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overview
The Australian heavy haul rail industry, boasting some of the heaviest and longest trains, continues to lead the world in operations and innovation. Join industry leaders and decision-makers at the 14th annual Heavy Haul Rail conference on 26-27 March 2025 at the Crown Perth for an exclusive deep dive into cutting-edge projects and strategies.
The program will showcase the best in local and international project expertise, giving attendees an understanding of the strategic directions of major players together with critical industry and market updates to ensure efficient, safe, and reliable operations.
The conference program is currently in development. To keep updated with the latest event news, please register your interest here.
Heavy Haul Rail 2025 will be co-located once again with Rail Turnouts and Rail Signalling. Take advantage of our exclusive 20% discount offer to attend both Heavy Haul Rail and either Rail Turnouts or Rail Signalling. Additionally, further discounts are available to those who qualify for the Young Rail Professionals rate. See pricing below for details.
>> CALL FOR CASE STUDIES/PAPERS <<
Are you interested in speaking or submitting suggestions for the HEAVY HAUL RAIL CONFERENCE 2025?
We encourage you to register your interest to speak, and/or nominate topic ideas that you would like to see featured.
Why present at Heavy Haul Rail 2025?
- Demonstrate your thought leadership to a captivated in-person audience
- Connect with your fellow industry peers
- Increase collaboration with like-minded individuals
- Network with over 300 attendees across from the sector
Click here to submit an abstract or case study.
Submissions should be 200-400 words and contain your full contact details along with a presentation title, theme and main findings.
Deadline for abstracts is Friday 17 October 2024.
For further information, please contact the Conference Director, Kate Twentyman: Kate.Twentyman@informa.com
2024 SPEAKERS
Hon Catherine King MP
Minister for infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
Hon Rita Saffioti MLA
Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Transport; Tourism
Dr Natalie Pelham
Chief Executive, ONRSR
Antonio Merheb
Chairman, IHHA
Vivek Dhar
Director - Mining and Energy Commodities Research, Commonwealth Bank
Wendy McMillan
Senior Regional Vice President (ANZ and SEA), Wabtec Corporation
Lily Meneghel
GM Integrated Remote Operations Centre, Roy Hill
Warren Wellbeloved
General Manager, Rail | WA Iron Ore, BHP
Georgia Nicholls
General Manager Rail Freight & Heavy Haul, Australasian Railway Association
Candis Rhodes
Manager Sustainability, Rail Strategy, Rio Tinto
Roger Buckley
Fleet Decarbonisation Manager, Aurizon
Shunturi Govender
Senior Rail Civil Engineer, Arup
Janis Emolins
Systems Manager - Engineering, Rail Electrification, Siemens Mobility
Carina O’Brien
Head of Strategy, Siemens Mobility
Mark Wood
Chief Technology Officer, 4AI Systems & General Manager, Communications & Electronics, 4Tel
Saad Khan
Co-Founder & Director, Future Maintenance Technologies
Charlotte Moss
Superintendent Delivery Rail Systems – Sustaining Capital Rail, Rio Tinto
Ash Athukoralalage
Wheel/Rail Interface Engineer, Speno Rail Maintenance
John Deppen
Director Engineering, Amsted Rail
Ksenija Stanic-Colic
Manager Engineering Civil & Mechanical, Roy Hill
Ethan Scott
VR Instructional Designer, Nexefy
Megan McCracken
Chair, Freight and Logistics Council WA, & Leadership Coach, Pleiades Consulting, & Non-Executive Director, Pacific Energy Limited
Agnes Kang
Superintendent Reliability Engineering Rail, Royhill
Brett Elkington
Manager Autonomous Road Trains, Hexagon
Cat Peppler
Group Executive Corporate, Aurizon
Tamara Mahes
Director Operations and Maintenance, Curtin University
Anthony Sacca
General Manager - Composite Sleepers, Unipart Rail
Brian Ross
WA/SA Operations Manager, DT Infrastructure
Richard Cohen
Managing Director Port, Rail & Core Services, Rio Tinto Iron Ore
Jasmine Veaney
Superintendent Asset Integrity, BHP
Professor Ravi Ravitharan
Director, Monash Institute of Railway Technology, Monash University
Mark White
Business Development Manager, Speno Rail Maintenance
Tomas Austen
Senior Transport Safety Investigator, ATSB
Debra Watson
Managing Director, Satarla Australia
Anita Payne
Executive Coach, Team & Culture Coach, Facilitator, Grow Communications
Renee Hakendorf
National Lead, CORE Innovation Hub
Chris Warner
Senior Leader Coach, BHP & Author, ‘Flick The Switch’ & ‘Why Care’
Sue McCarrey
CEO, NOPSEMA
Cameron Wylde
People Manager, Northen Hub, Fortescue
Kari Gonzales
President & CEO, MxV Rail
Rob Ramsden
Principal Energy, & Climate Change Capability, Rio Tinto
Kaylyn Chandran
Senior Integration Engineer and Chief Remote Pilot, Future Maintenance Technologies
Kath Wallace
Portfolio Director – Energy and Transport, North Metropolitan TAFE
Matt Connelly
Operations Manager, Speno Rail Maintenance Australia
Carly Wilson
Rail Standards and Asset Management Specialist, RISSB
Michael Crocker
A/Delivery Manager, Radio Systems Replacement | PTA Project Delivery, PTAWA & Deputy Chair, RTSA WA Chapter
2025 SPONSORS
exhibitors
Partners
Pricing
Acceleration Allies
Informa Australia will be showcasing the organisations who achieve a minimum of 30% female representation at Heavy Haul Rail & Rail Turnouts with special acknowledgements as ‘Acceleration Allies’. This representation will include speakers, delegates, sponsors and delegates. Join the movement to ‘Count her in’ and enjoy special recognition at the event.
Networking Breakfast
Young Rail Professionals Networking Breakfast
Proudly sponsored by Speno Rail Maintenance Australia
When: 7.30am-8.40am on 26 March 2025
Where: Crown Perth
Free and open to all young rail professionals who are registered to attend the Heavy Haul Rail conference.
If you are under 35, join us to meet and network with other young rail professionals at this important and relaxed event. RSVPs are essential. RSVP when registering to attend the Heavy Haul Rail 2025 conference.
Heavy Haul Rail Dinner
27 March 2025 | Crown Perth | 7:00pm – 10:30pm
Come together to celebrate and reflect on the learnings and industry achievements showcased at this exciting event. Commencing with pre-dinner drinks at 6.30pm, the Heavy Haul Rail Conference dinner takes place on the evening of the 27th March at the Crown Perth and includes our guest speaker plus the presentation to our Next Generation Conference Scholarships. Attendees must register to attend the conference as well.
*The dinner is available for sponsorship*
Next Generation Conference Scholarships
Sponsored by Speno
Do you have an idea that could disrupt, improve or positively impact the future of heavy haul rail in Australia and New Zealand?
We invite all rail sector personnel aged 30yrs and under to submit their innovative idea for the chance to win one of 10 scholarships to attend the Heavy Haul Rail conference and dinner in Perth on 26-27 March 2025.
In 200-300 words describe your idea, concept or hypothetical, outlining benefits or impact on the industry. Your idea may relate to any aspect of the Heavy Haul Rail sector, for example skills and training, asset maintenance, acceleration of decarbonisation, or safety.
WINNERS WILL RECEIVE:
- Complimentary attendance to the Young Rail Professionals Breakfast Sponsor hosted by our sponsor Speno
- Complimentary attendance to the Two-Day Heavy Haul Rail Conference
- Certificates of acknowledgement – to be presented at the Conference Dinner
KEY DATES:
- Competition open: 24 January 2025
- Competition deadline: 14 February 2025
- Winners announced: 19 February 2025
- Certificates presented at the Conference Dinner: 17 October 2024
Eligibility:
Open to all recent graduates and young railway professionals who are 30yrs or under (as at 26 March 2025). A maximum of 3 winners will be selected from the same organisation.
Entries close 14 February 2025
** A maximum of 3 winners will be selected from the same organisation.**
Rail Turnouts
Alongside Heavy Haul Rail comes the return of the popular specialist Rail Turnouts Workshop in 2025. To be held on the 25 March 2025 as an intensive one-day focused introduction to the fundamental technical knowledge, the workshop will exchange and transfer knowledge from a range of experts working across rail turnouts.
SPECIAL OFFER: A 20% DISCOUNT WHEN REGISTERING FOR BOTH THE HEAVY HAUL RAIL CONFERENCE AND RAIL TURNOUTS WORKSHOP.
Visit the website for more details.
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
SPONSORSHIP & EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES
Heavy Haul Rail is Australia’s largest conference developed specifically for the Heavy Haul Rail industry. Attracting key stakeholders and senior decision makers from across the heavy haul, freight and resources sectors, the event offers suppliers, operators, manufacturers and innovators unparalleled networking, knowledge sharing and business development opportunities.
Don’t miss the opportunity to profile your company, share your expertise and showcase your solutions at Heavy Haul Rail 2025!
Please email sarah.ingram@informa.com for a copy of the sponsorship prospectus including delegate profile information, or call +61 406 530 043 to discuss the branding, thought leadership and exhibition opportunities available.
Event Images
Below is a slide show of images from the 2024 Heavy Haul Rail Conference.
To view all images across the two day event, view our Flickr album.
Testimonials
Hear what our 2024 attendees had to say:
“A well-run event that brings customers and suppliers together in an informative and entertaining way. All suppliers of heavy haul railways should ensure they have a presence at this annual event.”
“Great chance to network with others and to learn about new tech and future planning for the industry.”
“Well attended and good cross section of rail industry.”
“Great speakers with a lot of insight that was applicable to my industry, and the people that I work with. A lot of interesting people to meet and connect with. A great venue and well-structured event.”
“Excellent forum for collaboration and showcasing new ideas and developments to the wider rail audience.”
ConnectMe + Streamly
ConnectMe • Networking enhanced
All of our events utilise a bespoke dynamic smartphone app, ConnectMe – which guarantees attendees a premium event experience. Logins are sent prior to the conference commencement allowing you to check who’s attending, schedule in meetings and catch ups, participate in live Q+A and interactive polls, and much more. ConnectMe ensures you never miss a beat prior, during and post event.
Streamly • On-Demand video vault
Streamly is a new video platform from Informa Connect – hosting hours of session recordings from our events and more. Select the Streamly add-on at the checkout to receive year round access to exclusive On-Demand session recordings from all of our related transport events*. Login information will be sent post event. For more information visit our Streamly page.
* Note: In a minority of cases, speakers may request their sessions to be excluded from Streamly access.
Sustainability
Our Commitment to Sustainability
In Australia, we are committed to running our events in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Across Informa Connect we are focusing on the short and long-term sustainability impacts we have on customers and colleagues alongside the communities we work in.
We recognise that it’s not just about the way we produce our events and products but recognising that we have a role to play in providing a space to work in partnership together with our markets to inspire the sustainable development of the industries we serve.
To read more on our latest sustainability reports and Faster Forward initiatives – click here.
Event Code of Conduct
We want everyone who comes to our events to have a great experience. This code explains our expectations and rules, which includes general good practice behaviour, and how to report anything witnessed or experienced that goes against them. Read our Event Code of Conduct here.
when & where
26 - 27 Mar 2025
Crown Perth
Great Eastern Hwy,
Burswood WA 6100
Book accommodation with HotelMaps
To access the best available rate, book here.
contact
Still have a question?
General Information & Registration
Customer Service
+61 2 9080 4307
info@informa.com.au
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
Sarah Ingram
+61 406 530 043
Sarah.Ingram@informa.com
Speaking Enquiries
Kate Twentyman
Senior Conference Director
Kate.Twentyman@informa.com.au
Marketing & Media Enquiries
Paul O’Connor
Paul.c.Oconnor@informa.com