Gordon Trafton

Gordon Trafton’s rail industry career spans nearly five decades, five railroads, four countries, and two continents. He has held positions of increasing and varied responsibility, from Operations management trainee to his current roles as a Board member and Board Committee chair.

Trafton has served in leadership positions at Burlington Northern Railroad (now BNSF), Illinois Central Railroad (now CN), Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway (now CPKC). During his career, he has held senior executive positions in operations, marketing, and various aspects of corporate strategy. He has been responsible for key areas related to six mergers and acquisitions.

In 2017, Trafton joined the board of Canadian Pacific Railway (now CPKC) where today, he serves as Chair of the Risk and Sustainability Committee and is a member of the Integration Committee. In 2023, he became a board member of Pacific National, Australia’s largest private railroad, and currently serves as a member of the Health, Safety, and Environment Committee. Trafton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Transportation and Traffic Management from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder. As part of his philanthropic portfolio, he serves on the advisory board of the Leeds School of Business, and he and his family were the lead
donors in establishing the Leeds Mentoring Program.

My advice to students...

Get a mentor! My success in life, both professionally and personally, has primarily been due to the mentors I have had.