Lessons Learned Across the Pond
Tracks
Room 2
| Monday, November 30, 2026 |
| 3:10 PM - 3:30 PM |
| Concurrent Room 1 |
Overview
Bronwen Clulow
Speaker
Mrs Bronwen Clulow
Mott MacDonald
Lessons Learned Across the Pond
Abstract
Context:
Applying Human Factors (HF) across industries requires understanding differences in safety, performance, and user experience. While aviation and rail share core HF principles, these are adapted to suit distinct regulatory and operational environments. Utilising cross-industry application can help define the ‘perfect fit’ for HF implementation, highlighting best practice and limitations of direct adoption.
Aim:
This presentation examines two case studies demonstrating how insights from mature sectors can enhance delivery, reduce errors, and improve outcomes in complex socio-technical systems. The cases explore transferring HF approaches from rail to aviation and vice versa.
Approach:
Case Study 1 applied aviation regulatory frameworks to develop a Fatigue Risk Management (FRM) program for a Rail Transport Operator (RTO). Adapting aviation practices provided a strong foundation and introduced a broader perspective on safety, performance, and risk.
Case Study 2 applied lessons from large-scale Australian rail projects to a major aviation project. Understanding the approach HF has taken in rail for a highly complex, and regulated environment, provides an established framework for how HF integration can be applied in aviation.
Results:
In both case studies, understanding what works well, along with differences in regulatory environments and operational demands, was critical to achieving successful outcomes.
The FRM program developed for the RTO was widely discussed among Australian operators, leading to adoption of similar approaches. And demonstrating the rail-based HF integration approach within a major aviation project provided the value of HF in design, enabling successful adoption in another industry.
Implications:
Don’t reinvent the wheel, learn from across the pond! Leveraging mature HF processes and systems from other sectors helps develop a ‘perfect fit’ approach, strengthening resilience, reducing errors, and improving outcomes for end users.
Applying Human Factors (HF) across industries requires understanding differences in safety, performance, and user experience. While aviation and rail share core HF principles, these are adapted to suit distinct regulatory and operational environments. Utilising cross-industry application can help define the ‘perfect fit’ for HF implementation, highlighting best practice and limitations of direct adoption.
Aim:
This presentation examines two case studies demonstrating how insights from mature sectors can enhance delivery, reduce errors, and improve outcomes in complex socio-technical systems. The cases explore transferring HF approaches from rail to aviation and vice versa.
Approach:
Case Study 1 applied aviation regulatory frameworks to develop a Fatigue Risk Management (FRM) program for a Rail Transport Operator (RTO). Adapting aviation practices provided a strong foundation and introduced a broader perspective on safety, performance, and risk.
Case Study 2 applied lessons from large-scale Australian rail projects to a major aviation project. Understanding the approach HF has taken in rail for a highly complex, and regulated environment, provides an established framework for how HF integration can be applied in aviation.
Results:
In both case studies, understanding what works well, along with differences in regulatory environments and operational demands, was critical to achieving successful outcomes.
The FRM program developed for the RTO was widely discussed among Australian operators, leading to adoption of similar approaches. And demonstrating the rail-based HF integration approach within a major aviation project provided the value of HF in design, enabling successful adoption in another industry.
Implications:
Don’t reinvent the wheel, learn from across the pond! Leveraging mature HF processes and systems from other sectors helps develop a ‘perfect fit’ approach, strengthening resilience, reducing errors, and improving outcomes for end users.
Biography
Bronwen Clulow is the Technical Director Human Factors (HF) for Mott MacDonald. She is a highly motivated and engaging HF Specialist with over 26 years’ experience in the delivery of HF integration and risk within the rail, construction, and aviation industries. Bronwen possesses exceptional interpersonal skills and highly developed organisational skills. She collaborates with key end user representatives and operational subject matter experts to support project development teams. Bronwen successfully develops solutions that mitigate safety risks arising from HF to deliver optimal outcomes for end users.
