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Recognising the industry leaders of tomorrow today. Nominate a colleague or yourself.

International Railway Journal presents its annual Young Rail Leaders Award, which will recognise 10 young talented rail executives under the age of 40 making waves in the global rail sector.

We are looking to honour young rail professionals making an impact across the industry, from engineering success to important technical and management contributions that are helping the railway to run more effectively.

We are seeking nominations for this special award and the 10 leading candidates will be profiled in the December edition of IRJ. You can nominate a colleague or yourself by filling out the questionnaire below.

ELIGIBILITY:
  • The nominee must be under the age of 40 as of January 1, 2027.
  • There is no limit on the number of entries each firm or person can submit (multiple nominations for one candidate do not boost chances), and there is no entry fee.
  • Candidates may nominate themselves.

JUDGING CRITERIA:
  • Industry experience and education
  • Leadership skills
  • Industry contributions, and
  • Community service involvement
DEADLINE: November 4, 2026

PHOTOS: We will require honorees to submit a high-resolution (minimum 300dpi or higher) headshot.

Complete the form to enter. Entries are final. Please have your responses fully prepared before submitting.
1.Full Name of Nominee(Required.)
2.Full Name of Nominator. Enter “Self” if you are nominating yourself(Required.)
3.Nominator's Email(Required.)
4.Nominator's Phone Number(Required.)
5.Email Address of Nominee(Required.)
6.Phone Number of Nominee(Required.)
7.Country(Required.)
8.Age of Nominee (Must be under the age of 40 as of Jan. 1, 2027)(Required.)
9.Number of Years in the Rail Industry(Required.)
10.Job Title(Required.)
11.University Name(s) & Degree(s)(Required.)
12.Degree Type(Required.)
13.Name of Employer of Nominee(Required.)
14.Employer Location(Required.)
15.Experience: Please provide some notable examples of contributions by the nominee to the railway sector. This could include work on a particular project and demonstrate how their career has progressed.(Required.)
16.Leadership: Please provide specific examples of where the nominee has demonstrated excellent leadership skills and helped guide those around them. This could include work within their daily role as well as extra-curricular activities, including community service involvement.(Required.)
17.Skills: In what areas of work does the nominee excel? Please provide an example of a specific problem or challenge and how the individual worked to overcome it.(Required.)
18.Vision: What are the nominees’ hopes and expectations for the future of their career within the rail industry?
19.Please provide any other information on why the nominee deserves to be recognised as a recipient of IRJ’s Young Rail Leaders Award 2026.