29 June 2009 - Rabin Rabindran will chair the Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA).

Mr Rabindran, currently the acting chairman, replaces Mark Ford who stood down from ARTA to chair the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA). Mr Rabindran has been deputy chair of ARTA since 2005.

"I look forward to working with Mr Rabindran. He brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked in a governance capacity on many large international development projects," said ARC Chairman Mike Lee.

"I have valued working with Mark Ford, who has played an important role in increasing public transport use in Auckland in recent years. I look forward to supporting Mark in his new role."

Mr Rabindran is a commercial barrister and international legal consultant specialising in infrastructure development, construction and energy. He has worked on major projects in more than 25 countries acting for governments, local authorities and large corporates. He is also chairman of the Singapore Chapter of the ASEAN New Zealand Combined Business Council and of the Rugby World Cup Regional Transport Forum.

ARTA director Adrienne Young-Cooper has been appointed ARTA deputy chair.

The directorships of board members Peter Brothers, Gary Taylor and Mike Williams have been extended until October 2010.

ARTA's board is appointed by a panel comprising the ARC Chairman and seven regional councillors, and representatives of the region's seven territorial authorities.