About NTRO
The National Transport Research Organisation offers innovative research and practical solutions across all modes of transport - road, rail, ports and airports.
The Future of Movement is here.
NTRO is developing new knowledge, innovation, standards and specifications in moving people and freight for Australia and New Zealand.
We offer innovative research and practical solutions to integrate planning, operations and research across all modes of transport including roads, rail, ports and airports. Developed by the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) in response to the shift towards multi-modality in transport policy and operations, NTRO is working to secure resilience for our national transport future. NTRO is committed to ensuring that new knowledge is used to create world’s best practice across all modes of transport. NTRO pulls together multi-modal transport solutions and helps the sector embrace new technologies and materials, to tackle next generation issues across the sector. Whether it’s road, rail, airports or ports; public, private or active transport; and people or freight, NTRO supports a better mobility future.
A proud history of innovation.
NTRO was developed out of the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB)'s 60+ years of experience in transport research, finding solutions to transport challenges, and knowledge transfer.
ARRB conducted its first Conference in 1962, and has a rich history in sharing transport knowledge with the industry, government and academia. Six decades later, the NTRO will continue to innovate with its transport conferences, helping the sector embrace new technologies and materials, and tackling next generation issues in road, rail, ports and airports at the NTRO International Tecnnical Conference in 2023. Here's a timeline of ARRB's previous conferences:
1962 - Canberra
Keynote Speaker: Sir William Glanville (Director of Road Research, DSIR, UK), (delivered by Dr Charlesworth)
Papers: 80
1964 - Melbourne
Keynote Speakers: Sir William Glanville (Director of Road Research, DSIR, UK)
Papers: 78
1966 - Sydney
Keynote Speakers: Grant Mickle (ED, US Highway Research Board, Vice-Pres, US Automotive Safety Foundation)
Papers: 84
1968 - Melbourne
Keynote Speakers: PF Stott (Director, Highways and Transportation, Greater London Council)
Papers: 111
1970 - Canberra
Keynote Speakers: Sir Ian Maclennan (MD, BHP Co Ltd), Research and the development of Australia
Papers: 92
1972 - Canberra
Keynote Speakers: EH Holmes (Consultant, International Road Federation), Balanced transportation
Papers: 102
1974 - Adelaide
Keynote Speakers: Alec Silverleaf, (Director, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, UK) Urban transport
Papers: 132
1976 - Perth
Keynote Speakers: William Carey (ED, US Transportation Research Board) & JC Peters (Bureau of Reclamation)
Papers: 129
1978 - Brisbane
Keynote Speakers: Gerald Love (R&D, US Federal Highway Administration) Energy, a new dimension in highways
Papers: 112
1980 - Sydney
Keynote Speakers: Maurice Milne (President, PIARC), Roads and transportation in a changing world
Papers: 100
1982 - Melbourne
Keynote Speakers: Thomas Deen (ED, US Transportation Research Board), Highway research – strategic perspective
Papers: 110
1984 - Hobart
Keynote Speakers: Ron Bridle (Head R&D, UK Dept Transport), Accounting for human error
Papers: 94
1986 - Adelaide
Keynote Speakers: Prof Matsumoto Koshi (Tokyo University, Japan), Road safety – success and failure in Japan
Papers: 178
1988 - Canberra
Keynote Speakers: Don Aitken (Main Roads WA & NAASRA), Australia’s road development
Papers: 184
1990 - Darwin
Keynote Speakers: Ted Butcher (President, Interstate Commission), The future of roads in a transport environment
Papers: 132
1992 - Perth
Keynote Speakers: John Wootton (Chief, Transport Research Laboratory, UK), IVHS – an international perspective
Papers: 130
1994 - Gold Coast
Keynote Speakers: Lachlan McIntosh (Aust. Automobile Association), Contribution of land transport to the economy
Papers: 141
1996 - Christchurch
Keynote Speakers: Robin Dunlop (GM, Transit New Zealand), Management of a roading system
Titled ‘ROADS 96’ & combined with Transit NZ Land Transport SymposiumPapers: 163
1998 - Sydney
Keynote Speakers: Ron Christie (CEO, Olympic Roads & Transport Authority), Transport for the Olympic Games
Papers: 131
2001 - Melbourne
Keynote Speakers: Robin Batterham (Chief Scientist, Commonwealth of Australia), Managing transport assets
Papers: 109
2003 - Cairns
Keynote Speakers: George George (DG, Malaysian Highway Authority), Road network management – Malaysia
Combined with 11th REAAA Conference
Papers: 216
2006 - Canberra
Keynote Speakers: Maxwell Lay (Director, ConnectEast), Research into practice
Papers: 157
2008 - Adelaide
Keynote Speakers: Matthew Cuthbertson (CEO Auto CResC), Research collaboration – a vital competitive edge
Papers: 110
2010 - Melbourne
Keynote Speakers: His Excellency Dr Kenneth Michael, AC, Governor of Western Australia,
Building on 50 years of road and transport researchPapers: 132
2012 - Perth
Keynote Speakers: Mr Menno Henneveld, Managing Director, Main Roads & Mr Steve Phillips, Secretary General of the Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL)
Shaping the future: Linking research, policy and outcomesPapers: 111
2014 - Sydney
Keynote Speakers: Mr Les Wielinga - former Director General, Transport for New South Wales , Professor David Hensher - Director, Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, The University of Sydney , Mr Mike Stapleton - Deputy Director-General, Infrastructure Management & Delivery, Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Research Driving Efficiency
Combined with 9th Austroads Bridge Conference: Bridges of the future
Papers: 98
2016 - Melbourne
Keynote Speakers: Michel Masson CEO Infrastructure Victor & John Merritt CEO VicRoads - LINKING PEOPLE, PLACES & OPPORTUNITIES
Combined with 38th Australasian Transportation Researchers’ ForumPapers: 88
2018 - Brisbane
Keynote Speakers: Anna Meares – Olympic Cyclist, Katherine Teh-White, global management consultancy Futureye, & Randy Iwasaki, Executive Director of Contra Costa USA.
https://www.arrb.com.au/news/2018-arrb-conference-recap
Papers: 48
Combined with 8th Symposium on Pavement Surface Characteristics: SURF 2018.Papers: 30
2023 - Melbourne
Keynote Speakers: Simon Kuestenmacher, Director (The Demographics Group), Professor Gordon Cable AM, Professor of Space Medicine (Australian National University College of Health and Medicine)