Rail industry leaders and key participants from Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the USA and Europe are converging on Sydney today for this week’s AusRAIL Plus Conference and Exhibition, the largest rail event in Australasia this year.
The conference will focus on the implications of the growing investment in new rail in Australia and New Zealand – now forecast at over $150 billion over the next fifteen years.
“With growing populations in Australia and New Zealand, it has become more important that we get better at moving passengers to relieve congestion in our cities, improve our freight supply chains, and better connect our cities and regions,” said ARA CEO Danny Broad.
“Well planned and executed rail is a crucial part of a multi-modal transport solution,” he said.
Conference sessions will focus on training initiatives to address immediate challenges, planning for future workforce trends, and how rail can make cities liveable, connect our regions, reduce carbon emissions and support employment.
The Conference will be opened by the NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, MP on Tuesday morning.
Key speakers include:
- Keynote Masafuni Shukuri, Chairman of the International High Speed Rail Association
- Howard Collins– Chief Executive, Sydney Trains
- Bernard Tabary, CEO International, Keolis
- Dr Sean Sweeney, CEO of City Rail Link Ltd (Auckland)
- Richard Wankmuller, CEO of Inland Rail
- Malcolm Southwell, Acting CEO of the National Faster Rail Agency
- Jill Walsh, the Victorian Rail Advocate
- Sascha Fey from Deutsche Bahn speaking on Digital Transformation
- Lido Costa from Rio Tinto, speaking on automation in Rio Tinto
- Adam Williams from KiwiRail speaking on Rail and New Zealand’s zero emissions future
- Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack MP and Opposition Shadow Transport Minister Catherine King MP will make video presentations.
There will be over one hundred expert presenters, almost a thousand conference attendees, over four hundred exhibiting companies, and three thousand exhibition attendees.
Other features include:
- The Young Rail Professionals Pitching Competition & Future Leaders Program
- The Young Leaders Advisory Board Report on its first year of activities
- Fifty-four technical sessions
- Panel discussions on Digital Technology; Delivering Innovation in Industry Partnerships; Rail Investment; Making Rail Freight More Competitive; Planning for Future Workforce Trends; and Training initiatives
- The Innovation Hub with a schedule of sideline presentations within the free exhibition space
- The Welcome Reception, 2019 Yellow Tie Dinner, 2019 Gala Dinner and many other networking opportunities
- The Exhibition Hall will feature over 400 exhibiting companies.
“The growth in the Australasian rail sector is demonstrated by the growing attendees, exhibitors and participation at AusRAIL. This will be our largest conference ever,” concluded Danny Broad.
ENDS
AusRail Plus 2019 Conference & Exhibition
ICC Sydney
Darling Harbour
3-5 December 2019
www.ausrail.com