“At the end of 2022, SYSTRA’s Executive Board decided to create an Internal Control Department, tasked with defining the Group’s roadmap in relation The world railway infrastructure construction to risk. This was a powerful signal sounded by market should see annual growth of 9% until a company seeking to hone its risk prevention 2027 (excluding China). A number of regional practices, bolster its control arrangements and extend its risk governance, while increasing champions are emerging and should continue to transparency and strengthening its lines of drive growth in this area: the United States, defence. In 2023, the first component of an Canada, the Middle East, a number of Southeast initiative inspired by the 17 principles of the Asian countries, Australia, Scandinavia and the COSO(1) standard was introduced: a project with United Kingdom. Public financing accounts 5 of the 13 home countries to identify local and for three-quarters of investment in rail projects global risks, and confirm intuitions and priorities. throughout the world, followed by public- This first consolidation has helped broaden the private partnerships (17%). vision of categories of risk which up until now had not really been taken into account. The work will continue into 2025 with the remaining home countries, resulting in a detailed map.” Petra Ghanem Vice-President Internal Control and Risks Engineering and consultancy companies across all sectors have found themselves up against a skills shortage since the pandemic. This can be attributed to many factors, such as a mismatch between people’s qualifications and project needs, and science pathways (and the jobs they can lead to) not being sufficiently promoted. These key factors, together with the growing need for ongoing training to develop new skills (AI, climate), (1) Committee of Sponsoring Organisations of the mean that the Human Resources function Treadway Commission, which has been helping is increasingly central to company strategy. organisations to improve performance since 1992. 2023 Activity Report 41