Neil Matthews

Neil Matthews is a Director at NineSquared, specialising in freight systems, supply chains, infrastructure and land transport strategy. He advises government and private-sector clients on freight policy and planning, demand forecasting, road and rail networks, intermodal terminals, ports, renewable energy logistics and infrastructure investment.

He combines strong quantitative and strategic capability with senior operational experience across rail freight, logistics and warehousing. His expertise includes strategic freight modelling, supply-chain analysis, infrastructure capacity assessment, corridor and regional planning, and operational modelling.

Before moving into consulting, Neil held senior executive and operational roles in rail and road freight, logistics systems and warehousing. This practical industry experience enables him to translate complex analysis into commercially grounded transport and infrastructure strategies. He advises clients across a range of areas including:

• Freight strategy and policy
• Freight forecasting and strategic modelling
• Supply-chain and market analysis
• Road, rail, port and intermodal strategy
• Infrastructure capacity and investment assessment
• Transport corridor and operational modelling
• Stakeholder engagement and facilitation

Selected project experience

• Renewable Energy Zones: Over-Size and Over-Mass (OSOM) Logistics and Transport Strategy – Transport for NSW – Led three studies for the Central-West Orana, New England and South West Renewable Energy Zones, integrating freight forecasts, corridor and operational modelling, infrastructure assessment, and safety, regulatory and community considerations.
• Western Australia Regional Freight Plan – WA Department of Transport – Developed port, land transport and infrastructure strategies to 2031 across major Western Australian freight markets, supported by extensive industry and regional stakeholder engagement.
• NSW Strategic Freight Model – Transport for NSW – Developed the prototype model used to forecast freight by geography, mode and commodity and translate demand into road and rail movements for network and infrastructure planning.
• Moorebank Intermodal Terminal – Commonwealth Government / QUBE – Undertook demand forecasting, market and cost analysis, and operational modelling, including capacity and queuing analysis for rail and truck operations.
• NSW Freight and Ports Strategy / Future Transport – Transport for NSW – Contributed to long-term freight planning, including forecasts to 2056 and analysis of road and rail flows, network utilisation, port capacity, constraints and investment needs.
• Perth Metropolitan Intermodal Terminal Strategy – WA Department of Transport – Assessed long-term intermodal terminal requirements, freight demand to 2051, prospective sites, industrial land needs and rail network capacity.
• Surat Basin and Darling Downs Rail Network Study – Queensland – Modelled coal and agricultural transport scenarios of up to 80 million tonnes, including pathways, rail operations, costs and network infrastructure requirements.
• Glebe Island and Bays Precinct Supply Chain Analysis – Port Authority of NSW / Department of Premier and Cabinet – Analysed bulk commodity supply chains and alternative pathways through Sydney, Port Kembla and Newcastle to inform planning options for the Bays precinct.
• Inland Rail – Regional Benefits and Interface Improvements – As part of an EY-led team, assessed supply chains, market demand, regional opportunities and the strategic, economic and operational benefits of proposed interface improvements.