Technology in Rail 2025

Toufic leads the sectors strategic innovation body to create a more productive, digital railway, offering key insights for suppliers in AI, tech, and digital transformation.

Kelly Demyan is a Consulting Partner leading EY’s rail sector team. She has over 15 years’ experience delivering innovation and large-scale technology enabled transformation programmes across transport organisations in the UK, including an asset data programme in rail and a connected services programme in roads. Kelly specialises in helping clients overcome human and organisational barriers to drive technology adoption because ultimately, the railway is about people and passengers. She is passionate about leadership, culture and diversity of talent needed to drive digital change and innovation in the rail sector.

Anjay Raj is Head of Engineering for the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP). Anjay is accountable for the overall engineering delivery, system integration and system assurance for ECDP. Anjay has nearly 20 years’ experience in digital signalling projects based on ETCS and CBTC technology in the UK and abroad, spanning engineering leadership, project engineering, design management, testing and commissioning, and assurance. Prior to his current role on ECDP, Anjay held roles as Technical Director for the Interoperable CBTC Programme in New York City and Head of Engineering for the Four Lines Modernisation (4LM) Programme at Transport for London. Anjay is passionate about using engineering and technology to drive innovation, digital transformation, better value and more assured outcomes within the railway industry.

Taron has worked in the rail industry for over 30 years on both rolling stock and infrastructure projects. Taron is part of the EPIP (External Partnership Investment Programme) that seeks to align Network Rail (NR) with partners, internationally and domestic to work in collaboration to delivery R&D, this provides efficiencies for the delivery and maintains a strong link with our international partners.

Milla began her railway career in 2005, initially working with Union Railways on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (now known as High Speed 1) and then with Network Rail, the railway infrastructure owner and operator for Great Britain. Over the years, Milla has focused on programme controls, planning, scheduling, and integration in the railway industry.  In her current role in Wales & Western Region, Milla is leading initiatives in project data analytics across the capital delivery portfolio.

Milla is a keen volunteer, having supported the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways as a permanent way worker, the Royal Academy of Engineering with project CARE, as well as the Association for Project Management (APM) in a variety of roles. Her work with Network Rail and the Royal Academy of Engineering was recognised with the honour of a British Empire Medal.

Within APM, Milla has been a passionate and active volunteer, joining the Planning, Monitoring & Control interest group in 2014 and becoming the group’s chair in 2016. That same year, Milla was elected as a charity trustee of APM, where she has served on the board committees for Professional Standards & Knowledge, Remunerations, Advocacy & Nominations, and Audit & Assurance. Most recently, in 2022, Milla was elected as the chair of the APM board, where she remained until the end of her nine years on the board in 2025.

In 2024, Milla was also appointed as a Non-Executive Director of GCH Ltd, an independent housing association dedicated to providing affordable homes and building successful communities, where she now serves as Chair of Audit & Assurance Committee.

Milla’s passion is for innovation and lifelong learning; she will either be found working, volunteering, or learning something new.

Ben is part of HS2's Innovation team, driving new ideas, technologies, techniques and practices across the programme. Innovation at HS2 manage a portfolio of high value projects, with the aim of creating significant value to the programme and a lasting innovation legacy for the UK.

Prior to joining HS2, Ben was Head of Innovation and Technology at the Solicitors Regulation Authority, designing and delivering a new innovation methodology under their Innovate brand, and before that spent 8 years working in Heathrow Airport's Innovation and Automation team, helping solve business challenges across the airport through trials of new and emerging technology.

Ben began his career as a software developer and has worked in a number of digital and IT roles in both large enterprises and start-ups for more than 25 years, using his expertise to help clients and end-users understand and overcome technical challenges.

Harj is a Technology Consulting Partner with over 10 years’ experience working with Network Rail. He leads technology enabled transformation programmes, combining people, technology and innovation, with experience deploying machine learning and cloud enterprise solutions to solve challenges in the rail sector. Harj spearheaded the execution of one of the most complex deployments in Network Rail, deploying the Network Rail - RailHub solution to 22,000 people, a solution to improve the safe and effective planning and execution of work on or near the line. This has lead to a reduction in near misses, 20% reduction in safety critical errors in safe wok packs and £10m+ savings in reduced consumption of paper and site visits. This accomplishment has earned the NR/EY team prestigious awards from ERP Today and New Civil Engineer for their impactful collaboration with Network Rail. Harj is passionate about working with frontline teams to minimise operational risks, which ultimately reduce fatalities and injuries on the railway. He holds a BSc in Business Computing and Information Technology from Aston Business School.

Dylan Edwards is a Senior Programme Manager at Network Rail, specialising in planning and delivery transformation for 20+ years. With an excellent track record in complex infrastructure programmes, he drives innovation, efficiency, and stakeholder alignment. Dylan is passionate about modernising rail operations to enhance reliability, safety, and performance across the UK’s rail network. Dylan delivered Network Rail’s Planning4Delivery programme (RailHub) and is now leading the Access Planning programme.

Sean is a Partner within EY’s Technology Consulting practice.  He leads Programme Management & Delivery competency serving clients across of all of EY’s markets. Sean has over 20 years’ experience leading the delivery of major technology enabled transformation programmes within the Government & Infrastructure sector, with the last 10 years focussed transport clients including delivering the Planning4Delivery Programme (RailHub) with Network Rail and the Digital for Customer programme with National Highways. Sean holds a MSc (HONS) in Information Systems & Technology (City University, London) and a BSc (HONS) in Business Administration (University of Bath)

Zach Naylor is the Principal Route Engineer (Systems Integration) for Network Rail’s Central Route, based in Birmingham. With over 30 years of experience across engineering, technology, and asset management, Zach currently leads on the integration of business processes and technologies to drive safer, more efficient and cost-effective renewals and maintenance strategies. He is a champion of sustainable engineering, digital innovation, and risk-based decision-making, and plays a key role in shaping the routes CP7 Technology Strategy, aligning it with national programmes and ISO 55000 principles. Zach is passionate about fostering collaboration across disciplines to deliver whole-system outcomes for passengers and freight.

Susan Millington – Head of Programme Management (Capital Delivery) Network Rail

Susan Millington is a strategic leader in infrastructure delivery, currently serving as Head of Programme Management (Capital Delivery) at Network Rail. With a railway career spanning over 3 decades, Susan has led some of the most ambitious efficiency an innovation programmes in the UK rail sector.   

At the heart of Susan’s work is a commitment to unlocking efficiencies and embedding technology into capital delivery programmes.  Her leadership of the SPEED efficiency programme, which delivered £1.6bn savings during control period 6, saw SPEED become a cornerstone of Network Rail’s approach to smarter delivery – streamlining governance, challenging standards and embedding a mindset of continuous improvement across regional portfolios.  Her work has been instrumental in shaping national reporting frameworks and strategic health checks that drive accountability and performance.

Susan is the architect behind the Innovation Acceleration Forum, a cross industry initiative that empowers suppliers, operators, engineers and programme teams to challenge traditional ways of working with a view to streamlining processes and delivery and embed lessons learnt into future investment strategies.  Her leadership has been instrumental in launching on going technologies aimed at improving site safety and operational co-ordination nationally.

She is a key contributor to a number of steering groups, including the track community of practice – where she continues to champion boots off ballast surveying – her work includes the introduction of RILA and subsequently championing the use of drones.

Susan is a vocal advocate for collaborative working, having chaired panels and working groups that bring together suppliers, delivery teams and policy leads to tackle systemic challenges. Her development of the national lessons learnt framework has helped reduce project overspend by sharing knowledge and best practice across industry capital programmes.

Known for her inclusive leadership and strategic clarity, Susan brings a system thinking approach to programme management, regularly collaborating with the Department of Transport, regional delivery teams and industry partners to align investment with outcomes and ensure that technology adoption is both effective and sustainable.

At the On Track Technology panel, Susan will share her perspective on integrating emerging technologies into legacy infrastructure, fostering cross sector collaboration, and building delivery models that are fit for the future.

Craig Evans FCIRO is a seasoned rail operations professional with extensive experience spanning both freight and passenger sectors. As Operations Lead – New Technology Introduction at the Rail Delivery Group, Craig plays a pivotal role in the national rollout of digital rail technologies, including ERTMS. A subject matter expert in ETCS, he has led critical initiatives such as introducing the UK’s first purpose-built freight ETCS full cab simulators and contributed to industry-wide ETCS training, vehicle fitment and standardisation efforts. His background as a train driver, trainer, and simulator manager, combined with a strategic role in shaping digital adoption, gives him unique insight into aligning operational needs with technological advancement, placing human factors and workforce engagement at the heart of innovation.

Danny  is Chief Digital and Innovation officer at LNER (London North Eastern Railway), where he set up and leads the digital and business transformation programme.  With a strong and extensive background in business transformation, customer experience and innovation, Danny has been instrumental in projects that bring smarter, more seamless, enjoyable journeys to life—from operational system transformation to retail, integrated customer touchpoints, data-driven personalisation and much more.

Gerard Butler has worked in data management and real time information at Transport for London since 2003, providing accurate integrated multi modal public transport information for the TfL website and Go app, as well as third party users, with responsibility for London area stops and stations within the nationwide DfT stops database. He was appointed as Chartered Institute of Logistics Accessibility and Inclusion Forum Chair in late 2024 and is also a member of the Institute’s Travel Demand Management Forum.

I’m network Rail#’s head of strategy responsible for outlining future business capability, engaging the martket place for innovation and finding partnerships to prove technologies can work in a rail environment.

I have 18 years industry  experience of leading people, process and technology transformation implementation, in areas including areas such as logistics, telecoms, timetabling, major projects and Network Rail regional businesses.