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)

Suzanne Holden, A/Chief Executive, Sydney Trains

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

Greg Hood, Chief Commissioner and CEO, Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)

Dr Natalie Pelham, CEO & Chief Investigator, Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI)

To be joined by industry experts including:

Helen Williams, Executive General Manager Speciality Engineering, SYSTRA Scott Lister

Dr Kate Branford, Senior Human Factors Specialist, Vline Corporation

Peter Doggett, Chief Operating Officer, ONRSR

Julie Bullas, Executive Director Policy, Reform and Stakeholder Engagement, ONRSR

Simon Foster, Executive Director, Technical, ONRSR

Chadi Chaloub, A/Executive Director, Safety Environment Quality Risk, Sydney Trains

Sandra Wilson-Ryke, HSQE Director, Keolis Downer

Graham Jackson, Director Safety, Safety, Environment & Regulation Division, Transport for NSW

Dr Tim Kuypers, Principal, Walbrook Partners

Andrew Barry, A/Director Safety Delivery Train Crewing, Sydney Trains & RISSB Horizons Graduate

Oliver Lake, ATP Test & Commissioning Engineer Onboard, Network Growth Portfolio, Sydney Trains & RISSB Horizons Graduate

Nathan Hines Human Factors and Fatigue SME, Sydney Trains & RISSB Horizons Graduate

Lam-Thien Vu, Systems Engineer, ARTC & RISSB Horizons Graduate

Catherine Baxter, Chief Operating Officer, Metro Trains Melbourne

Stephen Lemon, Program Director Network Futures, Transport for NSW

Brett Bonshore, Safety Advisor, Fortescue Metals Group

Kenelm Wong, Senior Engineer, Fleet Mechanical Systems, Transport for NSW & RISSB Horizons Graduate

Greg Williams, Director Engineering & Asset Management, Keolis Downer Rail

Christopher Cashman, Head of HSQE, Torrens Connect

Graham Hjort, General Manager – Control Systems, 4Tel

Stacey Vorwerk, Chartered Engineer, Department of Transport, Victoria

Tim Procter, Senior Consultant, Indec Consulting

Julia Gibney, Consultant, JVAT

Tony Repaci, Account Director – Rail and Industrial Sectors, GS1 Australia

Klaus Clemens, Consultant, RMAus

Sue Rose, Senior Requirements Engineer, Next Generation Tram, Department of Transport, Victoria & RISSB Horizons Graduate

CALL FOR PAPERS: Presenters will be notified of acceptance in the week beginning Monday, 15 March 2021.

Networking Drinks – 11 May 2021

The Networking Drinks will provide delegates, speakers and guests the opportunity to continue the day’s discussion, share learnings and network in a relaxed, convivial setting. This function is currently available for sponsorship – please email Sarah Ingram for more information about this hosting opportunity.

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.