Francis Small’s business career evolved from civil engineering into senior management and executive roles in prominent New Zealand Companies, particularly in the transport sector.
Francis trained and qualified in civil engineering at Auckland School of Engineering at Ardmore, under a New Zealand Railways cadetship.
From 1972 to 1983, he worked in various civil and traffic engineering roles with New Zealand Railways, including a year of transport-related study and training in the United Kingdom.
Francis moved into senior management roles in the mid-1980s and was Managing Director of Tranz Rail from 1990 to 2000. He then set up a strategic planning consultancy. Francis served on numerous Boards of Directors. He was significantly involved in the transition of New Zealand Railways to a State-owned enterprise and then a public company.
Francis was awarded Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2000 for services to the transport industry and the community.
