Two outstanding rail industry leaders were celebrated last week with TrackSAFE awards. Congratulations to KiwiRail’s Systems Assurance Manager Gabriella Solti, who won the 2025 TrackSAFE Safety Leadership Award, and to former KiwiRail Manager, Traction and Electrical, Allan Neilson, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Gabriella Solti – TrackSAFE Safety Leadership Award winner

Gabriella has worked in the NZ rail industry since 2012 and won the award for her sustained, transformative leadership across several organisations: Transdev Auckland, the City Rail Link project and KiwiRail.

TrackSAFE Foundation Manager Megan Drayton said that Gabriella is “known for explaining complex systems-safety concepts in plain, accessible terms – she engages stakeholders at all levels and encourages a shared commitment to safety. Her nominee said that he has repeatedly seen Gabriella’s technical capability matched by integrity, calm leadership and a strong commitment to safer outcomes.”

Gabriella’s current role focuses on Systems Assurance for Capital Projects, which includes, among other projects, being our Systems Assurance Lead for the European Train Control System (ETCS) implementation on Auckland Metro freight locomotives.

Gabriella says she’s incredibly honoured to receive this recognition. “It reflects not just my own efforts, but the dedication of the many teams and individuals I’ve worked with over the years.”

“I’m grateful to be part of an industry that continues to improve safety for everyone. I hope this award helps highlight the importance of safety engineering and systems assurance and the value of thoughtful, people-focused safety leadership.”

Allan Neilson – TrackSAFE Lifetime Achievement Award

Allan’s career began in 1970 as an engineering cadet. In the years that followed, he was a key technical leader and mentor during some significant rail projects, including the electrification of the North Island Main Trunk in the 1980s, the electrification of the Auckland suburban network and the extension of the electrified network to Waikanae in Wellington.

In all these roles, his focus on safe design and systems integration ensured long-term, sustainable safety outcomes for both staff and the travelling public. Allan also played an important part in the safe introduction of many new technologies and processes. These included New Zealand’s first computer-based interlocking system installed at Middleton in Christchurch, and the national introduction of the flashing yellow ‘advance caution’ signal aspect to provide more information to locomotive engineers.

Megan Drayton described Allan as making “an extraordinary and sustained contribution to rail safety in New Zealand across a 45-year career, during which he demonstrated technical leadership, resilience, and a deep commitment to rail safety – particularly in the fields of signalling, electrification, and the development of safety standards.”

Although Allan retired from KiwiRail in 2015, he has continued to make meaningful contributions to rail safety through his consultancy work, including the Wellington Station re-signalling project. He also remains active in the heritage rail sector, offering valuable guidance to several heritage groups to help them establish robust safety systems aligned with modern risk management practices, ensuring safety is upheld even in volunteer-run and resource-constrained environments.

“His work continues to benefit the industry today,” said Megan, “and he remains a mentor and respected figure among his peers.”