Speakers

Dr Aaron Gracey is currently the Head of Emergency Management, Operational security and BTP liaison for Network Rail, co leading the organisation’s move to develop an Operational Resilience framework with Warren Owens, the Head of NR BCM. Throughout the process, he is utilising knowledge and technical expertise obtained from his PhD research. He is also part of the DfT led strategic thought leadership team on building rail industry resilience for the future, in line with the UK Resilience Action Plan and National Framework. In 2023 he managed the delivery of the Network Rail’s 3 national exercise events, which tested the organisation at the operational, tactical and strategic levels. Later he also led the industry’s preparations for managing a major power outage, running six multi agency exercises to test the planning and response processes. He is currently embedding effective operational resilience across the business through improving emergency management, planning, recovery and restoration activities. Prior to joining Network Rail, Aaron was part of the leadership team at the UK Land Warfare Centre’s Command and Staff training centre, regularly running multi-national exercises to prepare the UK for war operations. He is currently serving in the Army Reserves as a Lt Col, and is regularly involved in planning and running exercises to develop military staff planning capabilities. He also lectures on university Resilience MSc programmes as a visiting lecturer, as well as advising on building and developing resilience capacity and capabilities within industry.