Visionary of the Year
The "Visionary of the Year" award recognises an individual who has demonstrated exceptional foresight, innovation, and leadership in their field. This prestigious award celebrates gamechangers who have made significant contributions to advancing technology, driving positive social change, or transforming industries through their visionary ideas and actions. Recipients are honored for their ability to inspire others, push boundaries, and create a lasting impact on society.
- Jerry van Vive -CEO of Driessen Catering Equipment -Jerry van Vive is redefining railway catering through visionary leadership, innovation, and sustainability. Under his guidance, Driessen Catering Equipment became the only rail and aviation supplier to achieve EcoVadis Gold, placing it in the top 5% globally for ESG performance. Jerry transforms ideas into practical, customer-focused solutions. He unites teams and clients around a shared purpose, fostering collaboration that delivers innovations like the new Rail Trolley—ergonomic, durable, and designed to streamline onboard service while reducing crew fatigue. He consistently raises industry standards, proving that sustainability and operational excellence can thrive together. Jerry’s ability to combine vision, innovation, and measurable impact makes him the standout candidate for Visionary of the Year – Railway Innovation.
- Dean Rockhead - Senior Manager Products, VIA Rail
- Responsible for the overall development, design and delivery of the offer at the various touch points of the rail experience. This includes the long haul, corridor and mandatory route network that VIA Rail covers. In conjunction with a host of other internal and external partners, the coordination of successful change management practices, and quality control assurance, also figure into my role as Senior Manager - Product
- Mathias Fischer - Managing Director, Neomind
- In addition to his fantastic design, he has been involved with Ideenzug project, the future of train interior in Germany. He has worked with a lot of train operators including Deutsche Bahn, California Highspeed and more.
Matthias Fischer is the founder and CEO of neomind, a Munich-based design studio specialized in rail and mobility design, with additional studios in Frankfurt and San Francisco. With more than 20 years of experience, he has shaped award-winning projects such as the modernization of the Munich and Cologne S-Bahn, developed the new S-Bahn fleets for the next 30 years, and created leading design concepts for the California High-Speed Rail. Over the past decade, he has also pioneered the internationally renowned “DB Regio Ideenzug” initiatives – from Ideenzug Regio to IdeenzugCity to IdeenzugUrban - bringing the entire rail industry and partners together in a collaborative way. Matthias studied Industrial Design in Darmstadt and Manchester and has won multiple international design awards. He is recognized as a visionary in shaping the future of public transport.
- Tom Rutkowski - VP & Chief Mechanical Officer at Brightline
- He single handedly managing both brightline and brightline west projects. The only private operators in the US. He is involve in all procurement of Brightline Siemens train connecting Miami and Orlando. It is also the first operator to installed Starlink on board.
Tom has served as Chief Mechanical Officer since November 2014. He is responsible for the design and delivery of Brightline rolling stock fleet for the Florida passenger rail system, as well as the design and delivery of the West Palm Beach and Orlando vehicle maintenance facilities. Prior to joining the Company, Tom served for 17 years at the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit), the state-owned public transportation system that serves New Jersey along with portions of New York and Pennsylvania, most recently in the position of General Superintendent – Equipment from August 2007 to November 2014. Tom has extensive experience in train maintenance and design as well as facility operations and design.
