Program

In 2024 – the conference program will be a two day event with over 120 speakers, 150 exhibitors, and four networking events.

PDF program available

NB: Please always refer to this website for the latest program information as changes may be made after publication.

PRE-EVENT: Monday 25 November
	1330-1700 Exhibitor bump in
1200-1700 Registration open Ground floor, Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre Register here
1400-1700 Speaker support open Meeting room 4, Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
1730-2030 AusRAIL 2024 Sunset Soiree Garden Kitchen and Bar, The Star Gold Coast Proudly sponsored by Track Protection Australia Ticket purchase available when submitting your conference registration View more information on the social program

Tue 26 Nov
Wed 27 Nov

DAY ONE: Tuesday 26 November 2024


0630-1830	Registration open Ground floor, GCCEC
0700-1700	Speaker support open Meeting room 4, GCCEC
0715-0830	Women in Rail breakfast Proudly Sponsored by McConnell Dowell Foyers E+F, GCCEC
0800-1830	AusRAIL exhibition open
0845-1030	Welcome and opening plenary \| Glenn Mintern Arena 2, GCCEC
0845-0855	Welcome to country & MC welcome \| Glenn MIntern \| AusRAIL 2024 MC
0855-0905	Opening address \| Caroline Wilkie \| Chief Executive Officer, Australasian Railway Association
0905-0910	Welcome from the ARA Chair \| Lucio Di Bartolomeo \| Chair, Australasian Railway Association
0910-0930	Investing in rail in QLD - delivering for the future \| Sally Stannard \| Director General, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads
0930-0950	National high speed rail – why now \| Tim Parker \| Chief Executive Officer, High Speed Rail Authority
0950-1010	Gold Coast Light Rail on track \| Phil Mumford \| Chief Executive Officer, GoldlinQ
1010-1030	Planning for success: a unique perspective from the operator + maintainer of Australia’s first fully automated metro \| Daniel Williams \| Chief Executive Officer, Metro Trains Sydney
1030-1115	Morning tea AusRAIL exhibition
1045-1115	First time attendees networking event Delegate networking area 3, AusRAIL exhibition
1115-1235	Plenary session Arena 2, GCCEC
1115-1135	A year in regulation: Listening, learning, acting \| Natalie Pelham \| Chief Executive Officer, ONRSR
1135-1155	Growing the Australian rail supply chain – an update on delivering the National Rail Manufacturing Plan \| Jacqui Walters \| National Rail Manufacturing Advocate, Department of Industry, Science and Resources
1155-1235	Panel: Productivity, safety and future skills Panel facilitator Natalie Currey \| General Manager – Supply Chain and Diversity, Australasian Railway Association Panellists Steve Butcher \| Executive General Manager, Rail & Transport, John Holland Group Treaven Martinus \| Chief Executive Officer, Martinus Harriet Christopherson\| Operations Manager, McConnell Dowell Jon Daley \| Executive General Manager - Infrastructure, SYSTRA
1235-1400	Lunch break AusRAIL exhibition
1400-1640	Concurrent sessions
	Arena 2	Arena 1A	Arena 1B	Meeting room 5	Meeting room 6	Meeting room 7	Meeting room 8
	Innovation	Technology	Workforce and diversity	Asset management	Passenger / light rail	Sustainability	Rail safety
	Chair: Lauren Fraser	Chair: Samiha Najem	Chair: Rowan Gawne	Chair: Derek Jackson	Chair: Yvette Mihelic	Chair: Lauren Ascah	Chair: Jesse Baker
1400-1425	Challenges and lessons learned a year after the full automation of Paris Metro Line 4 Séverine Barge Trains Operations Director for Parklife Metro, RATP Dev Australia	The modernisation of fleet inspections: Gaining value from automated vehicle inspection systems Roy Leslie Portfolio Sales Professional, SMO CS MRX S Ellen Cohen Assistant Product Marketing Manager, SMO CS MRX S	Sydney Trains diversity STEP change - Adding value to our community Graham Bradshaw Director - Special Projects, Sydney Trains	Asset and engineering management in Metronet Projects Anshul Bajpai Engineering & Asset Management Manager, Public Transport Authority WA	Queensland Rail: 50-cent fare trial implementation Rob Hill Executive General Manager, SEQ Operations, Queensland Rail	Planning for the decarbonisation of the VLocity Fleet Susan Palmer-Cannon Executive Director Train and Tram Projects, DTP Michael Neal Executive Director Rolling Stock Engineering, DTP	A briefing on a recent rail safety investigation Angus Mitchell Chief Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Australian Transport Safety Bureau
1425-1450	How the rail industry can use real-time data to enhance operations and the passenger experience Adam Sharp Co-Founder and Director of Transport Analytics and Service Delivery, Toustone Stephen Stanford Manager Project Development, Metro Trains Sydney	Rail on the rise: trends from North America Paul Comfort SVP and Chief Customer Officer, Modaxo	ISA National Rail Workforce Plan Carly Grigg Industry Engagement Manager - Rail, Industry Skills Australia	Managing continuous alterations to MTM's electrical network Alan Keating Principal Technical Lead - Electrical Networks, Metro Trains Melbourne	Redefining passenger experience in rail with mobility as a service (MaaS) Silas Wong APAC Business Manager, Siemens Mobility	The de-carbonisation effect of refurbishment and utilising the circular economy Gabriel Morin Graduate Component Engineer, Siemens Mobility Benjamin Carey Product Lifecycle Manager, Siemens Mobility	SFAIRP – Lifting the lid on Pandora’s Box Steve Bickley Director, Abbott Risk Consulting
1450-1515	Queensland Train Manufacturing Program update Kamal Habibullah Project Director, Downer Peter Gill Program Director, QTMP, Department of Transport and Main Roads	Overcoming cybersecurity challenges in the railway Soroush Tazerji Director - Security and Technology, Tactix Sener Group	Inland Rail's approach to diversity in rail Cathy Duncan Senior Program Skills and Training Advisor, Inland Rail Joel Johnston Social Performance Manager, Inland Rail	Harnessing data and artificial intelligence to optimise rail asset management Jinliang Lester Lim Head, Digital Services, Asia Pacific, Siemens Mobility Pte Ltd	Investing in accessibility: The future of Australia's passenger rail network Rebecca Roberts Partner, Strategy Consulting, Deloitte Paul O'Doherty Director, Strategy Consulting, Deloitte	Reuse and recycling of end-of-life railway ballast James Grenfell Principal Professional Leader, National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO)	From safety cases to integrated safety case - System integration for Sydney Metro City & Southwest Phil Hawkins Principal Systems Integration Manager, MTR Australia Andrew Johnson Safety Assurance Manager, MTR Australia
1515-1525	Refreshment break
	Concurrent sessions
	Arena 2	Arena 1A	Arena 1B	Meeting room 5	Meeting room 6	Meeting room 7	Meeting room 8
	Innovation	Technology	Workforce and diversity	Asset management	Passenger / light rail	Sustainability	Rail safety
	Chair: Lauren Fraser	Chair: Samiha Najem	Chair: Rowan Gawne	Chair: Derek Jackson	Chair: Yvette Mihelic	Chair: Lauren Ascah	Chair: Ben Cribb
1525-1550	Direct multi level converter use in modern electric railways in Australia Peter Wagner Project Engineering Manager, Siemens Mobility	WORKSHOP: Opportunities and challenges for emerging software technologies in rail Jimmy Lau Senior Services Manager APAC, Bentley Systems	Bridging the gap: Addressing the skills shortage in the rail industry Gayle Fearnett-Smith Talent Development Manager, Alstom	Metro best practice: Operationally independent, interconnected for maintenance David Stuart-Smith Principal, Arup	Industry involvement in delivering South West and new technology. What it takes to convert a 130 year passenger line to metro standards Alia Karaman Project Director - Southwest, Sydney Metro	Changing the way industry adopts innovation Rebecca Hendy Senior Sustainability Advisor, McConnell Dowell Fangjie Chen (Sam) Senior Materials Engineer, Arup	Results from trialling emerging driver advisory technology to improve driver situation awareness Genevieve Nix Chief HSE & Sustainability Officer, Pacific National Mark Wood Chief Technology Officer, 4AI Systems
1550-1615	Long run prefab alternative to ballast construction Prof Ted Goranson Technical Director - Rail / Chief Scientist, Xdna (downer)		Creating a portable workforce: connecting systems and people Narelle Rogers Executive Advisor - Rail Capability and Engagement, National Transport Commission	Enhancing rail safety and efficiency: Real-world insights into IoT solutions and predictive monitoring Gerhard Loots Chief Executive Officer, Kallipr	Preservation and progress: cultural heritage management in complex infrastructure projects Geraldine Figueira Environment and Sustainability Advisor, DT Infrastructure	What does Aurizon’s transition to Net Zero look like? Damien Harding Consultant to Fleet Decarbonisation Program, Aurizon Roger Buckley Fleet Decarbonisation Manager, Aurizon	What a mandatory standards development organisation might look like Damien Whilte Chief Executive Officer, Rail Industry Safety Standards Board (RISSB)
1615-1640			Breaking down barriers to create inclusive workplaces Anne Modderno Managing Director, Swietelsky Rail Australia	Challenges in inspecting and assessing rail bridges Reza Salamy Technical Director - Rail / Senior Principal, pitt&sherry		Battery solutions, some new perspectives not without implications Loïc Guignot Technical Director, Systra ANZ Simon Meiers Director Network Planning and Optimisation, Systra ANZ	Why SFAIRP and ALARP are the same thing, a beginner’s guide to Reasonably Practicable Andy Petrie Director Systems & Safety Assurance, ARCH Artifex
1630-1830	AusRAIL 2024 Exhibition Networking Drinks Proudly Sponsored by Mikado Group AusRAIL exhibition

DAY TWO: Wednesday 27 November 2024


0800-1600	Registration open Ground floor, GCCEC
0800-1400	Speaker support open Meeting room 4, GCCEC
0800-1600	AusRAIL exhibition open
0830-1035	Plenary session \| Glenn Mintern Arena 2, GCCEC
0830-0835	MC welcome to day two \| Glenn Mintern \| AusRAIL 2024 MC
0835-0855	The future of rail in Australia – an update on the National Rail Action Plan \| Carolyn Walsh \| Chair and Commissioner, National Transport Commission
0855-0915	SNCF’s role during the 2024 Paris Olympics: lessons learnt and case study on disruptions management \| Laurence Broseta \| Chief Executive Officer International, Keolis
0915-0935	ARTC – delivering on what’s needed \| Wayne Johnson \| Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, ARTC
0935-0955	Building a world-class network and gold medal-winning team for Brisbane 2032 \| Kat Stapleton \| Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Rail
0955-1035	Panel: Signalling Panel facilitator Jane Copperthwaite \| Systems Technical Director, AtkinsRéalis Panellists Raphaelle Guerineau \| Chief Executive Officer ANZ, Siemens Mobility Pascal Dupond \| Managing Director Alstom Australia & New Zealand, ALSTOM Howard Collins \| Coordinator General, Transport for NSW Sarfaraz Samnakay\| Managing Director and Country Representative, Hitachi Rail Australia
1035-1115	Morning tea AusRAIL exhibition
1115-1230	Concurrent sessions
	Arena 2	Arena 1A	Arena 1B	Meeting room 5	Meeting room 6	Meeting room 7	Meeting room 8
	Rollingstock	TrackSAFE	Workforce development	RTAA (Track)	RTSA	IRSE	PWI
	Chair: Charlotte Robinson	Chair: Hope Steele	Chair: Rowan Gawne	Chair: Dennis Lo	Chair: Colin Cole	Chair: Jane Copperthwaite	Chair: Robin Stevens
1115-1140	The new normal – End user engagement for better rolling stock Kate Rasmussen Senior Stakeholder Manager, Next Generation Trams, Victorian Department of Transport & Planning Jasmine Chen Senior Project Manager XTrapolis 2, Victorian Department of Transport & Planning	Healthy Minds Strategy: An integrated approach to workplace mental health Teegan Modderman Chief Mental Health Officer, Queensland Rail	WORKSHOP: Why skills harmonisation is a burning platform for the rail industry! The current landscape of skills: Case studies from industry – safety and productivity impacts Rowan Gawne Senior Workforce Development Manager, Australasian Railway Association Jason Westwood Executive Director, Metro Trains Australia Pty Ltd Levers for change (1) Case study: NTC Tactix Safeworking analysis Toby Atkinson National Technical Director, Human Systems, Tactix Sener Group Brad Giddins Head of National Rail Skills Reform, National Transport Commission Levers for change (2) How ARA & ONRSR are working to mature industries ability to mutually recognise competency ARA \| Fiona Love The Heavy Haul \| TAFE journey in WA	Track substructure maintenance management (SuMM): The approach review with examples Kevin Kashani Manager of Railway Geotechnics, Loram Technologies Inc	Track design methods and adaption to track and structure transition designs Brendon Gill Principal Engineer, SMEC	Testing & operational readiness for digital systems in Sydney Paul Cassar Project Director, Integration, Transport for NSW	Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project Track System Jefferson Fern Sales Director, Vossloh Fastening Systems
1140-1205	Crash worthiness of the light-rail vehicles under safety standards based on collision incidents Dr Himani Mazumder Principal Mechanical Engineer, Department Of Transport & Planning, Victoria	Best practice approach to trauma management Alexandra Howard Director, Policy and Practice, Phoenix Australia, Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health		Derailment containment devices along slab tracks – Probabilistic methods for optimal effectiveness Sebastian Ocampo Duque Rail Engineer, Aecom Maneesh Gupta Technical Director, Aecom	The innovative Diamond Creek Energy Storage Unit – Is it a success? Ian Cook Power Modelling Manager, Metro Trains Melbourne	Enhancing Sydney Metro City-Southwest with CBTC Signalling Technology Thomas Hooymans Urban Engineering Director, Alstom Australia and New Zealand	Gold Coast Light Rail maintenance challenges Joel Gabauer Technical Director, Keolis Downer
1205-1230	What Blue Crude could mean for the freight industry Tim Dangerfield Chief Engineer, UGL Limited	Leading a healthy, happy & safe work environment Trent Watson Chief Executive Officer, Ethos Health		Maintenance machine stabling – a structured approach for the Queensland Rail South-East Queensland network Jonathan Barnes Technical Director – Track, Mott Macdonald William Bolton Track and Civil Asset Manager, Queensland Rail	Unlocking success: Upgrading train control system communication networks Ferri Ernanto Senior Associate, Interface Rail Engineering	A fresh perspective for operations and maintenance in the era of in-cab signalling James Frost Senior Consultant, Palazzi Rail Oliver Lake Technical Interface Manager, Sydney Trains	Enhancing safety through digital integration and innovations in underground utility management Glynn Ladbrooke Project Director for the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3, John Holland Group
1230-1400	Lunch break AusRAIL exhibition
1400-1555	Closing plenary session \| Glenn Mintern Arena 2, GCCEC
1400-1420	Fireside chat Frankie Carroll \| Chief Executive Officer, Suburban Rail Loop Authority Caroline Wilkie \| Chief Executive Officer, Australasian Railway Association
1420-1440	Cross River Rail update \| Graeme Newton \| Chief Executive Officer, Cross River Rail Delivery Authority
1440-1520	Panel: Public transport Panel facilitator Stacey van der Putten\| Director Public Transport & Active Modes, Auckland Transport Panellists Daniel Williams \| Chief Executive Officer, Metro Trains Sydney Raymond O'Flaherty \| Chief Executive Officer, Metro Trains Melbourne Deborah Hume \| Deputy Director-General Translink, Transport and Main Roads QLD Roger Weeks \| Chief Executive, NSW TrainLink
1520-1550	Keynote presentation \| Layne Beachley AO
1550-1555	Conference close
1830-2230	AusRAIL 2024 Yellow Dinner *Proudly sponsored by ALSTOM* Event Centre Ballroom, The Star Gold Coast

Build your network

AusRAIL attracts key industry leaders and decision makers from across Australia, New Zealand and beyond. Join us to meet with representatives of leading rail organisations and build your network.

Connect with people from across the rail industry. Attendees will include representatives from the following sectors:

Passenger rail operators
Freight rail operators
Heavy haul operators
Rollingstock manufacturers
Contractors
Rail industry suppliers
Consultants
Government and industry representatives

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