Big changes have occurred recently for the UIC Security Division. First, after 16 years with UIC, the Head of the UIC Security Division, Jacques Colliard has retired. Accompanying the changing demands from UIC members, Mr Colliard helped transform the Security Division into its own unit with multiple employees, working hard to support the members of the UIC security platform to develop their security strategies. UIC wishes him well in his “new life”, as he called it.
Filling the big shoes left behind by Mr Colliard is UIC’s own Marie-Hélène Bonneau who has been working at the Security Division since 2008.
The security team actively works to support the security platform by animating the three permanent and two ad hoc working groups, and by organising two major events every year: the Security Week and Security Congress. The close ties to the security platform members are maintained, especially since the creation of the new rapid information exchange tool: the Network of Quick Responders. The Security Division also continuously updates the rail security hub (https://railsecurityhub.org/), and participates in rail security related research projects (14 projects since 2010).
Virginie Papillault, Senior Advisor, continues to animate the human factors working group and the TACT (Training, Awareness and Communication tools) Toolbox. Most recently she took the lead in organising the very successful 2019 Security Week.
Following members’ interest in CBRNe (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive) threats, Grigore Havarneanu, Security Research Advisor, coordinates the EU H2020 project PROACTIVE. He also maintains and promotes the RESTRAIL toolbox and is particularly involved in the SAFER-LC project.
Lastly, two new senior advisor staff members have joined the team. Laura Petersen reinforces the Security Division’s active role in European research projects as well as contributes to the Security Hub.
Julika Ramlow joined UIC as a secondee from DB and contributes to the SHERPA project and takes the lead on the Network of Quick Responders. We welcome our new team members.
A great opportunity to get to know all these new faces is by attending the 15th UIC Global Security Congress co-organised with SZDC from 20 – 22 November 2019. This year’s edition will be dedicated to “Security and Safety of stations”. It will provide a unique opportunity for partners to exchange their views and challenges of making stations more safe and secure. You can already register for the congress at https://events.uic.org/2019-registration-to-the-15th-uic-world-security-congress-prague-czech-republic
