive team to formulate the strategic safety and security management policy for Yarra Trams.
James serves as the representative for Yarra Trams on the Australian Railways Association, is the Industry Accountable Officer for Yarra Trams, and led the Yarra Trams Business Continuity Pandemic Plan Coordination Team during the COVID19 pandemic,
Prior to joining Yarra Trams, James worked with Transport Safety Victoria and the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.
