From Spanners to Systems: Systems Thinking in UK Rail Maintenance
About
Get a rare, frontline perspective into how a systems thinking approach is being used to transform rail maintenance. With insights from on-the-ground delivery teams and from an Infrastructure Maintenance Delivery Manager (IMDM), you will get a down-to-earth view of the realities, constraints, and trade-offs faced on the ground.
This lecture presents how a more joined-up way of working is delivering transformational improvements in UK rail maintenance. Drawing on frontline experience and engagement with local leadership, it focuses on how everyday maintenance activities are planned and delivered; how people, processes, assets, and decisions connect in practice and how better collaboration between operations, engineering, and leadership can support sustainable improvement in maintenance delivery
Common challenges such as reactive work, disconnected processes, and local optimisation are explored, alongside practical ways to support a shift toward more proactive maintenance. The aim is to improve asset condition and reliability while supporting safe outcomes for the workforce, passengers, and trains.
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Continuing Professional Development
This event can contribute towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours as part of the IET's CPD monitoring scheme.
11 Feb 2026
6:00pm - 9:30pm
Organiser
- London Local Network
Registration information
There is an opportunity to Sponsor the event. Sponsorship funds are normally used to cover expenses which cannot be paid through the IET Charity budget. Such expenses include alcoholic beverage for the Speakers Networking Session after the event. If interested please contact Xenophon Christodoulou London Local Network Chair xenophon.christodoulou@ietvolunteer.org
Speakers
Max Sturridge
Systems Thinking Consultant - Network Rail - Wessex Route
Max Sturridge is a Systems Thinking Consultant with well over a decade consulting expereince across Strategy and Operations. He is currently working on a long-term contract with Network Rail’s Wessex Route focussed on improving front line productivity and driving route-wide financial efficiencies.
Cristina Sinchetriu
Systems Thinking Consultant
Cristina Sinchetriu is a Systems Thinking Consultant with ver a decade of consulting expereince across Strategy and Operations. She is currently working on a long-term contract with Network Rail’s Wessex Route focussed on improving front line productivity and driving route-wide financial efficiencies.
Programme
18:00 Arrival and registration with Tea/Coffee/Sandwiches (Library)
18:30 Lecture begins in the Kelvin Lecture Theatre
19:30 Q&A
20:00 Networking drinks reception
21:30 Event Close