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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

Delivering Rail's Future: Te Kitenga, Mahi Tahi, & Auaha in Action

  • Stacey van der Putten - Chief Executive, Auckland Transport
9:00am - 9:25am
OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Delivering for New Zealand: KiwiRail's Role in Building an Integrated Transport System
  • Peter Reidy - Chief Executive Officer, KiwiRail
9:25am - 9:50am
KEYNOTE ADDRESS | City Rail Link and Beyond: Unlocking Auckland's Transit Future
  • Stacey van der Putten - Chief Executive, Auckland Transport
9:50am - 10:15am
KEYNOTE ADDRESS | Auckland’s Rail Revolution: The Operator’s Perspective
  • Martin Kearney - Chief Executive Officer, Auckland One Rail
10:15am - 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 - 11:55am
Global Market Outlook | Geopolitics, Trade, and Energy: Implications for New Zealand Rail
  • Vivek Dhar - Director - Mining and Energy Economist, Commonwealth Bank Australia
11:55am - 12:20pm
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
12:20pm - 12:45pm
CASE STUDY |Building New Zealand's First Battery-Electric Train Through Partnership
  • Carla Garvie - Commercial Director, Alstom
  • Barry Fryer - Programme Manager, Metlink
12:45pm - 1:35pm
Lunch and networking break
1:35pm - 2:15pm
PANEL DISCUSSION | Decarbonising New Zealand - Rail's Innovation in Action
  • Lucy Hawcroft - Sustainability Manager, KiwiRail
  • Catherine Knight - Principal Strategic Advisor, Greater Wellington Regional Council
  • Patrick Reynolds - Director, Greater Auckland
  • Mike Burrell - Chief Executive, Sustainable Business Council
2:15pm - 2:40pm
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
2:40pm - 3:05pm
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
3:05pm - 3:30pm
Networking and refreshment break
3:30pm - 3:50pm
Rail as a Supply Chain Imperative: The Cargo Owners' Perspective on Resilience and Competitiveness
  • Nigel Jones - Chair, New Zealand Cargo Owners Council
3:50pm - 4:30pm
PANEL DISCUSSION | Rail's Role in an Efficient Supply Chain Future: Full System Approach to Freight Efficiency
  • Nigel Jones - Chair, New Zealand Cargo Owners Council
  • Adele Wilson - Chief Customer and Growth Officer, KiwiRail
  • Justin Tighe-Umbers - Chief Executive, National Road Carriers Inc.
  • Kate Wilson - Chair, Otago Regional Transport Committee, Chair, South Island Regional Chairs Group
  • David Shepherd - Manager Rail Freight and Supply Chain, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
4:30pm - 4:45pm
RTSA NZ Update: Advancing Rail Technical Standards and Professional Development
  • Nicky Sweetman - Chair, RTSA NZ
4:45pm - 5:25pm
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.

  • Christopher Whyte - Delivery Manager - Rollingstock Contracts – Rolling Stock Asset Integrity, KiwiRail
  • Matai Stewart - Network Workforce Manager, KiwiRail
  • Ella Keogh - Project Engineer – LNIRIM, Metlink
  • Chrissy Farago - Programme Director Rollingstock Contracts – Rolling Stock Asset Integrity, KiwiRail
  • Jason Smith - Principal Project Manager – Rail, Mott MacDonald
  • Jo Reeves - General Manager New Zealand, Australasian Railway Association
  • Jaco Vorster - Service Line Leader - Transport Design, WSP New Zealand
5:25pm - 5:30pm
Closing remarks from the Chair
5:30pm - 5:35pm
End of Day One & Exhibition Networking Function
NextDAY TWO
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