AUSRAIL
LEADERSHIP IN THE
RAIL INDUSTRY
Preamble
by The Australasian Railway Association (ARA)
H
aving dealt with the pressure of making decisions under fire, and the need to act in the face of uncertainty, his experience on the battlefield has yielded lessons that are equally applicable on the project site or in the boardroom. He will join AusRAIL this year to talk about the value of leaders being agile in their decision-making, and why it is important for people to have the skills needed to deal with any outcome, including uncertainty. It is a timely message as we prepare for a new year that will undoubtedly bring new opportunities for growth for those that can weather the uncertainty, and new challenges that we may encounter in a post-pandemic world. But it is also a reflection of what we have already seen in the rail industry time and time again this year. Leaders have changed how they operate to keep delivering essential services – safely, efficiently and with their customers at the top of mind. Frontline workers continue to head out into their communities to do their essential work, even as many of us ventured inwards.
Delegates will get to hear from some of the top rail industry executives from across the globe, including Crossrail Chief Executive, Mark Wild, who is currently overseeing Europe’s largest infrastructure project. With trials running on the project’s Elizabeth line expected to start next year, this is a good time to hear about the complexity of this major rail project, and the plans to bring the line into passenger service by 2022. LA Metro Chief Innovation Officer, Joshua Schank, will talk about innovation and experimental program and policy, providing a new perspective on ways to move the industry forward. Mr Schank’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation is leading a range of projects that aim to provide faster, better options for passengers as part of a more responsive service that supports the creation of vibrant communities. These are ambitious goals that will no doubt have parallels with innovation projects underway here in Australia. We will also hear from Grand Paris Express Project Director, Nicholas Massart, who will tell us how that project is transforming Paris into a more sustainable city.
NEW PERSPECTIVES People are dealing with uncertainty and change in everything they do, at home and at work. AusRAIL Live & On Demand is another example of opportunity from change. Our move this year to a fully online format has allowed us to reach out to international speakers that may not have been able to join if we were meeting in person.
INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT It is rare that you can access keynote addresses, ask questions and interact with speakers of this calibre directly from your home or office, but at AusRAIL Live & On Demand, delegates will have the chance to do just that. This front row seat to presentations of the projects that are shaping the future of the industry globally is an unmatched
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November 2020 // Issue 17
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