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15th Annual New Zealand Rail Conference 2026
2 – 3 December 2026
Grand Millennium AucklandAuckland, New Zealand
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DAY ONE

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DAY ONE
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8:00am - 8:40am
REGISTRATION & WELCOME COFFEE
8:40am - 8:50am
Mihi whakatau

Welcome led by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei

8:50am - 8:55am
EVENT OPENING
  • Kate Twentyman - Conference Director, Informa
8:55am - 9:00am
OPENING | Morning Briefing
  • Stacey van der Putten - Interim Chief Executive, Auckland Transport
9:00am - 9:20am
OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Delivering for New Zealand: KiwiRail's Role in Building an Integrated Transport System
  • Peter Reidy - Chief Executive Officer, KiwiRail
9:20am - 9:40am
KEYNOTE ADDRESS | City Rail Link and Beyond: Unlocking Auckland's Transit Future
  • Stacey van der Putten - Interim Chief Executive, Auckland Transport
9:40am - 10:00am
KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Auckland’s Rail Revolution: The Operator’s Perspective
  • Martin Kearney - Chief Executive Officer, Auckland One Rail
10:00am - 10:20am
KEYNOTE ADDRESS |
  • Patrick Brockie - Chief Executive, City Rail Link Limited
10:20am - 10:40am
KEYNOTE ADDRESS |Connecting People and Place Through Integrated Decision-Making: The Challenge and Opportunities Ahead
  • Stephanie Rowe - Executive Leader, Delivery, Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport
10:40am - 11:00am
Keynote Address Q & A
11:00am - 11:30am
Networking and refreshment break
11:30am - 11:45am
MINISTERIAL ADDRESS |
11:45am - 12:05pm
Partner Address
12:05pm - 12:25pm
Getting Rail Right: Strategic Investment and System-Wide Performance
  • Whole-of-system infrastructure planning: Moving beyond single-project thinking
  • Investment prioritisation frameworks across competing infrastructure needs
  • System efficiency and end-to-end service delivery
  • What does "good rail investment" look like from a national infrastructure perspective?
12:25pm - 12:45pm
Meeting Metro Demand

This presentation will focus on how KiwiRail has proactively responded to metro operation demand now and into the future, working with rail partners, government and the regulator to ensure they can meet the needs of these busy, mixed mode networks and maintain them effectively while keeping trains running more often and working within a complex stakeholder environment.

  • Bevan Assink - Chief Metro Officer, KiwiRail
12:45pm - 1:40pm
Lunch and networking break
1:40pm - 2:00pm
CASE STUDY |Building New Zealand's First Battery-Electric Train Through Partnership
  • Carla Garvie - Commercial Director, Alstom
  • Barry Fryer - Programme Manager, Metlink
2:00pm - 2:40pm
PANEL DISCUSSION | Decarbonising New Zealand - Rail's Innovation in Action
  • Commuter rail's competitive edge: Making low-carbon travel the preferred choice
  • Rail's role in decarbonising freight and sustainability outcomes
  • Tourism and regional rail: Balancing growth ambitions with genuine sustainability outcomes
  • Quantifying rail's carbon advantage
  • Multi-stakeholder approach: Partnering with councils and passenger rail operators
  • Lucy Hawcroft - Sustainability Manager, KiwiRail
  • Catherine Knight - Principal Strategic Advisor, Greater Wellington Regional Council
  • Patrick Reynolds - Director, Greater Auckland
2:40pm - 3:00pm
CASE STUDY |Implementing ETCS on Locomotives in a Mixed-Use Rail Network: Lessons from Auckland’s ETCS Journey
  • Gabriella Solti - General Manager - Metro Systems Assurance, KiwiRail
3:00pm - 3:25pm
Networking and refreshment break
3:25pm - 3:45pm
CASE STUDY | When Does Rail Stop Being an Option? Understanding Rail Freight Allocation Decisions: A Case Study of the Auckland - Christchurch Corridor
  • Behnaz Shaabani - PhD researcher, University of Auckland
  • Michael van Drogenbroek - Director Consulting and Advisory, Heriot-Edievale Ltd
3:45pm - 4:05pm
Rail as a Supply Chain Imperative: The Cargo Owners' Perspective on Resilience and Competitiveness
  • Nigel Jones - Chair, New Zealand Cargo Owners Council
4:05pm - 4:50pm
PANEL DISCUSSION | Rail's Role in an Efficient Supply Chain Future: Full System Approach to Freight Efficiency
  • Rail, road, and port collaboration for seamless multi-modal integration
  • Supply chain resilience, productivity gains, and KiwiRail Freight's shift from an asset-focused organisation to a customer-led, commercially driven business
  • Technology and digital solutions driving freight efficiency
  • Iwi and regional perspectives on freight connectivity
  • Long-term strategic priorities including sustainability and workforce development
  • Nigel Jones - Chair, New Zealand Cargo Owners Council
  • Adele Wilson - Chief Customer and Growth Officer, KiwiRail
4:50pm - 5:00pm
RTSA NZ Update: Advancing Rail Technical Standards and Professional Development
  • Nicky Sweetman - Chair, RTSA NZ
5:00pm - 5:40pm
NZ Young Rail Professionals Forum

Informa and the RTSA are hosting a NZ Young Rail Professionals Forum to find out how today’s industry leaders have achieved success as they share their tips on how to be a driving force in shaping the future of rail.

Attendees are invited to join us for the NZ Rail Exhibition Networking Drinks function after the forum.

The forum is open and free for all young rail professionals aged 35 years and under.

5:40pm - 5:45pm
Closing remarks from the Chair
5:45pm - 5:50pm
End of Day One & Exhibition Networking Function
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