For much of his life, Tony Braxton-Smith has had a dream - one that came true in his role as the first boss to go incognito in the new season of reality hit Undercover Boss Australia.

Braxton-Smith, who was raised in Perth, is the son of actress Joan Sydney, best known for her roles as Matron Sloan on A Country Practice and Valda Sheergold on Neighbours.

He has become accustomed to being introduced as Joan Sydney's son.

"I have said to her for a number of years, 'mum my greatest dream is one day to be somewhere where I'll be the one in the spotlight and they say this is Tony Braxton-Smith who everyone knows and this is his mum Joan'," he said.

"So my dream actually came true."

Braxton-Smith is the Adelaide-based chief executive of Great Southern Rail, which operates long-distance train services including The Indian Pacific and The Ghan.

During his stint undercover, Braxton-Smith spent time on his trains doing everything from cleaning toilets and making beds to unloading cars and luggage. He used the alias Sydney King, a combination of his mother's stage surname and maiden name.

He came close to being sprung by chef Hung Van Houng (pictured with a bearded Braxton-Smith) who commented that, if "King" was taller, he'd look like the CEO.

"I froze like a rabbit caught in the headlights when that happened - that was my biggest scary moment," Braxton-Smith revealed.

Braxton-Smith was previously chief executive of Gold Coast theme park Dreamworld, former home to Big Brother, so wasn't entirely a stranger to reality TV.

"I have always been around the periphery of it, watching it happen - but it was a bit strange to be in the centre of it for the first time," he said.

Braxton-Smith reveals in the episode soon to air on Ten that he is a "lovechild" and has never met his biological father. He told Access All Areas his father lived in the UK and that he had never tried to find him. "I've never had any contact and it has been one of the great unsolved mysteries of my life that will remain forever a mystery," he said.