The Future of Rail: How rail can transform urban spaces

Alexandra Batey

Alexandra Batey is a Director at the Nichols Group and a recognised leader in complex programme delivery and project sponsorship. Previously, she served as Phase 2b Development Director at HS2 Ltd, where she was responsible for shaping and managing the development and early lifecycle delivery of future high-speed rail lines. With over 20 years of experience at Transport for London (TfL), Alexandra held senior roles including Director of Investment Delivery Planning, Crossrail Joint Sponsor, and Head of Public Transport Sponsorship.  A Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Alexandra combines technical expertise with strategic vision. She is also deeply committed to mentoring and developing the next generation of leaders.

Tom Olliver

Tom is based in Saudi Arabia and is an experienced director of rail projects. He led the planning and readiness for tournament rail operations on behalf of the Host Country for the successful FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Previously, he specialised in the design and development of large-scale tunnel and rail programmes.

Tom has unique broad-based knowledge of the development and operation of rail networks. He has significant experience in the development of complex rail programmes from initial feasibility and approvals, through the design and construction stages, onto the commencement of revenue service, and event time operations including the safe movement of passengers and customer information.

Tom is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, he is also a Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.

Mr. Chew Tai Chong

TC leads a 6,400+ strong workforce of technical experts across 28 offices in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, creating value for clients and communities, and helping to realise the fast-growing region’s immense economic potential and sustainable development goals over the coming decade.
Together with Arup’s APAC Leadership Team, TC harnesses Arup’s global expertise and deep local knowledge, cultivated over more than six decades shaping the built environment across the region, to meet the burgeoning demand for resilient infrastructure, enhanced mobility, greener energy, and vibrant, inclusive cities. TC is dedicated to unlocking transformative opportunities for clients by leveraging Arup’s unique Total Design proposition, amidst the rapid advancements in digital and data services, green energy technologies, and urbanisation.

Previously, TC was Arup’s Global Rail Leader responsible for the design and delivery of major multidisciplinary projects around the world, with a focus on rail transit systems including high-speed, metros, light, and heavy rail. He has advised governments and delivery bodies responsible for major rail projects, with a focus on unlocking the economic, social and environmental value of infrastructure. This means taking a whole-life and 'total system' view, understanding the catalytic potential within the broader urban landscape.

Prior to Arup, as the President of Global Business Operations, TC led Samsung C&T’s international business operation, establishing it as a trusted Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) company. During his tenure as Projects Director at MTR Corporation, TC was responsible for all new railway projects in Hong Kong. While at Bombardier Transportation in London as Head of Mass Transit in its systems division, TC oversaw major projects, including the London Underground Victoria Line upgrade.

TC is an Arup Fellow, a chartered engineer and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and professional institutions in the United Kingdom, the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences and the Hong Kong Institute of Directors. He has made significant contributions to the engineering industry, evident through over 50 published papers. He makes regular presentations at international conferences on topics such as transit-oriented development and unlocking the value of rail through public-private partnerships, infrastructure resilience, decarbonisation, circular economy, sustainable innovation, digitisation, enhancing the productivity of infrastructure delivery and skills.

Matthew Carpen

Matthew Carpen, a highly experienced development leader, is Chief Executive of the Mayor of London’s Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC), which is delivering London’s largest brownfield development of 25,000 new homes and tens of thousands of new jobs around the new High Speed 2 station at Old Oak Common.  Matthew has a long background in strategic planning and infrastructure delivery having spent 22 years working in London on major projects.  He joined OPDC in October this year as CEO and spent the past decade as Managing Director of Barking Riverside Limited (BRL), a joint venture between the Mayor of London and L&Q.  In post at Barking Riverside, Matthew led a new masterplan set to deliver up to 20,000 homes and secured over £300m in public and private investment for East London, alongside delivering a new transport interchange used by thousands of people each day from a growing community of 3,500 new homes.

Sam Uren

Sam is an accomplished Chartered Civil Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. She has over 25 years’ experience leading multidisciplinary engineering projects.

She specialises in new stations and railway infrastructure and has a wealth of experience in design and project management as well as strategic rail development roles.

She is experienced in managing all stages of design and delivery and understands how to construct schemes in the complex railway environment. She also has an excellent understanding of the implications of development for the wider environment, anticipating and managing potential frustrations for schemes.

Sam is Company Director and shareholder at SLC, leading the engineering team, operational integration and HR, marketing, communications and wellbeing as well as leading our EDI.