Topping the list of reasons to attend the much-anticipated 2025 Women in Rail Conference is kick-off speaker Annie Adams, Chief Human Resources Officer at Norfolk Southern (NS). Railway Age and RT&S are proud to return to Chicagoland on Oct. 15-16 with a packed lineup of trailblazing women and their allies who are significantly influencing today’s freight, passenger and transit rail industry.
Our third-annual in-person Women in Rail Conference will be filled with dynamic panels, a celebratory luncheon for Railway Age 2024 Women in Rail and RT&S 2025 Women in Railroad Engineering award honorees, and the chance to network with a wide-reaching group of like-minded professionals. All this will take place at a new, larger venue: Hyatt Regency Schaumburg. Plus, don’t miss a special tour of Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s (CPKC) Bensenville Yard.
Meet Annie Adams, Ph.D.
“Over the past two decades at NS, I’ve experienced the power of engaging diverse perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes—whether navigating a pandemic, transforming how we work, or designing a headquarters that reflects our values. These experiences have reinforced my belief that inclusive leadership is essential to building resilient, high-performing organizations.”
– Annie Adams, NS
Adams is a strategic business, technology, and human capital leader and an innovative C-Suite executive and board director.
In a “fireside chat” with the Railway Age and RT&S editors at the 2025 Women in Rail Conference, she will offer insights on recruitment trends, career development, and how her professional journey—and the lessons she’s learned along the way—can help attendees excel in their own careers.
“This fireside chat is a chance to reflect and to look ahead,” Adams tells Railway Age and RT&S, and their sister publication IRJ. “I’m looking forward to sharing insights on workforce strategy, digital transformation, and how we’re supporting career development and building strong support networks at NS. I’m also excited to connect with fellow leaders who are shaping the future of rail through technology, sustainability, and a shared commitment to people. Together, we’re building a more resilient, forward-looking industry.”
“It’s an honor to participate in the annual conference,” Adams says. “Being named an Influential Leader by Railway Age in 2021 and receiving IRJ’s Women in Rail award in 2022 were both incredibly meaningful recognitions. I’ve always seen those honors as reflections of the remarkable women I work alongside at NS—women who are driving innovation, transformation, and progress across our organization every day.”
In addition to her role at NS, Adams serves as an Independent Director at North American distributor Specialty Building Products, where she is a member of the compensation and audit committees, and on the boards of the Woodruff Arts Center and the Midtown Improvement District in Atlanta, Ga.
Adams is known for cultivating high-performance cultures and driving organizational change. She brings a unique combination of expertise in human capital and technology.
At NS, Adams spearheaded digital transformation initiatives, ranging from customer-facing tools to AI-powered train inspection portals, driving innovation and operational efficiency. She also led the company’s corporate headquarters relocation from Norfolk, Va., to Atlanta, Ga., overseeing the development of an award-winning campus designed to attract top talent and meet the evolving needs of a dynamic workforce.
Adams holds a B.A. in psychology from Davidson College, and a master’s and doctorate in industrial-organizational psychology from Rice University. She completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School and the Women’s Director Development Program at Kellogg.
About Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail 2025
Adams will be joined at the 2025 Women in Rail Conference by a diverse group of railroaders with a shared commitment to our industry’s future. Among them: Jennifer Hamann, EVP & Chief Financial Officer, Union Pacific; Kari Gonzales, President & CEO, MxV Rail; Henrika Buchanan, SVP, National Practice Consultant, Transit & Rail Market Sector, HNTB; Sarah Watterson, President, Brightline West; Herman E. Crosson, Chief Safety & Compliance Officer, Anacostia Rail Holdings; Paul Hubler, Chief Strategy Officer, Metrolink; Jenni Benton, SVP Commercial, Patriot Rail; Jim Derwinski, CEO/Executive Director, Metra, and many more.
Speakers will offer their candid thoughts on topics ranging from marketing yourself and building a leadership “toolkit”—from field to management—to allyship, ESG, and new technologies.
Attendees Are Saying
As a first-time attendee of the Women in Rail conference, I found the experience both inspiring and empowering. Being surrounded by so many passionate change-makers, all dedicated to their careers and driving meaningful change in the rail industry, was truly motivating.
– Breana Parham, NS, 2024
The Women in Rail conference was outstanding! Hearing other women’s stories of overcoming adversity was truly inspiring and allowed us to connect through shared experiences. It serves as a reminder that we are not alone and highlights the importance of supporting one another.
– Veronica Guzman, Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Co., 2024
Although this event is identified as Women in Rail, as a male in the railroad industry, it was refreshing…to meet so many talented women in the railroad industry under one roof, validating my belief that women are pivotal for the future success of the rail industry.
– Marc Cañas, Zephyr Rail, 2024
This event was an incredible celebration—not only of the remarkable women in rail but of the entire industry. We still have ground to cover, yet we’re making significant strides, and the momentum will only keep building.
– Lisa Tackach, Railroad Construction Company, Inc. / League of Railway Women, 2024
Read the 2024 Women in Rail conference roundup >>
Supporting Organizations
Industry support for the 2025 Women in Rail Conference is already strong, including sponsorship from: AITX, GATX, TrinityRail, CN, R. J. Corman, API, Genesee & Wyoming, UTLX, Progress Rail, Patriot Rail, The National Association of Railway Business Women, and The League of Railway Women.
Learn More
- View the confirmed speakers and take advantage of the early bird rate for Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail 2025 >>
- To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jonathan Chalon at jchalon@sbpub.com or (212) 620-7224.
