RISSB Connect Edition 35, October 2023

Edition 35, October 2023

INSIDE THIS EDITION

+ CEO Message
+ A review of AS 7637 Hydrology and Hydraulics
+ Horizon 6.0 Program nominations are open! 
+ People Spotlight for RISSB's 20th Anniversary

CEO MESSAGE

The annual AusRAIL Plus conference is only a few weeks away! RISSB is excited to engage with our members and industry about our products, safety tools, programs and services at this year's event. 

RISSB will have a booth at this year's event, for members and industry to engage with RISSB on current issues, trends, and opportunities within the rail industry. There will be presentations about the Australian Rail Risk Model (ARRM), information about RISSB’s online training (Learning Express) and its classroom courses, such as the recently accredited Undertake a Derailment Course, and RISSB’s Horizons Program.

The RISSB Team will be in attendance and are eager to meet with our members to discuss the Work Plan for 2023/24. If you will be in town for the event, we welcome you to reach out to our staff in advance and arrange a catch-up with us.

We encourage our members and industry to visit us at AusRAIL to see what we are currently doing, ask questions, and celebrate our 20^th anniversary.

We hope to see you there!

Tim Eggington                                                                                                 
Acting RISSB CEO

PRODUCTS

A review of AS 7637 Hydrology and Hydraulics

The review of AS 7637 Hydrology and Hydraulics has kicked off with the formation of the development group and the first meeting booked in early October. The development group members bring a wealth of experience both from the rail industry and consulting expertise in hydrology, flood resilience, engineering and resource management.

While updating the content, the group will be asked to consider:

• Lessons learnt from recent extreme weather events and incidents as a result of flooding impacts
• How can we apply learnings from the growing research into infrastructure resilience and sustainability
• Can revised flood modelling in this constantly changing climate improve the rail industry's approach to risk mitigation for future weather events.

Infrastructure resilience is becoming increasingly important within the rail industry as we respond to the impacts of severe weather events occurring frequently across Australia. AS 7637 Hydrology and Hydraulics seeks to standardise the understanding of these impacts and improve the risk management approach to flooding events, to minimise the risk of damage to infrastructure, rolling stock and reduce the impact of incidents and disruptions caused by major flooding events in the future.

Watch this space for more updates over the coming weeks. 

TRAINING

Horizon 6.0 Program nominations are open! 

Nominations are now open for RISSB's next Horizons Program, Horizons 6.0!

RISSB is offering a unique opportunity to up and coming young professionals in the rail industry to be part of shaping rail’s technical future. Starting in February 2024.

Like our previous programs, this year’s participants will be taken on a practical professional journey, growing their knowledge of cutting-edge technology and developing an innovation mindset that will help position your organisation as a business of the future.

The Horizons Program 6.0 will:

• Provide a forum for knowledge sharing and learning
• Extend the participant’s professional network both within and outside the industry
• Provide participants with the skills to drive and manage change
• Engage young professionals to provide technical input into RISSB’s and the industry’s future
• Assist in improving the safety and productivity of the rail industry through RISSB products.

Further details and the nomination form can be found here.

PEOPLE SPOTLIGHT ON...
RISSB's key contributors over the last 20 years

This year, RISSB is celebrating it's 20th year Anniversary! Our organisation was established in June 2003 as the 'Code Management Company', then from 2007 onwards, we were formally known as the Rail Industry Safety Standards Board (RISSB).

For the last 20 years, RISSB has been supported by, and worked with, some incredible people that have contributed greatly to our business. For the next few months, we will be recognising some of RISSB's key contributors, as they share their experiences working with RISSB.

Matthew Longland 

Sydney Trains CEO                           

"Sydney Trains is a proud and longstanding RISSB partner. Over the last 20 years is has been a pleasure to see RISSB evolve and excel at partnering with industry.

Growing from being the safety standards body, to now providing advice to industry through its subject matter experts; providing awareness and training through MasterClass Webinars; to offering the unique Horizons Program, which addresses the rail industry challenges of the future with a significant focus on technology by harnessing the next generation of talented professionals.

It’s been great to be part of your journey - Happy 20th Birthday RISSB."

RISSB – Industry’s Partner in Co-Regulation