From Operations to Advocacy with RAC’s Manager of Regulatory Affairs
Posted on“You can’t learn railroading in school,” says Julia Desmarais. “Experience, mentorship, and community are what make you successful.” And experience is exactly what she has.
Her career in rail began unexpectedly; she took a job at CN while she was still in school with the intention of staying in the role temporarily. Julia’s path into rail may have started by chance, but it has quickly grown into a meaningful and rewarding career.
Her career began at CN in operations support. She soon moved up the ladder into a management position as a safety officer, where she contributed to audits, workplace procedures, and health and safety initiatives. Julia later became Manager of Safety Management Systems, where she helped to implement and maintain CN’s safety management system. In 2024, she took a leap towards advocacy and joined the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) as Manager, Regulatory Affairs, where she now applies her practical, operations-informed lens to advocate for members on key regulatory matters.
And with over a decade of experience, she’s seen how the industry—and its culture—have evolved.
“We’re seeing more women in management and executive roles than ever before. Rail is continuing the conversation around the important role women play in this industry,” she notes.
That shift is important, Julia says, but not always easy. Reflecting on earlier experiences, she recalls challenging when she didn’t feel empowered to advocate for what she believed in. “I didn’t know what the outcome would be,” she shares. “I saw less risk in staying silent.”
Her advice to women considering rail? Know your worth and don’t be afraid to negotiate.
Key to Julia’s success was having a strong support system. She credits three mentors for shaping her journey: Brian Kalin, her first manager at CN, who taught her never to settle into her comfort zone; Don Watts, a regulatory colleague who always made time to guide her; and Tim Orr, a trusted advisor and sounding board during tough audits and decisions.
“Formal mentoring programs could go a long way,” she emphasizes, especially for women in rail.
Julia is passionate about making the rail industry more inclusive and supportive, particularly for working parents.
“Supporting mothers in the workplace is essential,” she says. “Many of us are navigating full-time careers and full-time parenting. Companies that recognize and accommodate that reality are helping to create a stronger, more resilient workforce.”
When asked what she’d tell her younger self, Julia doesn’t hesitate: “It starts with operations. Get more operational experience early. That’s the foundation of rail.”