Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London
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Overview
The George Ramshaw Curry Memorial Lecture is back in 2020 and will be given by Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), on the 145th Anniversary of the national trade body’s establishment.
Darren Caplan will speak on the topic of 'New decade, new Government – what needs to be done to build world-class rail in the 2020s', with the lecture exploring what – in light of the 2019 General Election – both the new Government and the railway industry needs to do on the challenges facing UK rail. The lecture will cover ‘boom and bust’ in rail funding, the need for more robust support for major rail infrastructure projects and enhancement schemes, and the need to decarbonise and digitalise rail within a couple of decades. Caplan will also speak about the solutions proposed by RIA in its ‘RAIL 2050 Manifesto’, and the need for longer-term thinking by those who build, maintain and are responsible for the UK’s railways.
About George Ramshaw Curry
George Ramshaw Curry was the fourth and longest serving Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association. After obtaining a First Class Honours degree at Trinity College, Cambridge and a brief spell in industry, in 1951 he joined what was then the Locomotive Manufacturers’ Association (which had been founded in 1875) as Assistant Director. He was appointed Director in 1954.
Over the next 31 years, Curry was responsible for the progressive expansion of both the scope and membership of the Association. This was reflected in the changes of title, first to the ‘Locomotive & Allied Manufacturers’ Association’, and then in 1971 to the all-embracing ‘Railway Industry Association’ - RIA. By the time George Curry retired in October 1985, RIA was stronger in terms of membership, influence and activities than ever before. Yet, in a technology-based industry, he was always conscious that it is people who make things happen. Many engineers and managers throughout the industry benefited from his personal interest in their careers.
In recognition of his immense contribution to the railway industry, George Curry was made a Companion of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in October 1985, a rare distinction awarded to those non-engineers who have rendered important services to mechanical engineering. In June 1986 he died after a brief illness.
Day 1
17:45 - Lecture Programme
17:45 - Registration and Refreshments
18:15 - Lecture to commence
19:15 - Questions from the audience
19:30 - End of Lecture
Darren Caplan: Chief Executive, RIA
Darren Caplan joined RIA as Chief Executive in January 2017. Since then he has led the RIA team, with a mission to promote rail supply sector growth, increase RIA’s visibility amongst political and stakeholder decision makers and influencers, and ensure RIA develops into the very best trade association it can be for its members. In July 2018, RIA won the Trade Association Forum’s Conference of the Year, and in 2019, the Association Excellence Award’s Trade Body Overall Best Association.
Prior to RIA, Darren was for six years Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association (AOA), the trade association for UK airports and the sector’s suppliers, where he led award-winning campaigns targeting airport sector growth and fairer levels of aviation tax. In 2016 he won the Trade Association Forum’s ‘Association Leadership’ Award. Before the AOA, Darren worked for 14 years in communications, politics and public affairs across a number of sectors, including infrastructure, planning and technology.
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