Welcome

Welcome to Country

The decade that will define the rail industry | Caroline Wilkie, ARA

Session overview: From major infrastructure delivery and workforce capability to productivity, digital transformation, safety, sustainability and customer expectations, the rail industry is entering a period of significant change and opportunity. This 10-minute session will outline the key challenges ahead and the role industry must play in building a stronger, more connected and future-ready rail sector.

Rail reality check

Session overview: Join us for this interactive session where we live poll the audience on hot issues for the sector to set the scene for the day. Rail is entering a decade of significant opportunity and growing complexity, with the sector facing increasing pressure around project delivery, workforce capability, productivity, customer expectations, technology, resilience and long-term investment priorities. But where does the industry really see the biggest risks, opportunities and challenges emerging? In this session delegates will take part in a live industry pulse check using real-time polling and audience participation to test sentiment across the issues shaping the future of rail. From delivery confidence and workforce pressures to AI readiness, interoperability, customer expectations and investment priorities, industry leaders will respond live to the views of the room, creating a candid and fast-paced conversation about where the sector is aligned — and where it may need to think differently.

Five in Five: the national issues leaders need to watch | Peter Colacino, Australian Constructors Association | Michael Hopkins, NTC | Natalie Pelham, ONRSR

Session overview: In this fast-paced executive briefing session, five industry leaders from across government, regulation and industry will each deliver a focused five-minute update on one critical issue shaping rail right now. This session is designed to give delegates a concise and practical view of the reforms, risks and emerging priorities for the industry and their businesses

Case study: LA Metro – lessons in growth, complexity and city-shaping investment | Stephanie Wiggins CEO, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Session overview: As Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, one of the world’s largest and most complex urban transport networks is undergoing significant transformation to deliver a more connected, reliable and customer-focused mobility system. With major investment in rail expansion, network integration, operations, safety and customer experience, LA Metro is at the centre of one of the most ambitious transport delivery programs currently underway globally. In this international keynote, Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer of LA Metro, will share insights from leading a major metropolitan rail network through rapid growth, operational complexity and city-shaping investment. Drawing on lessons from Los Angeles and preparations for the 2028 Games, this session will explore what Australian rail networks can learn from growing global cities.

Building the Olympic rail network | Kat Stapleton, Queensland Rail | Sally Stannard, Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD

Session overview: Join us for a candid fireside chat exploring the key issues, insights and decisions shaping preparation for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Rail will play a critical role in moving millions of passengers safely, efficiently and reliably across one of the largest and most complex transport tasks the state has ever undertaken. From new infrastructure and network upgrades to operations, accessibility, customer experience and long-term city shaping, the decisions being made now will influence how Queensland moves for decades to come. In this Queensland-focused session, leaders will examine the opportunities and challenges involved in planning, delivering and operating the rail network that will support Brisbane 2032 and its long-term legacy. Bringing together perspectives from infrastructure delivery, operations, planning and major projects, the session will explore how the sector is preparing for increased demand, integrated transport operations, network resilience and the future growth of South East Queensland and beyond.

Running rail in the age of expectations | Martin Kearney, Auckland One Rail| Matt Longland, Sydney Trains | Raymond O’Flaherty, Metro Trains Melbourne | Kat Stapleton, Queensland Rail

Session overview: This interactive panel discussion will invite live audience input throughout the conversation. Passenger rail operators are undergoing pressure to deliver networks that are reliable, resilient, safe and responsive while customer expectations continue to rise. Passengers now expect real-time information, seamless journeys, faster recovery from disruption and service experiences comparable to other parts of the transport and digital economy. In this executive leadership session, passenger rail CEOs will discuss what it takes to run high-performing rail networks in an increasingly complex operating environment. From reliability, disruption management and workforce pressures to digital operations, customer trust and major event readiness, this conversation will explore how operators are adapting to changing expectations — and what the operational railway of the future needs to look like.

AI reality check – from hype to practical impact | Matt McInnes, Lynxx

Session overview: This panel will explore how AI is moving from experimentation to practical impact across the rail sector. Each speaker will share a real-world case study, covering what AI was expected to do, what actually happened, the challenges encountered, what improved and what they would do differently. Focused on practical lessons over future speculation, the session will give delegates a clearer view of where AI is already delivering value and what it takes to move from hype to implementation.

The rail capability challenge: The people powering rail’s next decade | Alan Fedda, ARISO

Session overview: This panel discussion will include live audience polling to capture views and shape the conversation in real time. Rail is entering a decade of intense competition for talent. At the same time, AI, automation and digital rail are changing the skills mix across operations, maintenance, signalling, asset management, cyber and systems integration. This interactive session will test where the biggest workforce pressures are emerging, which capabilities rail should prioritise, and what industry, government and education providers need to do differently. Using live audience polling and a “capability draft” format, speakers will be asked to make clear choices about the skills rail must build, where the talent will come from, and how productivity, inclusion and clearer pathways can become part of the same workforce strategy.

Ask industry leaders | Ian Quarrie, UGL Transport

Session overview: This audience-led session gives delegates the opportunity to put their questions directly to senior rail leaders. With no formal presentations or prepared speeches, the discussion will focus on the issues shaping the future of rail, from reliability, project delivery and customer expectations to workforce pressures, AI, investment priorities, safety and long-term sector reform. Candid and interactive, this session will explore the decisions, pressures and challenges facing industry leaders as rail works to deliver stronger outcomes in an increasingly complex operating environment.

Outside track: three lessons rail can borrow from other sectors | Richard Cohen, Rio Tinto | Duncan Roy, KiwiRail | Suzanne Tindal, KiwiRail

Session overview: Three industries, three different perspectives. Rail is not the only sector managing complex operations, critical assets, workforce pressure, customer expectations and major delivery risk. In this short, sharp session, three speakers from outside rail will each share one practical lesson from their sector and how it could apply to the future of rail. This session will offer fast insights into what rail can learn from others facing similar pressures.

The great debate – Are rail projects getting harder to deliver?

For | Peter Colacino, Australian Constructors Association | Carla Garvie, Alstom | Rebecca Want, GHD

Against | Melanie Bowden, John Holland | Treaven Martinus, Martinus | David Robotham, Laing O’Rouke

Session overview: Rail projects are facing growing pressure from rising costs, workforce shortages, procurement complexity, supply chain disruption, community expectations and increasing delivery risk. As governments and industry push to deliver larger and more complex programs faster than ever before, many are asking the same question — are rail projects becoming harder to deliver, or are we making them harder ourselves? In this live debate, senior leaders from across government, operators, construction and the supply chain will tackle the commercial, operational and structural challenges shaping project delivery today. From productivity and risk allocation to approvals, skills and market capacity, this session will challenge assumptions, surface differing perspectives and explore what the industry must do differently to successfully deliver the next generation of rail infrastructure.

The closing signal

Session overview: This day one wrap session will bring together the key themes, insights and challenges raised across the conference program. This session will reflect on what we heard, highlight the commitments and questions that emerged, and consider what needs to happen next for the rail industry.