International Conference on Traffic & Transportation Studies (ICTTS)-Keynote Speaker

Dennis Huisman
Dennis Huisman is a part-time professor Public Transport Optimization at the Econometric Institute, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam. In addition, he has a part-time position as expertise manager logistic processes at Netherlands Railways (NS). Dennis’ current research focuses on Operations Research models and techniques that can support the planning and operations of public transport operators in relation to complex logistical issues. At NS, he gives advice to senior management on complex logistical issues and coordinates NS’ research activities in a large European innovation project within Europe’s Rail (Motional).

He was a member of Netherlands Railways team that won the Franz Edelman Award, also known as the Super Bowl of Operations Research, in 2008. Professor Huisman is a co-founder of the Erasmus Center for Optimization in Public Transport. He obtained his PhD from Erasmus University Rotterdam in 2004. His PhD thesis dealt with integrated and dynamic vehicle and crew scheduling.

Lei Nie
Lei Nie is a Professor and the Executive Vice President of Lanzhou Jiaotong University. She also holds a professorship at the School of Traffic and Transportation, Beijing Jiaotong University. With over 30 years of research experience in high-speed railway transportation organization technology, Professor Nie currently holds several key positions: Member of the Expert Committee, Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China; Executive Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee of the China Railway Society; Vice Chair of the Teaching Guidance Subcommittee for Transportation Majors under Ministry of Education; Board Member of the International Association of Railway Operations Research (IAROR); and Associate Editor of the Journal of Rail Transport Planning & Management (JRTPM). She has published over 100 academic papers, and serves as the chief editor of High-Speed Railway Transportation Organization, a volume in the China High-Speed Railway Engineering Technology Innovation Series.

Yahua(Shane) Zhang
Yahua(Shane) Zhang is a Professor of Aviation at Adelaide University. He is recognised for his research in transport economics, aviation management and policy, and sustainable aviation fuel. Professor Zhang has published widely in leading transport and economics journals and has led and contributed to research projects funded by organisations including the World Bank, APEC, Meat & Livestock Australia, the Queensland Government, the Marine Bioproduct Cooperative Research Centre, and the National Foundation for Australia–China Relations.

His topic will focus on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development in Australia and China, with particular attention to the cooperation potential between the two countries in advancing SAF production, policy frameworks, and industry partnerships.

Zuduo Zheng
Dr Zuduo Zheng is a Professor in the School of Civil Engineering at The University of Queensland (UQ), an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow, a former ARC DECRA Fellow, and a member of the ARC College of Experts. He also serves as the Deputy TAP Chair, sponsored by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, and is the founder of the Multi-Modal Connected & Automated Transport Lab (M2CAT; http://www.connectedandautonomoustransport.com/).
Professor Zheng’s research focuses on emerging mobility technologies, especially connected and automated vehicles, and their impacts on transportation systems. His work is highly cited, and he has received numerous awards for both his research and teaching, including the Cunard Award, Greenshields Prize, David Willis Memorial Prize, Awards for Excellence in Higher Degree by Research Supervision, Citation for Excellence in Student Learning (winner at the EAIT Faculty and a finalist at UQ), and others. He also serves and has served on the editorial boards of several leading journals.
He is a strong advocate for reproducible research and open science, having co-founded the REproducible Research In Transportation Engineering (RERITE) Working Group (https://www.rerite.org/), and received UQ’s inaugural Open Research Fellowship in 2024 and Research Culture Award in 2025. He hosts “Small Talk with Myself” (https://smalltalkwithmyself.podbean.com/) — a podcast for PhD students and early-career academics.

Dennis Huisman	Dennis Huisman is a part-time professor Public Transport Optimization at the Econometric Institute, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam. In addition, he has a part-time position as expertise manager logistic processes at Netherlands Railways (NS). Dennis’ current research focuses on Operations Research models and techniques that can support the planning and operations of public transport operators in relation to complex logistical issues. At NS, he gives advice to senior management on complex logistical issues and coordinates NS’ research activities in a large European innovation project within Europe’s Rail (Motional). He was a member of Netherlands Railways team that won the Franz Edelman Award, also known as the Super Bowl of Operations Research, in 2008. Professor Huisman is a co-founder of the Erasmus Center for Optimization in Public Transport. He obtained his PhD from Erasmus University Rotterdam in 2004. His PhD thesis dealt with integrated and dynamic vehicle and crew scheduling.


Lei Nie	Lei Nie is a Professor and the Executive Vice President of Lanzhou Jiaotong University. She also holds a professorship at the School of Traffic and Transportation, Beijing Jiaotong University. With over 30 years of research experience in high-speed railway transportation organization technology, Professor Nie currently holds several key positions: Member of the Expert Committee, Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China; Executive Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee of the China Railway Society; Vice Chair of the Teaching Guidance Subcommittee for Transportation Majors under Ministry of Education; Board Member of the International Association of Railway Operations Research (IAROR); and Associate Editor of the Journal of Rail Transport Planning & Management (JRTPM). She has published over 100 academic papers, and serves as the chief editor of High-Speed Railway Transportation Organization, a volume in the China High-Speed Railway Engineering Technology Innovation Series.


Yahua(Shane) Zhang	Yahua(Shane) Zhang is a Professor of Aviation at Adelaide University. He is recognised for his research in transport economics, aviation management and policy, and sustainable aviation fuel. Professor Zhang has published widely in leading transport and economics journals and has led and contributed to research projects funded by organisations including the World Bank, APEC, Meat & Livestock Australia, the Queensland Government, the Marine Bioproduct Cooperative Research Centre, and the National Foundation for Australia–China Relations. His topic will focus on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development in Australia and China, with particular attention to the cooperation potential between the two countries in advancing SAF production, policy frameworks, and industry partnerships.


Zuduo Zheng	Dr Zuduo Zheng is a Professor in the School of Civil Engineering at The University of Queensland (UQ), an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow, a former ARC DECRA Fellow, and a member of the ARC College of Experts. He also serves as the Deputy TAP Chair, sponsored by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, and is the founder of the Multi-Modal Connected & Automated Transport Lab (M2CAT; http://www.connectedandautonomoustransport.com/). Professor Zheng’s research focuses on emerging mobility technologies, especially connected and automated vehicles, and their impacts on transportation systems. His work is highly cited, and he has received numerous awards for both his research and teaching, including the Cunard Award, Greenshields Prize, David Willis Memorial Prize, Awards for Excellence in Higher Degree by Research Supervision, Citation for Excellence in Student Learning (winner at the EAIT Faculty and a finalist at UQ), and others. He also serves and has served on the editorial boards of several leading journals. He is a strong advocate for reproducible research and open science, having co-founded the REproducible Research In Transportation Engineering (RERITE) Working Group (https://www.rerite.org/), and received UQ’s inaugural Open Research Fellowship in 2024 and Research Culture Award in 2025. He hosts “Small Talk with Myself” (https://smalltalkwithmyself.podbean.com/) — a podcast for PhD students and early-career academics.