Grab your name badge, breakfast and start your networking early

Naomi joined England’s Economic Heartland in 2018 and in March 2022 became its Managing Director, responsible for delivering the sub-national transport body’s work programme. This includes implementation of the regional Transport Strategy to 2050.

Naomi will talk on the following.

• Strategic regional priorities and updates, for example of East West Rail and Ely Junction
• Reflect the importance of what STBs do and working with private sector
• Speak about the ‘Wider South East Rail Partnership’ which brings together the three sub-national transport bodies, EEH, Transport East and Transport for the South East.

This thought-provoking debate delves into the world of developmental competence management within the rail industry. It explores the concept of excellence, the transition from reactive to proactive approaches, the critical role of data, and outlines the next steps for enhancing developmental competence.

Panellists: 

• Gabriel Stroud, CEO and co-founder of AssessTech
• Justin Willett, Director, Operational Capability, Network Rail
• Emma Lowe, Operations Professional Development Manager, Operations Strategy & Capability, Network Rail
  
  

Creating Breakthroughs at the Crossroads of Industry

Toufic will be speaking on “creating breakthroughs at the crossroads of industry.” He will explain how the industry is embodying the experience and learning of achieving breakthroughs in modernisation into a formulated entrepreneurial approach with GBRX.

The challenge the industry faces is the drive for delivering a greener and resilient transport system whilst reducing the burden on the UK treasury. The opportunity is to bring private and public sector together to develop rail schemes that draw upon the private sector capabilities and knowledge whilst supporting public sector needs. One of the hurdles in delivering this is the ability to make change happen quickly, ensuring the schemes are delivered with speed and efficiency whilst not compromising on our sustainability and community impacts. The panel will look at the challenges the UK faces and discuss how, through a wider industry Lense, we can achieve a positive transformation.

• Andrew Went, Director, Global High Speed Rail Leader, Arup
• Josie Drath, Director, Rail Planning Lead, Arup
• Mike Smith, Programme Director Restoring Your Railway & Better Value Rail, Network Rail
  

Grab a coffee, mid morning snack and a fist full of business cards during the second networking opportunity of the day

By fostering an inclusive, human-centric, accountable, and sustainable workplace we want to ensure everybody feels they belong and can succeed. Join this debate to understand how important DEIB is for the rail industry, the role that Sustainability and Social Value has, how to drive accountabilities within organisations to drive the change and could we or should we use data and digital to drive change and much more.

• Hilga Beckendorf, Business Director Rail South, West & Wales, Arcadis
• Dr Holly Foss SFHEA MWES, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion Chair, School of Engineering, Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education
• Jo Field, Founder & Chief Executive, JFG Communications
• Will Waller, Senior Director, Mobility Business Area, Arcadis
  
  
  

• Zac Yarbasi, Track Design Apprentice, BWB Consulting
• Holly Wilkinson, Safety & Operations Apprentice, London North Eastern Railway
• Adam Lord, Engineering Apprentice, Network Rail
• Ellis Mills, Project Management Degree Apprentice, Network Rail
• William Hoare, Degree Apprentice, Mott MacDonald
  

A key route in Network Rail Southern region with an expenditure of over £9bn during CP7, and a major artery for freight in the country from Southampton docks. Join Brad as he takes to the stage to explain the operational strategy in CP7 and opportunities for collaboration.

Grab your lunch, talk to the speakers about how you can help with thier challanges and network with new customers

Ensuring the railway is safe for everybody to use is paramount. From engineers to passengers to road users and pedestrians, we all want to go home after our interaction with the railway.  During the five-year period 2019 to 2023, the RAIB started 107 full investigations and safety digests. Eighteen involved railway employees and moving trains (such as accidents to track maintenance workers) and thirteen involved passengers and moving trains (such as a passenger trapped in train doors and dragged). Eleven involved harm, or the risk of harm, to people at level crossings.  Join this discussion to examine the challenges and what solutions are available.

• Karn Khanna, Head of Environment, Health, and Safety, Network Rail
• Laura Hedley, Occupational Psychologist, The OPC
• Iain Boardman, Safety Health & Environment Director Eastern Region, Network Rail
  
  

Transport for London’s operating budget has increased in line with higher operating costs as well as benefiting from higher revenues from passengers increasing it to £9.5bn for 2024/25.

A staggering £1.5bn per annum will be spent on major rolling stock and signalling replacements, £2.6bn is to be spent across LU’s asset base including track, stations, power, and IT systems and £1.7bn on enhancements delivering on goals like making TfL’s network zero-carbon.

Liz has been appointed as the Southern Integrated Delivery (SID) director to deliver Network Rail’s Southern region’s renewals portfolio for the next ten years. The SID is part of the Southern Renewals Enterprise (SRE), a new and innovative model being introduced across Network Rail’s Southern region to deliver the £9bn renewals portfolio between 2024 and 2034.

The Kent Route is the gateway to Europe and vital to the economic prosperity of the region connecting commuters in and out of 4 major London Terminal stations. David is responsible for one of the busiest and most congested routes in the country, carrying in excess of over 2,600 every weekday. Kent Route is also a major beneficiary of the Southern Integrated Delivery Plan. Join David as he unlocks what opportunities the Route has to offer the supply chain.