Simon Pearce: Leading sustainable infrastructure in Australia

For Simon, the journey into environmental management was less about a single defining moment and more about a lifelong passion for the outdoors. “I’ve always had a passion for the outdoors and the beauty of nature, especially the coastline. What’s kept me going is the diversity of areas I’ve had the opportunity to work on, including water, rail, defence, aviation and renewables.

Simon has played pivotal roles in rail infrastructure projects, often leading environmental impact assessments and guiding teams through complex regulatory landscapes.

One of his proudest achievements is building and empowering teams. “What I strive for as a leader is building up a team and then realising one day that they don’t need me anymore, and they can stand on their own feet without me.”

Simon’s leadership style has been shaped by a variety of influences. “It’s hard to name a shortlist. I’ve taken a bit of everything from several people; those who remain positive, are client-focused and have respect for technical teams. Out of those, I’ve learned the most from people who give time and respect to others.”

Leading multidisciplinary teams is a particular source of satisfaction for Simon. “It’s the variety of disciplines involved. Everyone is different and unique. Bringing them all together and keeping them on the same path within a project is challenging but also exciting.”

Simon views the regulatory environment as one of the most significant challenges facing infrastructure projects today. “We need to simplify environmental assessments back to what really matters. It takes a considerable amount of time to obtain approvals, and the complexity can increase tension and render projects unviable.”

Simon’s experience with approval assessment processes under the Commonwealth EPBC Act and his work on environmental impact assessments across multiple states have given him a clear view of these challenges.

He believes that balancing the urgency of the energy transition with protecting natural environments is always front and centre. “Everything’s a balance; social impacts, engineering feasibility and environmental protection.”

Looking ahead, Simon sees the greatest opportunities for innovation in AI and digital approaches. “AI and digital approaches are front and centre, whether it’s writing reports quicker, distilling information or using tech in the field to manage data more efficiently. I can’t think of anything else as significant.”

The Newcastle to Sydney high speed rail project marks the first stage of Australia’s broader high speed rail network. It aims to connect the two largest cities in New South Wales with fast, efficient and sustainable transport, with the goal of significantly reducing travel time to about one hour.

Simon’s perspective on the Newcastle to Sydney high speed rail project is shaped by both excitement and realism. “It will open up opportunities for people to move about more, reducing road congestion and inefficient transport,” Simon says. “However, there are environmental considerations that need to be addressed, and these are the social impacts: noise, visual, land acquisition.” 

The Newcastle to Sydney connection is proposed to cover 194 km of tracks and 115 km of tunnels. Simon comments on how the project could mitigate negative impacts. “Where it’s on the surface, elevating the rail could lessen property impacts, especially for rural areas. Noise mitigation will be critical in these areas. Where it’s in a tunnel, it’s less intrusive on communities and biodiversity, but construction will still have its share of challenges, especially with tunnel spoil and increased road traffic.” 

He ultimately sees the project as a catalyst for regional growth and accessibility. “A more reliable, faster transport network will give people the choice to live and work in different places,” Simon says. “There may be short-term impacts for the communities, but the long-term positives pave the way for a substantial economic boom.”

Simon’s motivations outside of work are grounded in family and the outdoors. “Family is one of my most important motivators. We have three children and spend a lot of time surfing together. Surfing is probably the thing that keeps me sane.” 

When it comes to advice, Simon is practical and encouraging. “Bad news only gets worse, so be open and talk about it straight away. Then you can work with others to resolve it. Also, don’t specialise too narrowly. Work across multiple industries and sectors. It makes you more resilient when times are tough and keeps life interesting.” 

For young professionals, his advice is simple: “Try a bit of everything. Work out what interests you and go for it.”