Rail In Scotland Event
Monday 8 March 2021 | 2 - 4pm
The Rail In Scotland Event will cover transport and policy issues facing the nation as it heads towards Holyrood Elections in May 2021.
Agenda
2pm | Welcome, David Clarke, Technical Director, Railway Industry Association
2.05pm | Panel Discussion, followed by a Q&A session, with:
- Bill Reeve, Director of Rail, Transport Scotland;
- Sara Thiam, Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Development and Industry (invited);
- Shona Clive, Director at the Scottish Rail Cluster;
- Colin Deuchars, Managing Director, Babcock Rail
3pm | Policy Workshop begins
4pm| Event closes
Speakers
Bill Reeve, Director of Rail, Transport Scotland
Bill Reeve joined Transport Scotland to establish its new rail team, following the devolution of rail powers to the Scottish Parliament in 2005. Bill has worked in a number of roles in Transport Scotland, and is now Director of Rail. Bill also leads their work introducing integrated smart ticketing across all public transport modes in Scotland.
Bill has more than thirty years of experience of the passenger and freight transport industry, working in British Rail, the privatised rail industry, and as Director of Project Sponsorship at the Strategic Rail Authority prior to joining Transport Scotland.
Bill's career has included front line production management; rail freight business development; policy and strategy development; management of franchise contracts; and major rail project sponsorship including new railways, rolling stock and service developments.
Bill is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and recently served as Chairman of its Railway Division.
Sara Thiam, Chief Executive, SCDI
As the Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) Sara is focusing on the opportunities that climate change and digital transformation can deliver for Scotland’s economy. As Director for the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in Scotland Sara led membership growth, lifelong learning, thought leadership and STEM activity. She is a member of the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland and Board Member for the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre.
Sara’s career in economic development includes the Glasgow Edinburgh Collaboration Initiative and EU knowledge transfer projects designed to stimulate Scottish innovation. Her early career in international education included the setting up of the Eurodesk youth information service subsequently replicated throughout the EU.
Sara holds a BA (Hons) in modern languages from the University of Stirling.