About this Event
Bio
Lakshan Subenthiran is a Senior Project Engineer working for Transport for London, with experience delivering complex, safety-critical projects across the London Underground network. He currently works on major signalling renewals and capacity-driven programmes, supporting projects from early concept through detailed design, assurance, delivery, testing and commissioning.
Lakshan joined Transport for London in 2014 on the Electrical Engineering Graduate Scheme. During his early career, he developed a broad foundation across engineering and operational interfaces before moving into signalling project engineering in 2016. Since then, he has worked exclusively in signalling project engineering roles, progressing to Senior Project Engineer with responsibility for leading complex technical scopes within live operational environments.
His background is rooted in signalling project engineering rather than pure technical design. His work focuses on integrating multiple engineering disciplines, managing technical risk, navigating assurance and approvals, and translating strategic objectives into practical, deliverable engineering solutions. He regularly interfaces with signalling designers, testers, operators, maintainers, suppliers and project managers, acting as the technical conscience of the project while keeping delivery grounded in operational reality.
He has a particular interest in how signalling projects are delivered, not just what technology is deployed, and in how decisions made early in a project can shape performance, cost and outcomes many years later.
Lakshan is passionate about developing future engineering talent, particularly in signalling project engineering, a role he believes is critical to project success yet poorly understood across the industry. He is a strong advocate for clearer career pathways that value systems thinking, leadership, judgement and delivery skills alongside traditional technical competence.
Through industry talks and engagement with the IRSE, Lakshan aims to challenge conventional thinking around how signalling projects are structured, resourced and led, and to encourage a new generation of engineers to see project engineering as a deliberate and rewarding professional discipline in its own right.
Title: Who Will Deliver Tomorrow's Signalling Projects?
Abstract
Railway signalling is facing a growing skills challenge. Much of the current workforce is ageing, projects are becoming more complex, and the traditional pathways into signalling engineering are no longer producing enough people with the skills needed to deliver modern programmes. At the same time, the role of the signalling project engineer has become increasingly critical, yet remains poorly defined, inconsistently developed and often undervalued across the industry.
This talk argues that signalling project engineers are not an accidental by-product of experience, but a role that must be deliberately developed. Drawing on real project experience from the London Underground, it explores what distinguishes effective signalling project engineers from purely technical specialists, and why systems thinking, judgement, integration and delivery leadership are now as important as technical competence.
The talk examines how organisations currently develop signalling engineers, where these approaches fall short, and how career pathways can unintentionally discourage younger engineers from pursuing project engineering roles. It also considers the role of the IRSE in shaping future talent, including licensing, professional development and engagement with students and early-career engineers.
Finally, the session sets out practical changes that organisations and the IRSE can make to better attract, develop and retain the next generation of signalling project engineers, ensuring the industry has the capability required to deliver safe, reliable and high-performing railway systems in the decades ahead.
Entry from 17:1`5 hrs (coffee/tea)
Lecture Starts 18:00 hrs
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
5 Endeavour Square, 5 Endeavour Square, London, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
