The Whistle Board Newsletter – July 2018

Message from the CEO

Over the past few months, I’ve been approached by stakeholders enquiring about the outcome of this year’s Priority Planning Forum (PPF). Following our July board meeting, I’m pleased to announce that our 2018/2019 work plan will be published on our website – this plan truly reflects RISSB’s new strategic direction and its priorities for the next few years.

Throughout the financial year, we will be managing the development or review of a total of 55 products. This work plan represents a significant increase in the program, but will be achieved as a result of RISSB working hard to streamline processes and workflows.

I am also very pleased to announce that, for the second year in a row, we have exceeded the base development targets set for us by our board and we are confident that moving to an in-house authoring model will continue to pay dividends to our stakeholders.

Of the 55 products that were approved for development, five represent the AS 1085 series currently transitioning from Standards Australia,19 were resubmitted from the 2017 PPF,  and 24 were submissions put forward for consideration in this year's PPF.

Over the course of the next few months, we will be putting out calls for Development Group members and putting forward draft Standards for your review and consideration. If you would like to get involved, please continue to read our Communiques and submit an application to join a Development Group.

If you have any questions about our forward work plan or would like to get in contact with me to discuss your participation in the development of one of our Standards, please contact me on (07) 3724 0000.

Paul Daly
RISSB CEO
 

RISSB Exceeds Work Plan Targets for the Second Year in a Row!

As mentioned briefly in the CEO’s Report above, RISSB has for the second year running exceeded its work plan targets, completing 25 products in 2017/18 (RISSB’s target for 2017/18 was 20).

RISSB’s restructure in early 2017/18 redirected authoring of many products in-house.  This provided RISSB with greater control of the production process, consistency in writing styles, efficiencies in resourcing, improvements in production delivery and cost savings from minimising outsourcing.

The above benefits have now allowed RISSB to embark on its most productive work plan to date, with more than 55 projects to be worked on, and 36 to be completed in the 2018/19 Financial Year.

RISSB acknowledges the many rail industry workers and their employees who give of their time and expertise on Development Groups and Standing Committees to assist RISSB in bringing timely, relevant and quality products to the industry. 

Thank you all for a great 2017/18 year and we look forward to another constructive year in 2018/19!

Products that RISSB completed in 2017/18 can be found at this link.

RISSB's Horizons Program 

We’re thrilled by the response we received for our Horizons Program, with more than 40 high quality applications received from 30 organisations.  The organisations involved are:

A big thank you to everyone who nominated someone in their team to participate in this career-defining development opportunity. We can't wait to meet our participants and work with them over the next 12-14 months.

About

The inaugural RISSB Horizons Program aims to provide learning and growth opportunities for participants, their organisations and the rail industry more broadly. In doing so, we want the Horizons Program to help shape RISSB’s and the rail industry’s technical future.

The Horizons Program aims to help participants:

• Gain a broader understanding of the rail industry and the role of RISSB.
• Understand how innovation and technology can shape rail into the future and how they can be part of that process.
• Find out about themselves - how to work efficiently and effectively, and determine the best way to work with colleagues and managers within the organisation and with key stakeholder groups
• Build a network of like-minded supportive leaders and colleagues to continue personal development.
• Respond to organisational and industry challenges.

The program kicks off with a teleconference on 1 August followed by a 2 day forum in Brisbane on 13 and 14 September.  The program includes technical and professionally focused forums, tech talks, site visits and project work.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information about the Horizons Program, please contact Phil Allan at RISSB via email pallan@rissb.com.au or on mobile number 0401 120 978.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SPAD Forum to Return in October 2018

SPADs remain a major industry safety issue and a topic that is high on RISSB’s agenda. This year, the third industry SPAD Forum will be facilitated by RISSB.

To be held in October, the forum will include:

• Information from RISSB on the SPAD Management Standard
• ATSB discussions on SPAD occurrence data
• Presentations on SPAD initiatives from industry members
• A range of tutorial style sessions on the current SPAD projects and
• A presentation on how technology can be used to mitigate SPADs.

The 2018 SPAD Forum date and location is to be confirmed.  Keeping checking our website for more details.

2018 RISSB Rail Cyber Security Conference
Threats and Opportunities of a Digital Railway 
11-12 September 2018, Brisbane
Hotel Jen

With the rail industry moving rapidly to embrace new technology, the digital railway has arrived. With new technologies come new threats that must be addressed through robust cyber security measures.

More than 100 stakeholders representing rail industry suppliers, State and Federal Government, rail infrastructure managers, rail transport operators and security agencies are expected to converge in Brisbane from 11-12 September to attend RISSB's Rail Cyber Security Conference.

Building on the success of last year's inaugural event, RISSB's 2018 conference will offer delegates valuable workshop opportunities, a host of international and domestic speakers and the chance to participate in industry discussions about threats to rail infrastructure and system vulnerabilities.

This year, our speakers list includes:

• Israel Baron, Head of Cyber Security Department, Israel Rail
• Şebnem Kürklü, Cyber Security Manager, Aurizon
• Simon Foster, Executive Director, Technical, ONRSR
• Eugene Ostapenko, Manager Information Security, Business Services Group, VicTrack
• Pablo Carpay, First Assistant Secretary, Critical Infrastructure Security, Department of Home Affairs
• Dr Ernest Foo, Senior Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
• Rachael Falk, CEO, Australian Cyber Security Research Centre
• Prof Peter Campbell, SMART Infrastructure Facility, Uni Wollongong
• Phil Cook, Principal Systems Engineer, RGB Assurance

• Keerthy Mysore, Principal & John Lear, Principal, KAJE Cyber

RISSB Completes World's First Rail Cyber Security Standard

RISSB is pleased to announce that it has completed the development of AS7770 Rail Cyber Security with the RISSB Board approving the Standard for publication. The Standard is the first of its kind developed in the world, and will provide the Australian Railway networks with more tools to combat the ever-growing issue of cyber security in the industry.

RISSB will be making a presentation on the Standard and how it can be utilised by rail operators and infrastructure managers at the upcoming RISSB Rail Cyber Security Conference in Brisbane in September.  The Standard is now available for members to download from the RISSB website.    

RISSB Meetings Report

Rail Industry Safety Managers Group

The SMG has launched its inaugural newsletter featuring the latest news and updates involving SMG participants. A newsletter will be distributed following each SMG meeting - three times per year.

National Track Worker Safety Forum (NTWSF)

More than 25 industry representatives attended the NTWSF held on 20 June at Queensland Rail. With a full agenda, including presentations from ONRSR, Sydney Trains, Queensland Rail and Aurizon, there was a forum session on the development of a NTWS Strategy which expanded on five key objectives and associated actions. The next NTWSF will be heading to Perth on 3 October 2018. 

National Safeworking Committee (NSC)

The National Safeworking Committee recently met with a focus on completion of the safeworking breaches categorisation model. The model is based on Train Operations, Network Operations and Work in the Rail Corridor. 

National Rules Development

Development of the National Rules has progressed with several new rules modules underway. Through July and August, the National Rules Development Group will meet in Sydney and Adelaide for two three-day sessions to complete