Rob Forde, Director of Strategy and Skills at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE)

Rob Forde is the Director of Strategy and Skills at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence. Rob oversees GCRE’s skills and long-term strategy working with clients, academics and industry partners to speed up research and development cycles at the new rail innovation facility currently being developed in South Wales. Prior to joining GCRE Rob was Industry sector Lead for Network Rail on the East Coast Digital Programme, and before that part of Network Rails Research and Development team, leading the accelerated innovation programme and helping secure a six-fold increase in the budget for CP6.

Ben Gerrish, Sales Leader and Consultant at Siemens Australia

Ben Gerrish is a Sales Leader and Consultant at Siemens Australia, specializing in the Industrial Networks business, which includes Siemens RUGGEDCOM, SCALANCE, and Cyber Security portfolios. With 14 years of experience at Siemens, Ben has worked across various disciplines, including Data Analytics & Strategy, Business Improvement, Process Excellence, and now Sales.
Ben brings a wealth of knowledge in delivering projects that provide real value to end-users and customers, which Siemens customers experience daily. Given the numerous industry challenges in Cyber Security, Ben is a key advocate for the correct utilization of Siemens Blueprints and designs. He ensures that critical infrastructure is holistically protected and that key networks can survive attacks and remain resilient as technology continues to advance our society and find avenues into all aspects of life. In the Rail sector, Ben collaborates closely with Siemens partners and end customers to push the boundaries of what is possible. He focuses on delivering stable and reliable networks that keep trains running on time and without disruption and with the Siemens RUGGEDCOM portfolio able to withstand severe conditions, it’s a perfect fit.

Bryan Lai, Rail Systems Interface & Integration Manager and also a Chartered Engineer for the DT Infrastructure Rail Systems Engineering (RSE) division.

He has been working in the rail industry for the last 16 years and throughout his tenure, he was fortunate to have been able to contribute and deploy numerous technological systems such as introducing the latest state of the art Rail Signalling and Train Control Systems on both heavy and light rail applications around Australia. Not limited to only digital systems deployment, Bryan has strong experience in Rail Systems Integration and Asset Management where we has recently part of the team integrating our Intelligent Analytics Platform (IAP) known as TrackDNA InDelve. Bryan is a pivotal member for DT Infrastructure Pty Ltd and has led key transformational successes for the Rail Systems Engineering division. In the early hay days of the business division, Bryan was one of the three team members and due to his perseverance and dedication, he has managed to contribute strategic outcomes and essentially grew the division to a 230-employee strong, local Australian workforce providing Rail Systems capabilities and experiences across the nation.       

Is the webinar free?
Yes – there is no charge to watch the webinar, either live or on-demand.

When will the webinar take place?
The webinar will be taking place on Friday 14 February 2025 at 1:00pm (UK TIME)

Can I watch the webinar later?
The webinar will be available to watch on-demand shortly after the live broadcast takes place.

What are the benefits of attending live?
During the live webinar, you will be able to pose questions to the speakers, which will then be answered during the live Q&A session at the end of the webinar.

How long will the webinar be?
The live webinar will last for up to one hour.

Who will be moderating?
Elizabeth Jordan, Editor, Global Railway Review.

What do I need to watch this webinar?
All you need is a computer with an internet connection. It is advised to use headphones where possible for your own comfort.