The UIC is delighted to announce that a strategic transition in leadership has taken place for two of its central activities: the Statistics Platform and the Sustainability Platform. These appointments mark a new chapter of data-driven excellence and strategic action for the global rail industry.

Advancing data-driven excellence in the statistics platform

For a successful future global rail industry, the importance of having evidence-based decision-making with robust statistics cannot be overstated. Having been approved by the Statistics Platform Plenary and the UIC General Assembly, UIC is proud to announce the appointment of Mario Tartaglia, Leader of the Italian State Railways (FS) Research Centre, as Chair of the Statistics Platform. Joining him as Vice-Chair is Roman Sterba, Head of the Strategy Unit at the Slovenian Railways (SZ).

The mandate, running from January 2026 through to December 2027, has come at a critical juncture. As the railway sector integrates more deeply with digital ecosystems, the need for standardised, reliable, and transparent data is more pressing than ever. Under their leadership, the Statistics Platform will continue to serve as the industry’s analytical backbone, ensuring that the rail sector has the empirical foundation necessary to advocate for policy changes, optimise infrastructure, and drive long-term operational efficiency and resiliency.

A legacy of transformation for the Sustainability Platform

The Sustainability Platform has both profound gratitude and a renewed sense of strategic ambition from their transition. As the mandate of Lia Talarico, FS International, ends on 30 June 2026, UIC recognises the mark she has left on the platform.

Talarico’s term was defined by strategic development, which built on the strength of its technical discussions, while she also challenged the group to take a strategic view. Her most significant achievement, the introduction of the Chief Sustainability Officer Network, has bridged the gap between institutional strategy and operational reality, creating a more connected, structured, and influential platform. Because of her leadership, the UIC Sustainability Platform is now a recognised forum where global best practices are shared and implemented.

Vision for the future: rail as the backbone of global mobility

Building upon this strengthened foundation, the UIC General Assembly has endorsed Marilena Petraglia, Group Head of Sustainability at FS, as the new Chair of the Sustainability Platform, as well as Lindsay Stronge, Head of Environment & Social Value at Network Rail, as Vice-Chair for the 2026–2027 mandate.

Petraglia brings a unique, multi-modal perspective to the role, having coordinated sustainability strategies across various modes of transport, and has skills to address systemic challenges within complex, large-scale networks. Furthermore, her extensive background in the energy sector comes with a major advantage: the ability to strengthen the critical coordination between the energy and transport sectors, which is needed for a credible environmentally friendly transition.

Guided by the “Share, Open, and Connect” principle, Petraglia’s vision is to position rail as the backbone of global mobility, ensuring that it is integrated seamlessly into a broader, sustainable transport ecosystem. In her statement to the platform, she explained the key opportunities to be taken:

• Social sustainability and cohesion: Moving beyond environmental metrics to focus on the human aspect of mobility, which includes strengthening support for vulnerable people and improving equity. Her approach also encompasses the promotion of equality and fair working conditions throughout the global rail value chain.
• Circular economy and resource resilience: Addressing urgent risks within the global supply chain by promoting the responsible use, recovery, and recycling of critical raw materials. Her focus is on ensuring the rail sector remains resilient in the face of resource scarcity.

The transition in leadership across these two platforms represents a deliberate step toward more integrated and data-driven industry governance. UIC remains committed to supporting these leaders in providing added value and solutions for the railway community around the world.