Overview

About the webinar

Join us as we explore the pivotal role of railway infrastructure in transforming transportation across Africa. Despite its significant contribution to the economy and regional connectivity, there are still challenges hindering the continent's railway potential.

ConstructAfrica proudly presents the Railway Infrastructure Development in Africa Webinar, scheduled for June 20th, 2024. This virtual event, hosted on Zoom as part of our Building a Better Africa webinar series, aims to address these challenges head-on.

This webinar will convene 150+ policymakers, project owners, industry experts, and thought leaders to exchange insights and strategies for developing, constructing and managing railway infrastructure across the continent. Together, we'll explore the latest best practices and innovative solutions driving Africa's railway development forward.

Our discussions will revolve around crucial topics including:

• Modernising legacy rail systems
• Successfully delivering cross-border rail projects
• Financing rail projects
• Making PPPs work in the rail sector
• Delivering inner city rail
• Technology   

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of shaping the future of railway infrastructure in Africa. Register now to secure your spot at the forefront of this transformative dialogue.

About the panelists

Abimbola Akinajo

Managing Director, LAMATA

Engr. Abimbola Akinajo is the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority and a Chartered Civil Engineer (both in the UK and Nigeria). She has over three decades post qualification experience, gained substantially in the design and delivery of major transport (both Rail and Road) infrastructure projects. 
She has over 20 years of experience in engineering, specializing in railway infrastructure projects. She held positions at WS Atkins Consulting, Robert West Consulting, Fluor Daniel Limited, and London Underground Limited.

Bruno Tandeo

Managing Director & CEO, TAZARA

Eng. Bruno is the Managing Director and CEO of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority. He is also a railway management professional having worked for over 40 years in railway-related industries ranging from rail operators to manufacturers of railway equipment such as General Electric Transportation and Bombardier. 

Simplice Essoh

Director of Central Development, SITARAIL

Simplice ESSOH is the Director of Central development at SITARAIL and a Public Works Engineer. He holds a DESS in Management from IAE Paris – Sorbonne Panthéon and a diploma in project monitoring and evaluation from CEFEB (AFD). He joined SITARAIL in 2000 where he started as the Deputy Transport Director from 2003 - 2007. He then became the Commercial Director from 2007 - 2011 and the Transport Director from 2011 - 2016. 

Mesela Nhlapo

CEO, African Rail Industry Association

Mesela Nhlapo is an influential leader in rail and transportation, with over twenty years of experience, serving as CEO of ARIA and Africa Director for the Rail Working Group. She has significantly advanced African rail transportation, covering areas such as safety, policy, and technology integration. 
She champions the Luxembourg Rail Protocol, promoting sustainable, open-access rail networks across Africa, aiming to enhance trade and economic growth while fostering regional connectivity.

José Cordovilla

Director, Infrastructure Advisory Services

Jose Cordovilla is a Civil Engineer and thought leader on infrastructure, with an international career of 25 years working with clients and partners. He specialised in public-private partnerships (PPPs), private-sector participation, and infrastructure financing. He currently leads a team of professionals who provide technical and strategic advice to public and private clients in the planning, financing, delivery, and management of infrastructure projects globally. 

Rachel Hughes

Director, Surbon Consulting

For the past 11 years, Rachel has run Surbon Consulting, supporting operators and government clients on rail business development and sustainability projects across the UK and the Middle East. Projects have ranged from leading the development of the first-ever carbon footprint of the UK railway industry to supporting the mobilization of Doha Metro. 

Henk Harmse

CEO, Elogium

Henk Harmse is the CEO of Elogium. He has over three decades of experience in maintenance, supply chain, manufacturing, and project management across multiple industries. 
He has developed a model to assist customers in adopting 3D printing as part of their future strategies. One of the key industries that benefit greatly from adopting 3D printing is the rail industry due to aging fleets and the availability of spare parts. 

Makgola Makololo

Managing Director, Alstom Rolling Stock

Miss Makgola is the Managing Director of Alstom Rolling Stock, South Africa. She worked as a system engineer and in various leadership roles for the South African power utility, Eskom, and also worked as a senior reliability engineer for gas giant Sasol. 
She then worked as Deputy  Director General in the National Government where she gained extensive experience in infrastructure investments, policy formulation, and regulation.