Rebeka Sellick, Business Development Director, Cordel, will be joining us at the upcoming Electrification Seminar as part of our panel discussion on Artificial Intelligence in Railway Engineering. Read on to discover Rebeka’s experience, what a typical day looks like for her, the challenges she encounters, and more.
About Rebekka
Rebeka’s railway engineering career spans frontline maintenance, asset management and performance optimisation. Inspired by innovation when she was Engineering Director at ATOC (now RDG), Rebeka’s current role is with Cordel.ai. Rebeka volunteers as Chair of the Railway Division of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and is also a Fellow of the PWI.
How did you start your career in the rail industry?
I joined what was then British Rail straight after doing my A levels in 1986, for a pre-university year shopfloor. I went off to do my engineering degree, but I’d had so much fun, I kept coming back for more.
Tell us a little about your career experiences to date.
I used to say “I mend trains”, then I moved on to “talking about mending trains” when I went into consultancy. Now I say I’m working to make the railway better (and still playing with real trains).
What does an average day look like for you?
Get up early, respond to overnight emails, jump on my bike, catch a train somewhere, meet a customer or potential customer, learn something new, make plans on the train home, catch up with emails, hop onto calls with international colleagues till late, write proposals, set the world to rights, go to bed late.
Why did you want to present in a PWI technical seminar?
I got excited about innovation across the railway system when I was Engineering Director at ATOC (now RDG), and I’m passionate about sharing the potential for AI technologies to transform the way we manage railway assets.
What’s the best bit of advice you have for someone looking to work in the rail industry?
If you think railways have room to improve, join us to help deliver those improvements.
What are some of the biggest challenges of your current role?
That the engineers in some of my customers don’t have enough power to get on with implementing solutions they know will make their railways better and more efficient – however strong a case they make.
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
The shared passion, the people, and making things happen.
Thank you, Rebeka, for generously sharing your journey and experiences. We’re excited to welcome you to the Electrification Seminar and look forward to your valuable contributions to the panel discussion.
