Panel Discussion: The key importance of flexible interiors to accommodate changing patterns of travel

John fuses design thinking with commercial rigour to shape the future of sustainable travel. With a career spanning start-ups and global operators, they specialise in translating complex operational needs into experiences people love—across trains, stations, and emerging mobility services.

John specialises in convening diverse thinkers to solve tough traveller challenges and create intuitive, human-centred systems that scale across national and international networks.

Dean Rockhead is a rail design specialist with over 20 years of experience shaping passenger environments for VIA Rail. His work emphasizes innovation in interiors, integrating comfort, aesthetics, and functionality to enhance the journey experience across long-distance, regional, and remote services. Dean has been instrumental in advancing modern design approaches that respond to evolving passenger needs while supporting operational efficiency.

Christiane Bausback is CEO of N+P Innovation Design, a strategic innovation and design agency, based in Munich, Vienna and Atlanta. She works with a broad range of companies from start-ups to global players while focusing on holistic solutions that build businesses and transform industries. Over the years, she has garnered numerous awards including IDSA, Good Design, Red Dot, and iF. She served as a juror for several awards such as the renowned iF Award, EPD Award,  as well as for the Cannes Lions. Parallel to her professional activities, she lectures in Germany and Switzerland and regularly presents keynote speeches, joins panel discussions, and is a mentor at innovation accelerators.