Friedemann Bitsch studied electrical engineering and graduated as Dr-Ing. (PhD). For 25 years he has been active in the railway signalling domain, mainly within Thales Ground Transportation Systems and he has been working as Senior CCS Standardisation Manager. Since 2020 he represents Thales in the UNISIG Steering Committee and is acting as UNISIG Chairperson since September 2023. Amongst other tasks he is a member of the System Pillar Train Control & Supervision Domain and of the Architecture and Release Co-ordination Domain.