Joining UGL in June 2021 was an experience unlike any other for Beth Parr. Like many other businesses at the time, many of our employees were working from home.
UGL’s culture and support made the transition an easy one as Beth began her role in the operations team within UGL’s transport operations business. “From day one I felt at home and valued within the business.”
Her role as customer delivery manager was a new position that she had the opportunity to shape alongside her team. The purpose of the role was clear - ensure that the customer experience remained at the heart of transport operations.
Beth then had the opportunity to mobilise Auckland One Rail in New Zealand, while working remotely from Australia. In early 2022, UGL began managing the operations of the Auckland Metro Rail Network in New Zealand through Auckland One Rail, a 50:50 joint equity partnership between UGL and ComfortDelGro Transit.
While building relationships remotely was something Beth now took in her stride, coordinating a large transport operations mobilisation from another country was a unique challenge she thrived in.
One of Beth’s most impactful roles at UGL was her secondment to U-Go Mobility as Head of Customer and Community. In 2023, UGL's U-Go Mobility joint venture secured a multi-year contract from Transport for New South Wales to operate buses in South and South-West Sydney. She took on the responsibility for customer experience, stakeholder engagement, community engagement, and internal and external communications. This opportunity allowed her to transition theoretical knowledge into practical execution in a live operation.
Her proudest achievement was leading the mobilisation of the Sydenham Depot in just seven weeks. “It was all about solving problems in creative ways, mobilising a depot, recruiting drivers, transitioning a whole fleet of buses, and getting everything ready for operations. It was a truly rewarding experience.”
Beth also implemented UGL’s formal customer delivery model for transport operations, ensuring we stay at the forefront of customer experience.
“This project gave me exposure to broader disciplines, from asset management to station development, signalling, track, and financing. It was a learning experience that broadened my perspective beyond operations.”
Beth actively contributes to UGL’s working groups supporting gender equality initiatives. She also participated in UGL’s female leadership program, Inspire, through Xplore, an experience she found transformative. “It helped me define my leadership legacy, understand my value, and recognise how I contribute to the business.”
For Beth, UGL’s biggest draw is its diversity in people, projects, and opportunities.
“One of my core values is curiosity, and UGL fuels that curiosity every day. I can engage in different projects across various teams, explore my passions, and make meaningful contributions.”
Her journey at UGL is a testament to the company’s dynamic environment, where innovation, leadership, and customer experience come together to create lasting impacts.
