Dr Elias Kassa is currently a Principal Track Engineer and leading the Track Infrastructure team at the Monash IRT. Prior to IRT, he was working as senior researcher and Professor, with focus on researches on wide aspect of track issues and teaching railway courses and providing trainings at graduate and postgraduate programs. Dr Kassa's research focus has been on rail vehicle dynamics in turnouts and dynamics of train-track interaction. Dr Kassa has over 20 years of research experience within rail related topics. He has developed knowledge in the fields of wheel-rail interface, track alignment design and alignment optimization, and track components design, and became a specialized expert in train-turnout interaction and slab track. He has led a range of research and consultancy projects dealing with turnouts, level crossings, slab track choice, locomotive visibility at level crossings, inspection and condition monitoring of tracks and turnouts for clients around the world. He has published several articles in journals, magazines, edited technical reports and conference proceedings, all dealing with railway engineering subjects.

As an experienced Rail Engineering Manager, Lisa brings 31 years rail experience within UK and Australia. Lisa brings a strong client perspective in electrified passenger, heavy haul, underground metro and freight networks, leading and shaping outcomes across asset lifecycle management and across functions in engineering, maintenance planning and delivery, asset management, engineering management, asset projects, design and delivery, capital portfolio development. Lisa has held a breadth and depth of roles involved in all aspects that were related to track condition management. Between 1996 and 2008 Lisa held roles including Site Engineer, Track Design Engineer, Track Maintenance Engineer and Project Engineer where she had the opportunity of undertaking track maintenance, switch and crossing layout design from feasibility, detailed design through to approval for manufacture and construction for the annual program of turnout renewals this not only shaped her career but set a solid foundation in Track Engineering. Lisa is a strong promoter of the benefits of good engineering practice and passionate about enabling and developing the capability of others.

Vossloh Cogifer Australia Pty Ltd is the Australian subsidiary of Vossloh AG. The business formally known as “TKL Rail” was acquired by Vossloh in December 2007. Glenn has held the position of Engineering Manager of Vossloh Cogifer Australia for 19 years. He has worked in the industry for over 40 years in areas of Sales and Commercial field, though has predominantly worked in the fields of design for manufacture of Turnouts, Points and Crossings. Glenn is a Certified Practicing Engineer and is an Associate Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Australia. From 2007 – 2016 was a review member on CE2 committee for all AS1085 rail standards. Glenn chaired the production of AS1085.21 Turnouts, Switches and Crossings Australian standard from initial development to national acceptance. Glenn is a current member of RISSB Australian Standards review committee for 1085.21 Turnouts, Switches and Crossings. He is a member of review committee for AS7642 Turnouts and other Special trackwork. Glenn has authored, co-authored and presented a number of technical papers for the rail industry, both Nationally and Internationally. Glenn and Vossloh have supported the Turnouts workshop events, since inception in 2008 and pleased to be able to contribute again to this forum.

Daniel entered the railway industry from an electrical and electronics background specialising in design and problem solving. Beginning as a Mechanical Design Draftsman in 1998 for VAE Railway Systems, he has built on this skill set with 24 years of specialised turnout knowledge. Having grown from the ground up his experience spans the full spectrum of turnout lifecycle from collaborative design to specialist manufacturing methods, factory and site assembly, pre-installation and installation, maintenance and decommissioning, all supported by continual improvement and problem solving with a customer centric focus. Since 2018 Daniel has had the pleasure of representing voestalpine Railway Systems Australia as the Engineering Manager during an unprecedented time of growth and innovation. In an industry feeling the pinch of skill shortages he hopes to share some practical knowledge to help the industry keep pace with this growth.

Crispian is a Standards Development Crispian is an Operational Readiness Specialist at Rio Tinto’s Sustaining Capital division. Cris has over 25 years of experience in the railway industry, in both operational and safety roles working for both the public and private sector. Cris has been instrumental in improving safety, harmonization, and interoperability solutions for the Australian Railway Network, through roles at RISSB, ARTC, and Rio Tinto. Crispian was heavily involved in the RCE projects where a large number of turnouts were installed into brownfields locations, and knows first hand the issues with this work.

Mark Fulford has been in the rail industry for 20 years in product design, manufacturing and supply of rail products including Turnouts, Buffer Stops, Points Operation Systems, Glued Insulated Joints (GIJ’s), Rail Lubricators, slab track systems, crane rail systems and many more. He started his career at Portec Rail in the UK working as a Design Engineer, before moving through to be the Technical Manager. In 2011 he joined Salix Products, where he has been responsible for Engineering and Operations Management and now in the role of General Manager. The Australian owned business has grown to be an expert in the field of design and supply of complex turnouts and trackwork, we have a local and global supply chain capable of supporting the needs of rail owners and constructors across Australia and New Zealand.