The Railway Study Network are delighted to present Thomas Ableman, in conversation with Neil Robertson, CEO of National Skills Academy for Rail.
Thomas Ableman will focus on the innovation mission at Great British Railway and he will also talk about the characteristics of innovative organisations whether in Europe or elsewhere. Thomas Ableman has been a transport changemaker all his life: leading the doubling of revenue at Chiltern Railways while pioneering free Wi-Fi and mobile ticketing, founding the startup Sn-ap and serving as Director of Strategy & Innovation at Transport for London. Now, through Freewheeling, he helps today’s leaders cut through treacle, speed up decisions and put customers back at the heart of change.
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
Doors open at 17:00 for a 17:30 start.
Date: 11 February 2026
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Grant Thornton UK (8 Finsbury Circus, London, England, EC2M 7EA)
Please note, for paid ticketed events, 20% VAT is added to ticket prices. If you cannot attend for whatever reason – tickets are non-refundable.