From underground up: Joanna Sylvester’s impact on rail and community in Newcastle
At a glance
For Joanna Sylvester, engineering is about bringing people, places and the ground together in ways that last.
A proud Novocastrian, Joanna has spent nearly two decades at GHD building a career that brings together deep technical knowledge, leadership and a strong commitment to community and inclusion. Starting as a graduate almost 19 years ago, she has grown into a trusted technical leader in transport and rail, contributing to projects that will influence how people and goods move across New South Wales (NSW) for decades to come.
Today, as the Business Group Leader for Geotechnics and Rail for Northern NSW, she leads complex rail investigations and design projects across passenger, freight and heavy haul networks. Her commitment to the future underpinned by volunteering in support of Permanent Way Institute of NSW (Committee Member) and Australian Geomechanics Society (Board Director).
From earth sciences to transport corridors
Joanna’s journey into engineering began at high school, inspired by a teacher who introduced her to earth sciences and geology. That early interest naturally led her towards engineering geology and geotechnics, disciplines that sit at the heart of linear transport projects.
This foundation has underpinned her career at GHD, where she works across complex infrastructure, with a strong focus on rail.
Over the years, she has contributed to major interstate freight corridor investigations, metropolitan rail accessibility upgrades and heavy haul track expansion works. On one of Australia’s largest inland rail programs, she managed detailed geotechnical investigations involving more than 200 test pits within operational rail corridors, providing recommendations for subgrade improvements, formation upgrades and culvert replacements. She has also supported duplication works along a key freight rail line, contributing to geological modelling and geotechnical inputs for bridge foundations and embankment widening.
Newcastle, as a secondary major centre in NSW, plays a vital role in connecting Sydney with regional communities and supporting passenger and freight movement, including one of the country’s largest coal ports. For Joanna, this diversity makes Newcastle a uniquely challenging and rewarding place to work.
“There is an incredible range of transport opportunities here,” she explains. “You are dealing with people movement, freight, regional connections and highly complex ground conditions, all in one place.”
Today, Joanna balances technical leadership with people management. Around half of her time is spent delivering geotechnical and engineering geology work, including planning investigations, interpreting data, developing models and advising on design. The rest of her time focuses on leading teams, building client relationships and helping shape GHD’s transport direction in the region.
Delivering projects that touch lives
One of Joanna’s proudest achievements is her long-term involvement in the Belmont desalination project. She joined during the concept phase in 2018 and later stepped into the role of geotechnical lead, developing a comprehensive 3D geological model that became central to the project’s design and delivery.
“To be part of a project over so many years and see it progress into construction is incredibly rewarding,” she says, “especially when you know the technical work helped reduce risk and support better decisions.”
With tunnelling now underway, the project reflects the patience, collaboration and technical excellence that have guided Joanna throughout her career.
Building rail that goes the distance
Joanna is particularly excited by the future of rail in Australia, especially the potential of large infrastructure projects framed as nation-building opportunities.
Her experience spans the full rail lifecycle — from preliminary geological modelling and desktop assessments, to detailed geotechnical investigations, ballast fouling assessments, slope stabilisation within rail cuttings and construction-phase support for earthworks, reinforced walls and bridge foundations. Getting this right, she believes, is key to delivering infrastructure that provides real, long-term value for communities and governments alike.
Diversity delivers
Alongside her technical leadership, Joanna is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the transport and rail sector. Throughout her career, she has seen firsthand how diverse teams bring broader perspectives and stronger outcomes.
“When you have more women and more diverse voices in the room, you get a wider range of viewpoints,” she says. “That leads to stronger problem-solving and better project outcomes.”
For Joanna, inclusion goes beyond representation. It’s about creating environments where people feel heard, valued and able to contribute, and where different perspectives lead to better decisions and stronger infrastructure.
Connected to place, committed to people
Outside of work, Joanna enjoys spending time with her family and making the most of Newcastle’s natural environment. It reminds her why infrastructure matters and who it is meant to serve. Looking ahead, her goal is simple: to help bring future rail projects to life in a way that keeps people connected, supports the place she calls home and contributes to infrastructure that serves communities for generations to come.
“For me, it’s about giving back to the community I’m part of,” she says, “and helping build something that will have a lasting community benefit.”