How an MBA empowered Melvyn Bolus to lead his Sydney Metro project team

Melvyn Bolus, the Trains, Systems, Operations and Maintenance (TSOM) Delivery Director for the Sydney Metro and Southwest Project, has been at the forefront of Australia’s most ambitious public transport undertaking.

Melvyn’s journey highlights the critical role of an MBA in transforming technical knowledge into the business acumen needed to navigate complex projects with large, multi-disciplined teams and diverse stakeholders.

Melvyn’s experience in rail infrastructure projects

Melvyn’s career has seen extensive expertise in infrastructure, particularly within rail projects. With qualifications in engineering and years of experience in managing high-stakes infrastructure projects, Melvyn has contributed significantly to the industry’s landscape.

His role as TSOM Delivery Director for Sydney Metro involves orchestrating teams across multiple countries and ensuring that the complex testing and commissioning phase of the project aligns with the project’s rigorous standards and timelines.

“I'm responsible for the train systems, operations, and maintenance for Sydney Metro City & Southwest, which extends under the harbour and below the busiest parts of Sydney’s CBD,” Melvyn says. “It's a big responsibility, but I love it.”

Recognising that leadership in such an environment required a unique blend of technical and business skills, Melvyn pursued an MBA, which he began in Sydney and later completed while working in Hong Kong.

“When I started my MBA, I was in Sydney, and by the time I finished, I was in Hong Kong,” he says. “At that point, I was raising a young family – my kids were toddlers – while also leading a major project. So, balancing family responsibilities with the pressures of delivering a large project and completing the MBA was quite the challenge.

“That was one of the great things about the MBA. I was able to study online while also attending weekend sessions. The beauty of online learning was that I could use spare time in my day, like reading on the bus, to stay productive.”

This underscores the flexibility of an MBA, allowing professionals to balance work and education across different locations as he did. His MBA broadened his perspective, empowering him to foster stronger collaboration among his teams and work strategically with the wide-ranging stakeholders involved in this transformative project.

What is the Sydney Metro?

Sydney Metro is Australia’s biggest public transport project. It’s a fully automated rail network connecting Sydney’s north west, west, south west and greater west to fast, reliable turn-up-and-go metro services with fully accessible stations.

The metro program includes the operational M1 Line and three projects under construction:

• Southwest
• West
• Western Sydney Airport

Sydney Metro enhances public spaces with vibrant transport precincts, acting as a catalyst for renewal and better connections.

The metro program creates and supports new communities, improves amenity, and delivers new integrated station developments. When completed, the metro network will consist of 46 stations and 113 kilometres of new metro rail.

MBA transforming technical skills into business acumen

Melvyn’s MBA experience equipped him with essential skills beyond his technical expertise, providing him with the leadership capabilities required to manage the extensive stakeholder relationships inherent in a project of this scale.

“The challenge in my career has always been working with technical people,” he says. “Now, in my current role, I'm also speaking with legal professionals, accountants, health and safety experts, and senior management. So how do you take the ideas your team has developed and translate those solutions to help drive the project and the Sydney Metro organisation forward? Those are the key challenges.”

The purpose of an MBA extends beyond academic learning; it provides a framework for developing strategic thinking, financial acumen, and enhanced communication skills – traits that are invaluable for leading large-scale infrastructure projects like Sydney Metro.

With his MBA training, Melvyn has been able to bring greater agility to his role. By fostering a collaborative approach, he has ensured that each stage in the extensive testing and commissioning program benefits from cohesive teamwork by enabling seamless interaction across departments and countries.

“I'm an engineer, and I believe engineering operates within a business environment,” he says. “The MBA has really allowed me to open up to different elements of how I can apply engineering in that business context, particularly in commercial and legal aspects while working on a mega project.”

His ability to manage the intricate demands of the Sydney Metro project demonstrates how an MBA, Master of Business Administration program, empowers professionals to translate technical knowledge into effective leadership and strategic decision-making.

“The key to success here is being able to communicate. As an engineer, you might have a great idea or an innovative solution, but how do you communicate that to a non-technical peer or colleague?” he asks.

“The MBA has enabled me to bridge that gap by understanding and using the language of business, much like understanding the 'math' of communication.”

When asked about the specific lessons that he carried through from his MBA, he cites the leadership development.

“One key lesson is recognising the difference between leadership and management. Leadership is about projecting a vision and leading a team, then translating that vision to the workforce. Management, on the other hand, is more tactical, working closely with direct reports and adopting a mix of command, control and collaboration.

“The MBA, particularly the leadership subjects, taught me the psychology behind this balance. It helped me shift between strategic thinking and tactical execution. The ultimate goal is to communicate, collaborate, and drive the project forward.”

The future for the Sydney Metro project holds further potential, with expansions planned to extend service coverage and enhance capacity. Professionals like Melvyn, with a unique blend of technical and business training, are essential to leading these initiatives as Australia continues its journey toward a smarter, more connected transport future.