Ever since he was a kid, Bryan Law, loved discovering how things work and creating something out of nothing. From his first Lego set to his current role as a senior systems engineer with Queensland Rail, Bryan has applied this passion and ingenuity to solving complex problems through the systems engineering, systems thinking approach.

It should come as no surprise then that his winning entry for the 2022 Urban Rail scholarship competition included practical solutions and case studies that focused on enhancing the passenger experience to reduce end-to-end travel time and cost, improve train frequency and reliability, and allow passengers to stay connected.

Grab a seat and get comfortable, because you are guaranteed to hear more about Bryan over the coming years.

Your scholarship entry to last year’s Urban Rail conference focused on promoting a positive passenger experience. What inspired this idea? What progress have you seen in this area? What more is required?

Bryan Law, Senior Systems Engineer, Queensland Rail

My inspiration came about when I learnt that the three fundamental factors that determine whether a passenger will travel by rail were guaranteed seating, comfort, and convenience.

In terms of progress, we are seeing many multi-billion-dollar rail projects being invested globally, including Queensland’s Cross River Rail project. These projects are addressing and improving these fundamental factors which ultimately promotes a positive passenger experience.

Anyone in the rail industry can tell you about the skill shortage. As more and more rail projects are introduced in upcoming years, the skill shortage will continue to increase. This is a problem that will need to be addressed, and it should be addressed at an educational level to ensure that the next generation understands all the professional opportunities that are available in the rail industry.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on the Cross River Rail (CRR) project, specifically the European Train Control System (ETCS) project. The project introduces the ETCS technology that will ultimately increase capacity, enhance safety and improve efficiency for the Queensland Rail network.

Tell us about your career path leading up to your current role.

During my time at university, I worked part-time for Global Roads Technology (GRT) as a Systems and Research Engineer. My role focused on utilising model-based systems engineering (MBSE) to design GRT’s unique mining pumps. As I always knew I wanted to work in the rail or aerospace industry, I was very fortunate to land a graduate rail engineer position at WSP when I graduated university. This role gave me the opportunity to work on multi-disciplinary projects across Australia and New Zealand. Eventually, I joined Queensland Rail to work on ETCS, a city-changing project.

What’s your favorite part of your job? 

My favorite part of my job is knowing what I do will eventually significantly benefit the many users that take the rail network every day.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy going to the gym, hanging out with friends, and enjoying the outdoors.

Where do you hope to go to next in your career?

As I finish my Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering in the middle of this year, I hope to get my chartership in the upcoming years.

Entries for the 2023 Urban Rail scholarship competition are currently open. The deadline for applications is 20 May 2023. Visit the event website for more details. 

Informa Australia is proud to offer scholarships for young rail professionals to attend all our conferences. Visit the event websites for more details.