A former key adviser to Tony Blair, Lord Adonis was recently appointed to the cabinet. A genuine rail enthusiast, he has been a strong supporter of new high-speed lines and electrification.

For over a decade Nicholas has been a high profile news presenter for the Channel Four News, News at Ten and most recently for the BBC. He has a close interest in transport matters, especially railways and light rail schemes.

As Director of High Speed at UIC, Ignacio's department works to promote the worldwide development of high-speed rail and to support all members in their national high-speed projects.

Theresa is the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, whose party strongly believes in the environmental and economic benefits a new high speed rail network would bring to Britain.

Iain is Chief Executive of Network Rail. Previously, he was Chief Executive of TubeLines, one of the infrastructure companies under London Underground public private partnership, following 16 years with EDS.

Formerly the CEO and Chairman at Deutsche Bahn, Johannes is now the Executive Director of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), which provides influential advice and recommendations to European policy makers.

Prior to becoming CEO & President of Invensys Rail in 2006, James a held a number of senior positions at organisations such as Kidde PLC, Honeywell Aerospace, consultants AT Kearney and EBRS.

David is Director of Strategy & Finance at SNCF. His experience also includes influential roles at Eurostar, the InterCapital & Regional Rail Ltd consortium and VINCI Concessions.

Giuseppe is a founding shareholder and the Managing Director of Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori S.p.A. (NTV), an innovative high speed railway operator in Italy.

Morimura began his career 37 years ago with Japan National Railways and is now the Senior Executive Director at JR Central which runs the 500-km Shinkansen route between Tokyo and Osaka.

Juan Matías is Director of International Projects at RENFE, the Spanish public railway operator and one of the high-speed rail leaders with the third biggest high-speed rail fleet in the world.

Sir David chairs HS2 in its strategic year of development after retiring from his position as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport in 2007.

Julie is a Director of Greengauge 21, a not-for-profit company which promotes the case of high speed rail in the UK, and a transport economist specialising in railway strategy.

Since becoming Chief Executive of Eurostar in 2002 Richard has turned around its performance, delivering record passenger numbers and punctuality, and successfully launching the first high speed passenger service in Britain.
 

Chairman of the Northern Way Transport Compact, and publisher of the Transport Times, David has an international reputation as a commenter on transport issues.

Sir Richard has been Leader of Manchester City Council since 1996. His political interests include the links between economic development and social policy, open democracy and the community leadership role of local authorities; and the role of cities in creating a sustainable future.

Reinhard's international railway experience spans the fields of marketing and sales, engineering and project management within the Swiss and French rolling stock and equipment industries. Today he advises Alstom Transport on strategy and long-term vision.