National Rail Convention attracts top speakers
TWO ministers and a growing number of key industry figures are set to speak at this year’s National Rail Convention, which will take place at Rail Live (Quinton Rail Technology Centre, Long Marston, Warwickshire) on June 20-21.
Network Rail Chief Executive Mark Carne and Chairman Sir Peter Hendy are both confirmed as speakers at the two-day event, which has been transformed and rebranded from RAIL’s successful National Rail Conference.
They join Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling and Richard Harrington, Minister for Business and Industry at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, announced last month ( RAIL 848).
The NRC will feature two main sessions each day. ■ The UK’s Industrial and Transport Strategy (June 20): This will be an opportunity to hear Government communicate industrial and transport strategy to the rail industry and supply chain.
Confirmed speakers include: Grayling and Harrington; Atkins Chief Executive and Industry Lead for the Rail Sector Deal Philip Hoare; and Rail Delivery Group Chief Executive Paul Plummer. ■ Tomorrow’s railway people (June 20): Curated by National Skills Academy for Rail Chief Executive Neil Robertson, this session is intended to highlight the importance of railway people.
The skills gap is largely seen as a problem for the rail sector, rather than an opportunity for businesses to develop competitive advantages. NR’s Mark Carne is confirmed to speak at the session about how safety can support a more innovative culture in the industry. ■ The opportunity represented by devolved transport authorities (June 21): Curated by Campaign for Better Transport Chief Executive Stephen Joseph, this session is intended to demystify the opportunities represented by the fundamental changes in transport policy and funding as a result of directly elected mayors and devolved transport authorities. Urban Transport Group Chairman Tobyn Hughes is confirmed to speak about the objectives and strategies local authorities have. ■ Making innovation pay (June 21): This session is curated by the newly formed UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN) Steering Group. It will outline the innovation needs of the rail sector, identify the programmes
and finance in place to support innovation initiatives, and explain how businesses can access this support, while setting out how UKRRIN’s new partnership between industry and academia is integrating innovation requirements to enable successful delivery.
Between the main sessions on the first day, industry networking organisation Women in Rail will be running a session on the role that effective leadership plays in running a successful business.
On the second day, Young Rail Professionals will hold a ‘My Career’ session with experienced professionals (including NR Chairman Hendy) giving advice and inspiration to new members of the industry and providing a golden opportunity for them to ask questions.
More speakers will be confirmed over the next few weeks, and will be announced both in RAIL and on the
www.raillive.org.uk website. Rail Live (and the National Rail Convention) is a trade show for individuals working in the rail industry. You will be required to register with a verified rail industry email address in order to attend. Go to www.raillive.org.uk/registeryour-interest-for-nrc to register your interest for an NRC delegate place.