overview

RISSB’s Rail Safety Conference will return to Sydney in May 2021 as a face-to-face event with virtual attendance options.

Building on the success of our 2020 Rail Safety Conference, the 2021 event will be just as engaging with a 2-day program featuring international and local keynotes, 2 panels of renowned rail industry experts, concurrent streams, workshops, our popular ‘Ask the Regulator’ panel, an exclusive networking event, site visits and much, much more.

Confirmed keynote speakers include:

IAN JEFFRIES, President and Chief Executive Officer, Association of American Railroads

GEORGE BEARFIELD, Health, Safety and Cyber Security Director, Rock Rail (UK)

SUE MCCARREY, Chief Executive, Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator

CALL FOR PAPERS: DEADLINE 5 MARCH 2021

We are now calling for abstracts of 20 minute presentations to be delivered at this year’s conference. We are looking for best practice, practical and results-driven presentations that thematically relate to our conference theme New ideas, new perspectives and new directions and one of six conference streams.

This is your chance to showcase the initiatives that you have developed, implemented or researched during the past 12 months!

Your presentation must relate to one of these six conference streams.
Stream 1: Safety innovation
Stream 2: Asset management
Stream 3: Safety culture
Stream 4: Fatigue
Stream 5: Track worker safety
Stream 6: Safety interoperability

Your submission should:

• Be constructed on evidence-based research, case studies and/or industry or organisational best practice
• Provide clear, actionable and practical solutions, processes or information
• Showcase innovative or unique practices, knowledge or methodologies
• Not have been shown extensively at other conferences or online events

Submit your abstract here

Deadline for abstracts is Friday, 5 March 2021.
You will be notified of acceptance in the week beginning Monday, 15 March 2021.

Thanks again to everyone who made 2020 such a success, proving that COVID-19 and the tyranny of distance is not a barrier to a great conference experience and effective communication. Themed ‘How Safe Is Safe Enough?’ the conference set new attendance records attracting more than 220 delegates/speakers representing government, regulators, operators, network managers, safety leaders, and suppliers from right across Australia and overseas – the most people at a RISSB rail safety conference in a decade!

More than 50 industry experts highlighted the need to maintain safety vigilance in our new normal and encouraged conference attendees to challenge the status quo in their organisation. The conference included 6 keynote presentations, 9 streams focused on industry’s most pressing safety concerns, two panel discussions and what is believed to be the world’s first virtual site tour – attendees were given a sneak peek at works underway to deliver platforms and a pedestrian concourse under Sydney’s busiest train station. With presentations ranging from safety leadership and SPAD management, risk management of operators, train control and SFAIRP, to incident investigations, the range of topics and presenters reflected the diverse needs and interests of those attending the conference.

Feedback included:

The speakers were engaging and informative. The different streams allowed me to select the topics that I believed were most beneficial to my business, while having access to the presentations post conference will allow me to revisit those that I wish to see again and watch those that I missed.

Excellent speakers. Given the current circumstances we all find ourselves, the conference provided the opportunity to obtain the latest safety implementations being made across the Nation and even globally.

Good range of topics, and good to see industry-wide idea sharing and general direction of the industry. Obviously, given the current situation the only way to meet is virtually, but naturally it would be more value to have this type of event in a live environment.