This event will bring together innovators (entrepreneurs), funders, and clients to examine why innovation so often struggles to scale in rail. The discussion will focus on what needs to change to move innovation from pilot to deployment and how we ensure new ideas reach the end user and deliver real benefit to customers and the communities we serve.
Date: 3rd November 2026
Time: 5pm – 9pm
Venue: Shoosmiths,
What you’ll take away:
- Perspectives from innovators, funders and clients on where innovation stalls
- Insight into the commercial, cultural and structural barriers to adoption
- Practical actions to help innovation move beyond pilots and deliver real benefits to end users.
Speakers
Erika Lewis
Erika Lewis is the CEO of Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation agency for transport, construction, data infrastructure and local growth. She is responsible for setting and delivering a strategy that helps UK SMEs test, trial and commercialise innovations at scale, and fuels business growth and investment in these sectors.
Before joining the Catapult, Erika was CEO of the UK Government’s AI Safety Summit, and worked for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Erika’s career has focused on leveraging innovation to drive economic development and national impact. As a Director in cyber security, digital identity, and data policy for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), she delivered the National Data Strategy and led the development of the Covid response package for the voluntary sector. She previously held positions at the Competition and Markets Authority, Greater London Authority and London Development Agency.
Erika is a non-executive director of AIRTO, the Association for Innovation, Research and Technology Organisations. She formerly served as a Board Member of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, and on the Audit and Risk committee at the Open University.
Toufic Machnouk
Toufic Machnouk is Managing Director of GBRX, the strategic technology and innovation body for Britain’s railway, and a member of the sector’s Executive Leadership Team. He leads work across government, industry and academia to accelerate the adoption of strategic technologies that improve outcomes for people, including artificial intelligence, advanced computation, intelligent sensing, robotics, quantum technologies, data systems and cyber security.
Before establishing GBRX, Toufic created and led the Industry Partnership for Digital Railway, mobilising one of the UK’s largest strategic enterprise partnerships to support a multi-billion-pound national technology investment portfolio. His work has focused on building the relationships, delivery models and institutional capability required to enable large-scale technology adoption and system transformation.
Toufic is a strong advocate for public engagement with science, engineering and technology. He teaches and speaks regularly on leadership, innovation, and strategic technologies, supporting the development of future capability in engineering, technology and systems leadership. He holds a degree in Design Engineering and an Executive MBA with Distinction from the University of Bath.
Register Your Interest
To express your interest, please complete the booking registration form. SWiFT events are Members only, should you wish to join, please complete the Membership application form here.
Dietary Requirements
Most dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten/dairy/nut-free options will be catered for. Please notify our waiting staff of your specific dietary needs upon arrival. While we strive to cater to all dietary preferences and allergies, we cannot guarantee that our food will be completely free of allergens. We appreciate your understanding.
Sponsored by Network Rail and Newsom Consulting.