THE chief executive and commissioner of the National Transport Commission, Nick Dimopoulos, passed away from an illness on February 8 at the age of 56.

His funeral took place last Wednesday in the Melbourne suburb of Balwyn.

The NTC has advised that George Konstandakos will continue in the role of acting chief executive.

As chief executive of the NTC – a post he held from 2006 – Dimopoulos guided the organisation through what it describes as influential stages in its history, including implementation of an internal review in 2009.

He also led the NTC’s support and delivery of Standing Council on Transport and Infrastructure (SCOTI) and Council of Australian Governments (COAG) reforms that are expected to transform Australia’s transport system.

His fellow NTC commissioners and staff described Dimopoulos as a visionary and tireless champion for transport reform whose influence on the organisation and the wider Australian transport industry will be felt for years to come.

Federal transport minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Dimopoulos in parliament, saying he greatly valued his advice.

“In the past three years, Nick and the commission have worked very hard to implement the historic national regulator reforms, which will provide Australia for the first time with a seamless national transport regulatory system,” said Mr Albanese.

Dimopoulos studied economics at the Australian National University and completed postgraduate studies at the University of New South Wales and Harvard University.

Before joining the NTC, he held senior executive positions within the Committee for Economic Development of Australia and Victorian Treasury, and was involved with BHP Billiton and World Bank infrastructure projects in China.

He is survived by his wife Stephanie and three children.

By David Hassall