Milla Mazilu

Part of the IT Leaders 100 - a list of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in 2025.

Milla began her railway career in 2005, initially working with Union Railways on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (now known as High Speed 1) and then with Network Rail, the railway infrastructure owner and operator for Great Britain.

Milla is a keen volunteer, having supported the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways as a permanent way worker, the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) with Project CARE, and also the APM in a variety of roles. Her work with Network Rail and RAEng was recognised with the honour of a British Empire Medal.

Milla's passion is for innovation and lifelong learning; she will either be found working, volunteering, or learning something new.

What's the most exciting part of your current role?

The ability to use data and information technology to enhance the efficiency of our organisation and projects, but also make a tangible difference to people's lives. The public transport sector plays an integral role in connecting communities and providing access to work and educational opportunities for people.

This direct connection between the application of technology in my role and the positive impact on people's lives keeps me motivated and passionate about my work.

Our complex systems present numerous intriguing problems to solve, providing plenty opportunities for innovation and growth within the team. I'm fortunate to work alongside an exceptional team of talented individuals, who are passionate about their work and dedicated to our common goal.

Beyond my day-to-day responsibilities, I am the Chair of the Association for Project Management (APM), where we've been dedicated to addressing the skills gap in project data analytics. This offers the opportunity to make a difference on a cross-industry scale and contribute to the professional growth of countless project professionals. The APM has published valuable resources to support organisations and individuals in this pursuit, and seeing tangible progress is incredibly rewarding.

What do you consider your greatest IT achievement of the last 12 months?

Over the past year, I have led the development of a set of analyses and visualisations for a series of track sensors that measure track voids. These sensors play a critical role in maintaining the safety and efficiency of our rail infrastructure by detecting potential issues before they become major problems. It is an engaging project, involving extensive collaboration with colleagues from the track team to merge additional datasets, including information about interventions and their consequences, and plans to incorporate data specifying the precise locations of the sensors.

The process has led to fruitful knowledge exchange between teams and a more nuanced comprehension of each other's functions within the organisation. This has not only strengthened our working relationships but also significantly improved our ability to identify and address track issues proactively, contributing to enhanced safety and operational performance for our passengers.

What's the biggest challenge facing IT leaders today, and how are you tackling it?

Navigating the hype surrounding AI and ensuring that our organisations are prepared to effectively adopt and implement this technology in a responsible and informed manner. Despite AI’s potential benefits, there's a growing trend of uninformed enthusiasm for its capabilities without a clear understanding of the fundamental requirements for making it work successfully and some of the pitfalls of applying it without proper consideration. This includes the need for good quality data, well-defined processing rules, ethical approaches, and robust security measures.

To tackle this, I've been focusing on enhancing our fundamental knowledge about AI and its potential uses in our organisational context, and encouraging open discussions to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of AI implementation.

Our team also places great importance on addressing the basics for AI application, such as data collection, processing, security, and ethical considerations, to ensure that we can effectively use this technology while staying true to our company objectives and values.

What piece of technology could you not live without, and why?

Living without a stable internet connection would be quite a challenge, given its importance in both my personal and professional life.

For me, the internet facilitates communication with colleagues, family, and friends from various corners of the world. It also grants access to an enormous wealth of information on virtually any topic, making it an invaluable learning resource. I also, as many others do, depend on the internet for essential tasks such as banking or managing household bills.

It is fascinating to have seen the evolution of the internet just within my lifetime. The internet started as an academic tool, soon transforming into a desirable luxury reserved for the privileged few. Today, however, the internet has evolved into a critical public service that plays a significant role in our daily lives, offering numerous benefits and opportunities for personal growth and productivity.

What excites you most about the future of IT?

IT offers the potential to bring about positive change and address some of the world's most pressing challenges. One significant area where it can make a profound impact is in improving access to essential services and resources for society.

We have already seen advancements in personalised medicine, genomic research, and wearable technology helping to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases more effectively and efficiently - these have the potential to improve overall population health and well-being, making a tangible difference in people's lives.

From an educational perspective, e-learning platforms and digital educational resources can help bridge the gap in education opportunities for students facing socio-economic challenges.

Of course, IT is also set to contribute significantly to finding solutions for the world's wicked problems, such as climate change, resource scarcity, and population growth. People have sold the idea of AI and machine learning in helping optimise energy usage, improve agricultural productivity using precision farming techniques, and enhance waste management systems through smart recycling technologies - of course, this is only helpful as long as the AI does not consume more than it saves!

What’s the strangest job you’ve ever had?

While I haven't found any of my past jobs to be strange, I have worked on some unconventional projects that might surprise others. Perhaps my favourites came when I was a volunteer on the Ffestiniog Railway, when I supported the 1864 Milestone Restoration project. The objective of this project was to restore and replicate slate milestones that originally dated back to 1864 on the Ffestiniog Railway. It was an exciting blend of conservation, detection, and restoration work, with a budget estimated of just £3,000.

The National Railway Heritage Volunteers Award 2013 recognised the team's efforts for this project. Winning this award was a testament to the dedication, hard work, and team spirit that went into the milestone restoration project. It was an exceptional experience that allowed me to contribute to preserving railway history in a unique and meaningful way.

If you could instantly master one new skill, what would it be?

I've always liked learning new things, so for this one I'd have to pick something with a learning process that I wouldn't enjoy… perhaps touch typing? Even though I can type fast using my own method, it could be interesting to type faster.