The Railway Study Network are delighted to present Ed Thomas, KPMG Partner, in conversation with Neil Robertson, CEO of National Skills Academy for Rail.
Ed Thomas is KPMG’s UK Head of Transport and co-leads our Global Public Transport network. Ed joined KPMG in 1995 and has specialized in Transport for the last 25 years. He has led a number of high-profile engagements for both public and private sector clients, principally in the rail sector.
For the private sector, Ed was central in establishing KPMG as the leading advisor to bidders operating in the rail franchise / concession market. He has worked with almost all of the largest global market players and has supported Abellio, Firstgroup, Keolis, Stagecoach and Virgin on 10 successful contract bids. For the public sector Ed advised the Strategic Rail Authority on franchise policy and supported negotiations on a series of franchise competitions and Direct Awards. He advised the Shaw Review on the structure and financial sustainability of Network Rail. More recently, he has led all of KPMG’s extensive work on Rail Reform. This has included advising the Williams Review on international models, supporting DfT on the development of Passenger Service Contracts prior to the change in policy to public ownership and leading KPMG’s work as the Transformation Partner to the Great British Railways Transition Team.
Neil Robertson joined NSAR in 2015 from the utility sector, where he was CEO of the Energy & Utility Skills Group. Before this, he was CEO of the British Institute of Innkeeping, a professional body and awarding organisation. Prior to these sectoral CEO roles, he held senior positions in government departments for education and business, where he had responsibilities in skills, employability, English and migration, regional economic development and European Structural Funds. Neil has also worked with Babcock, City & Guilds and the Scottish Qualifications Authority. He started working life as a trainee quantity surveyor for GA Group, before studying and tutoring at Edinburgh University, specialising in socioeconomic theory.
NSAR is the connection between the rail industry, government and training providers, trusted by government to help deliver the goals and needs of the industry for the future. Established as a not-for-profit membership organisation in 2010, our service offerings have expanded to provide expert skills and workforce consultancy to businesses in the rail, transport and infrastructure sectors in the UK and elsewhere. The Railway Study Network (formerly the Railway Study Association and the Railway Study Forum) is one of the rail industry’s longest standing bodies and sets out to improve knowledge of how railways work and operate around the world. It provides a forum for the exchange of experience,
knowledge and opinion on issues relating to all aspects of the railway industry.
Booking for Railway Study Network members and NSAR members – Free
Note: If you are not a current Member of the Railway Study Network or NSAR, please be aware our membership team may be in touch with you using your email address provided regards membership opportunities. If you do not wish to be contacted, please email and let us know at RailwayStudyNetwork@nsar.co.uk
This event will be available to attend online as well.
Date: 3rd December 2025
Time: 18:30 – 20:00
Location: Hybrid. In-person attendance limited to 40 spaces.
Please note, for paid ticketed events, 20% VAT is added to ticket prices. If you cannot attend for whatever reason – tickets are non-refundable.
Sorry, bookings are closed for this event.