Michael E. Cholette is a leader in infrastructure asset management, with expertise in reliability modelling, CBM, and maintenance optimisation. As an Associate Professor at QUT and CEO of the Asset Institute, he works closely with partners across rail, energy, and industrial sectors to improve data‑driven maintenance and decision‑making. His work supports major organisations across Australia in managing the performance and reliability of critical assets.

As the Director of Specialised Services and Solutions for the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, Jordan is responsible for Digital Engineering, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Data and Analytics, Geographic Information System (GIS), 3D Visualisation, and Artificial Intelligence for the Cross River Rail project.

He currently oversees several successful engineering teams that leverage technology to improve project outcomes.

Jordan’s career has involved working in public and private sector roles to support the delivery of large-scale, high-profile and complex mega-infrastructure projects in both Queensland and New South Wales.

Sally Stannard was appointed as Director-General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) in 2023, where she oversees TMR’s delivery of transport services and infrastructure, the shaping of current and future transport systems, and management of the State’s transport regulation, marine and road safety functions.

TMR has approximately 6850 staff and an annual budget of $15.8 billion, including capital expenditure of $6.3 billion and managed assets worth in excess of $136 billion. TMR’s network also includes 33,000km of state-controlled roads, service contracts worth over $2 billion per annum and important rail, bus, cycling and maritime infrastructure.

Sally is the Chair of Cross River Rail and Chair of the Public Transport Association Australia & New Zealand. Sally is passionate about the role transport plays in equitable and sustainable economic development of our cities and regions.

As the Director of the Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science at UniSC, Gemma leads research that applies theories and methods from Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE), systems science and safety science to enhance safety, health and wellbeing.

Gemma has led and contributed to several publications related to human factors and ergonomics, transportation safety, sociotechnical systems & systems thinking, systems approaches to analysis and design and accident analysis.

Gemma gained her PhD in Human Factors from Monash University and holds undergraduate degrees in Behavioural Science and Law.

Roger is an accomplished engineer with over 35 years’ experience in design, integration, and project delivery across Defence, Toll Systems, and Rail.

After nine years as Chief Engineer, and four years leading Aurizon’s Fleet Decarbonisation Program, advancing zero-emission technologies and practical emission-reduction initiatives it was time for a change. Roger established Taglio, partnering with Harding Innovation Consulting and Rail Confidence to deliver strategic advisory services in decarbonisation, safety, and operational efficiency.

A Fellow of Engineers Australia and the IMechE, he continues to champion professional growth and innovation within the engineering community.

Dr Matt O’Connor is a registered, Clinical Psychologist, having completed the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) at Griffith University and is also a board-approved supervisor.

Matt currently works in his own private practice – ConnectEd Counselling and Consultancy and has worked with a diverse range of people and settings including schools, acute mental health units, residential care for young people, veterans and their families and the Queensland Police.

Matt balances his individual clinical work with system-level support for young people, parents and communities, as well as research outputs on service use, therapeutic approaches and outcome assessment. His research work includes the development of the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS), which has received significant international attention, having been cited over 1000 times and translated into over 45 languages.

With a long history of volunteering and working with young people, Matt is the youngest ever director of ReachOut.com. As an engaging and well-regarded presenter, facilitator and educator Matt has extensive experience providing psychoeducation and skills-based presentations and workshops to health professionals, the general public and youth.

Alan is an executive leader with over 15 years of experience across government and private industries including transport, financial services, energy and telecommunications amongst others. He has extensive experience at an executive level managing planning, policy, strategy, operations, safety and environment, communications and stakeholder management, finance and people and culture.

Prior to joining RISSB as CEO in early 2025, he has been the Deputy Head Transport Services in Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), the Acting Chief Rail at DTP and the Managing Director of Transdev Sydney Ferries. Alan is uniquely positioned to steer RISSB in delivering and elevating its role within the future rail landscape with a clear vision of RISSB’s role in driving rail industry interoperability, efficiency and safety in this time of rail reform.

Luke is a chartered Mechanical Engineer with over 15 years experience, who is currently engineering lead of the rolling stock team for the Suburban Rail Loop project, as part of the of the AJM Joint Venture, who is the Technical Advisor. Luke also provided rolling stock advice to the Melbourne Airport Rail project, and was project manager and mechanical engineer for rolling stock projects for the V/Line Classic Fleet, maintained by Alstom.

Luke participated in the Metropolitan rail number 4 evaluation process as a member of the rolling stock sub panel evaluation team, focusing on maintenance costs. Luke completed a 2.5 year assignment at the Hyundai-Rotem (HR) Rolling Stock Manufacturing Plant in Changwon, South Korea and a previous 2 year assignment in Wellington where he was working on behalf of Greater Wellington Regional Council (GW) to successfully complete commissioning of the first order and deliver the second order of Matangi EMU vehicles to Wellington, New Zealand.

Liz Reddy is a strategic leader with over 10 years’ experience managing complex operational portfolios on Victoria’s public transport network. Her experience across operational roles has given her deep knowledge of the public transport operating environment and continues to focus on core deliverables of reliable passenger services.

Liz’s current role as Chief Operating Officer at Yarra Trams oversees all network operations to deliver more than 5,000 passenger services per day across 24 routes. She leads a team which includes more than 1400 drivers across eight depots and Yarra Trams’ Operations Centre, teams planning for changes across the network including major events and disruptions, as well as teams monitoring operational performance to deliver the best service possible for passengers.

Starting her career with maintaining trains in the UK, Amy joined the Department of Transport and Planning in 2022 as the Victorian Chief Engineer – Rail, supporting the Operators and Major Projects with practical engineering governance from the State. Using a whole-of-life, whole-of-system view, Amy brings a practical approach to governance systems. Outside of her core roles, Amy is an active volunteer. She has held senior volunteer roles with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Engineers Australia. She was also an inaugural member of Australasian Rail Association’s Young Leader’s Advisory Board.

Zoltan is an engineering consultant with extensive experience working on multi-disciplinary transport projects. He has delivered and led safety assurance, RAM and systems engineering services on complex infrastructure, rolling stock and signalling projects. Zoltan is the owner and managing director of Mage Consulting, a specialist safety assurance consultancy providing services to a broad range of clients in the railway industry.

With a career spanning rail, defence, aviation and automotive across Australia, Joe brings deep expertise in safety and risk management – and a reputation for delivering practical systems that work at scale.

Currently Chief Health, Safety & Sustainability Officer at Yarra Trams, Joe plays a central role in keeping Melbourne’s iconic tram network moving safely and smoothly. His experience includes leading safety programs for Metro Trains Melbourne, the Independent Transport Safety Regulator, and international consultancy firms, where he’s been a trusted advisor to government and industry clients alike.

At Horizons East, Joe will lead a session on Scaling Risk Management Systems – sharing practical insights from transport operations and breaking down what it really takes to build assurance frameworks that hold up under pressure.

Known for his down-to-earth style, cross-sector perspective and ability to make the complex simple, Joe brings clarity, credibility and energy to every conversation. This session will fuel practical conversations – offering frameworks and mindset shifts that translate well beyond the forum.

Driving innovation at the intersection of robotics, automation and infrastructure, Associate Professor Zoran Najdovski is redefining what’s possible in the rail industry.

At Deakin University’s Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), Zoran led the team behind the world’s first autonomous rollingstock cleaning robots – a game-changing development set to transform how fleets are maintained across Australia and the world.

With a career spanning Deakin, Harvard and Nagoya Universities, Zoran is known for turning complex technologies into real-world solutions that drive Industry 4.0 forward. His work doesn’t just imagine the future – it builds it.

At Horizons East, Zoran will unpack the journey from lab breakthrough to large-scale deployment – and explore how robotics and human-machine systems are reshaping the future of rail. Get ready for sharp insights, big ideas and a powerful reminder of the opportunities ahead.

Bruce has spent more than two decades leading innovation across manufacturing, transportation, and advanced rail systems. As Senior Research Fellow at Deakin University’s Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), Bruce specialises in complex systems modelling, artificial intelligence, logistics optimisation and future-focused rail strategies.

Bruce’s expertise spans industry and academia, with project leadership experience in automation, factory simulation, advanced manufacturing and the development of technology roadmaps for the Australian railway sector. His work bridges theory and application – delivering practical, high-impact solutions for infrastructure resilience and digital transformation.

At Horizons East, Bruce will share insights into how systems thinking, digital disruption, and simulation technologies are shaping the next evolution of transport and logistics. Expect strategic depth, real-world examples and a roadmap for navigating the challenges of an increasingly complex and connected rail future.

Sudha is RISSB’s General Manager – Products & Innovation, where he provides strategic leadership across RISSB’s product portfolio, safety and risk systems, and management system accreditation activities.

Sudha is responsible for shaping and guiding the development of nationally harmonised products and tools that support safer, more efficient rail operations across Australia.

With over 20 years of experience in the rail industry, Sudha is a highly regarded railway safety specialist and systems thinker. He brings a deep understanding of the complex interdependencies within the rail system and applies this insight to deliver integrated, industry-facing solutions that enhance safety and operational performance.

Sudha’s leadership is marked by a commitment to collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement. His work supports RISSB’s mission to drive national consistency and promote best practice across the Australian rail sector.

Michael brings significant expertise in transport reform to his role as both the National Transport Commission (NTC) CEO and as an NTC Commissioner.

Michael is focused on delivery of the NTC’s reform program through the provision of robust and independent evidence-based advice to Australia’s transport ministers. As self-described transport nerd and data geek, he is passionate about the opportunities for reform in the rail sector to make rail a more attractive option.

Michael has a long career in government, at the state and national level, including as a senior executive in Victoria’s Department of Transport, where he delivered future-focused policy reforms for the taxi and hire car industry, network planning and the integration of transport and land use planning. Michael has also worked in consulting, providing expert evidence-based advice to industry and national, state and local governments on responding to the contemporary challenges faced by a transport sector in transition.

Michael has a Masters in public administration from the Australian and New Zealand School of Government, a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and chairs the Monash University Institute of Transport Studies’ industry advisory group.

Rapid Fire Innovation – the fast, low-cost way to ‘Get Stuff Done’, idea generation, building MVPs, create the ultimate pitch

Futurist Steve Sammartino is a tour de force in the field of technology. His energy and humour on stage have made him sought-after speaker around the globe. An expert in AI’s profound implications for business and society, Steve has been immersed in Computational Intelligence systems from the tender age of 10.

Steve goes beyond theory and brings lessons from his own tech ventures. His latest Macro3D, a ground-breaking AI and robotics company – which 3D prints houses. Since co-founding the company he has managed to 3D print a house, and is now embarking on building the world’s first home built entirely by AI.

An accomplished author, Steve has written three best-selling books on the subject of technology and its future. As a testament to his compelling insights, he has given a TED talk and is the host of the popular national Technology and Business TV show on Channel 9, “The Rebound” – now in it’s 4th Season.

Steve’s takes the complex and makes it simple, and human. This sentiment is captured in his viral videos, which boast over 100 million views – his drivable Lego Car being a prime example. As a respected media commentator, his views are widely sought after, making him an authoritative voice in the tech industry.

Steve Sammartino doesn’t just predict the future of technology, he’s literally building it, and his speeches are an unmissable opportunity to get a glimpse into that future.

As General Manager Stakeholder Engagement, Sharon leads strategic engagement and communication with RISSB’s stakeholders and members. Having worked across several industries in both the private and public sector in a corporate, project or regulated environments Sharon understands the machination of these in bringing people together to achieve common outcomes.

Sharon also plays the role of a mentor for senior rail industry executives, providing coaching to help craft their media presence and lead with influence. Sharon will provide personal brand-boosting techniques at both Horizons East and West, and will personally champion opportunities to fast-track and boost the visibility of Horizons 2025 participants across the rail industry.