Professor Ravi Ravitharan is a recognised leader in the railway industry. He is the Director of Monash University's Institute of Railway Technology (IRT), a world-renowned railway applied research centre. He has more than thirty years of experience in railway research. Professor Ravitharan’s leadership impacts on technology development for the railway industry. Professor Ravitharan has been appointed as a member of the Rail Industry Innovation Council by the Australian Federal Government to support its National Rail Manufacturing Plan. He is a member of ARA’s Rail Industry Executive Committee (RIEC). Professor Ravitharan received the coveted RTSA Individual Award in 2014 for his outstanding contribution to the railway industry. He has also been awarded the prestigious Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) Clunies Ross Award in 2014 for outstanding achievement in the application of science and technology for the benefit of Australia. Professor Ravitharan is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, a Chartered Professional Engineer and an Engineering Executive. Life Membership of Engineers Australia’s Railway Technical Society of Australasia RTSA was awarded to Professor Ravitharan in 2011 for his services to the railway industry. Professor Ravitharan is an advisory board member of Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure in Australia and member of Rail Knowledge Bank Advisory Group.