When he was finalising his Engineering degree, Mark Green, Managing Director of Speno Rail Maintenance Australia, saw an advertisement for a graduate ‘Rollingstock Engineer’ vacancy, in his local newspaper.
He liked cars and machinery, and rail seemed like a logical extension of that. So, he applied, got the role, and has never looked back.
“There’s something about rail – the camaraderie, the people, and the mix of history and innovation. Railways have existed for centuries and yet their technology is moving at such a pace that no two days of work are the same,” he said, ahead of the Heavy Haul Rail Conference.
But while Mark loved his daily work, he had one unmet need.
“I wanted to get out there and attend conferences, so I could learn more about the sector and connect with industry peers. But, as a junior, I missed out. It was only the senior staff who were given that opportunity,” he said.
Later in his career, Mark heard about an upcoming conference and approached his manager. Reluctantly, the manager agreed to send him, but only on the proviso that Mark covered his own expenses.
“He said I could attend during working hours without using my annual leave, which was great. But I had to pay for my own transport, tickets and accommodation. I was a little dejected but decided to attend anyway. And I’m glad I did.”
That experience saw Mark spark connections and grow his network. From there, he advanced into progressively more senior roles, culminating in his MD position at Speno Rail.
Here, Mark is focussed on giving opportunities to the next generation of rail workers, to develop their passion and advance their careers.
“I’m lucky to have found my way into rail and want to help others in that direction. At the same time, I want to help fellow rail colleagues feel valued and gain exposure in their roles and give them every opportunity to expand their network and grow their career.”
A growing need
The task is harder today than it was when Mark began his career. With a talent shortage to the tune of 70,000 workers, and 35 percent of the workforce due to retire by 2035, rail is among the greatest casualties of Australia’s technical worker drought.
At the same time, there is growing pressure to attract more diversity in rail – an industry that was once male-dominated. “It is undeniable that diverse workforces improve business outcomes,” Mark said. “But it’s not always easy to attract the diverse talent we need.”
Next Generation Conference Scholarships
Mark’s story is partly why Speno Rail Maintenance Australia is sponsoring the Next Generation Conference Scholarships for Informa’s Heavy Haul Rail Conference, for the fifth year running.
The scholarships support professional development for budding rail talent by subsidising their conference attendance and giving them a platform to showcase their ideas.
For a handful of recently announced winners, Speno will gift:
• Complimentary attendance to the Young Rail Professionals Breakfast
• Complimentary attendance to the Two-Day Heavy Haul Rail Conference
• Opportunity to network with industry representatives
• Certificates of acknowledgement – to be presented at the Conference Dinner
• A featured Professional Profile on the Next Generation Hub within the event app
“We’re really happy to be supporting their professional development and sharing their innovative ideas on how to develop, improve and positively impact the future of heavy haul rail,” Mark said.
Scholarships for the win
Having previously sponsored a coffee stand at alternate events, Mark says this is Speno Rail’s preferred avenue for involvement.
“When you’re sponsoring someone, it is far more impactful to their future,” he said. It’s all about giving someone a ticket at the table where they can learn, grow and gain exposure.”
To secure your tickets for this year’s event please visit the conference website here.
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