WOMEN IN RAIL AWARDS 2023

Andrew Haines

Chief Executive and Board Member of Network Rail

Andrew Haines was appointed as Chief Executive and Board member of Network Rail in August 2018. Following the publication of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail in May 2021, Andrew was also tasked with establishing interim arrangements for the creation of Great British Railways, alongside his role in Network Rail. 

Prior to joining Network Rail, Andrew was the chief executive officer of the Civil Aviation Authority from 2009-2018. He has also had a wide-ranging career within the rail industry, having started his career with British Rail and followed on to work for Railtrack, Network Rail’s predecessor. He served as managing director of South West Trains and managing director FirstGroup plc where he led the rail division which included intercity, commuter, rural, freight, open access and tram services in England, Scotland and Wales. In addition, he was a non-executive director at a rolling stock leasing company.

Andrew was awarded an OBE in the 2016 New Year Honour’s list for services to transport and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Institute of Railway Operators and the Permanent Way Institute.

Angie Doll

Chief Operating Officer, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and Managing Director, Southern Rail & Gatwick Express

Angie joined GTR at the start of the franchise in 2014 as Passenger Services Director for Gatwick Express. One year into this role, she added Southern to her portfolio and then in July 2019, she became Managing Director for Southern and Gatwick Express. In May 2022, Angie was appointed to the role of Chief Operating Officer for GTR (having held the role as interim since October 2021.) 

Overseeing the busiest part of the UK rail network, her focus has always been putting the customer at the heart of everything she does. Over the last five years, she has led her business to achieve a consistently strong performance of over 90% punctuality & reliability and customer satisfaction improving 8% year on year. 

Achievements throughout her time at GTR are the introduction of a new fleet of Gatwick Express trains, launch of Oyster/ Contactless at Gatwick, staff back on board and rebuilding customer confidence and developing the Customer Experience plan for all areas of the GTR franchise. Most recently, she was awarded the Everywoman in Transport & Logistics 2019 Industry Champion Award and Southern won ‘Passenger Operator of the Year’ at the 2021 National Rail Awards.

Angie has extensive management experience in a career spanning 20 years in the rail industry. Highlights include her role as Commercial Manager for the introduction of the first UK domestic high-speed rail service at St Pancras in December 2009, and responsibility for Olympic Transport Planning of the Javelin service for the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

She is an advocate for Diversity in the workplace and is a champion for increasing the number of women in rail to 30% by 2021, a target that Southern & Gatwick Express are on track to achieve.

Anit Chandarana

Lead Director, Great British Railways Transition Team

Anit Chandarana is the Lead Director of the Great British Railways Transition Team and oversees the whole operation of the GBRTT, working with Andrew Haines and team on the interim arrangements for the railway following the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail in May 2021.

Prior to taking on this role, Anit was Chief of Staff at Network Rail where he led Network Rail’s involvement in the building of the white paper. Anit has worked in the rail industry for over 18 years and joined Network Rail after completing his training at Sainsbury’s, he then went on to spend five years at Shell where he worked in the retail part of the business.

As well as his full-time role, he is also a Non-Executive Director for East London NHS Foundation Trust and has previously Chaired the Trustee Board for two of Network Rail’s pension schemes.

David Hughes

Director General for Rail Infrastructure Group, Department for Transport

David Hughes was appointed Director General for the Rail Infrastructure Group at the Department for Transport (DfT) in January 2021. David leads and oversees the DfT portfolio of major rail investment projects, excluding High Speed 2. This includes Northern Powerhouse Rail and the Integrated Rail Plan, the Transpennine Route Upgrade, Restoring Your Railway, East West Rail and Crossrail.

David joined DfT from Transport for the North, where he was Strategy and Programme Director. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at Transport for London where he led the development and planning of major rail infrastructure projects including Crossrail, the Northern Line Extension, and upgrades on the London Underground. Before working in the transport sector, David held roles at Deloitte, the Ministry of Defence and NATO.

Huw Jones

Managing Director - Transport, BAM Nuttall Ltd

Huw joined BAM Nuttall fourteen years ago and was appointed to Managing Director for Transport in 2022, overseeing over 1000 people and holding a position in the management leadership team. A Chartered Civil Engineer and Fellow of the Permanent Way Institute, Huw has been instrumental in the growth of BAM’s railway sector. From the emergency rebuilding and re-opening of the railway line at Dawlish to the successful delivery of the Ordsall Chord, Aberdeen to Inverness Route Enhancements and formation of the Transpennine Route Upgrade West of Leeds Alliance, along with various frameworks across the UK.

Huw is passionate and committed to leading a step change in inclusion and better wellbeing in the rail industry. Openly advocating for improved gender diversity with Women in Rail and WISE, an active mentor and pilot in the BAM reverse mentoring programme and member of the Rail Wellbeing Live Committee.

James Grundy

New Trains and Fleet Director, Abellio UK

James joined the rail industry as an Apprentice in 1997. He has worked in a diverse range of roles in engineering, consultancy, and major projects delivery and is currently responsible for overseeing and leading fleet and engineering activities across the Abellio portfolio. He is also accountable for the delivery of new trains projects of c.£2.5b, leading transformational fleet replacements across the UK.

As a member of Abellio’s EDI Committee and a keen ally of Women in Rail, James is passionate about removing stereotypes and barriers to make the industry more accessible to women at all stages of their career. As Vice-Chair of the Engineering Executive and an active member of the IET and STEM James enjoys contributing to the future of the industry and provides mentoring and coaching to colleagues. He is also a Charity fundraiser, walking 162 miles in 9 days with his 7-year-old son during April 22 to raise awareness of Mental Health and Anxiety in Young People.

Joanne Maguire

Chief Operating Officer, Scotrail

Joanne joined ScotRail Trains on 1 April 2022, leading the business through the transition to the new public body.

Before joining ScotRail, Joanne was Vice Principal of Resources at the University of the West of Scotland, where she was responsible for, among other things, Finance, HR and industrial relations, health and safety, sustainability, and information services.

Joanne was previously Executive Director for HR at the university and has held senior leadership roles at City of Glasgow College, as well as in the manufacturing and retail sectors.

Kamini Edgley

Director of Safety and Engineering | NW&C, Network Rail

An experienced and motivated industry leader with a wide range of expertise in the rail industry spanning over 25 years. Kamini became Director of Engineering for North-West and Central Region in September 2019, having previously acted as Chief Engineer for Network Rail.

Since November 2021, she has taken on the role of Director of Safety and Engineering for North-West and Central, after the merger of the HS&E Directorate.

In her current role she is the guiding mind for Safety and Engineering for the region which includes the West Coast Main line running from London to Carlisle and also known as the backbone of Britain and the highest yielding route nationally.

She directs the development and implementation of the North-West and Central regional engineering strategy and through engineering excellence delivers a whole railway system that puts passengers first. Recently she has rolled out the Ten Point Plan – designed to get safety, performance and engineering excellence into everyone’s hearts and minds.

With almost 50% of HS2 Train mileage falling into the region, Kamini is naturally working closely with them, while she also has a significant part of East West Rail currently being built on her region. 

She leads on all engineering including technology matters and interaction with Technical Authority, other railway industry companies, third parties and regulators. 

She has delivered complex engineering solutions, having played a key role in delivering the West coast Route Modernisation Programme.She has also delivered transformational programmes enabling the business to deliver significant efficiencies in her role as a change leader.

Kamini joined the Rail Industry as a graduate trainee straight after privatisation of British Rail working for one of the infrastructure maintenance companies. She graduated from the University of Leeds with a BEng(Hons) in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, followed by a post graduate in Strategic and Business Leadership at the University of Warwick. She is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of The Institution of Engineering and Technology. 

Kamini is passionate about STEM, having sponsored the creation of the first STEM lab in Network Rail. She is an excellent role model for young engineers and a champion of Diversity and Inclusion. She enjoys creating a high-performance culture and has a proven track record of coaching, mentoring, and supporting staff in helping them maximise their potential and deliver outstanding results.

Kathryn Nichols

Chief Executive, The Nichols Group

Kathryn Nichols is Chief Executive of Nichols. She is a Nichols board member and owns and runs the company in partnership with her sister, Frances, Chair and Creative Director of Nichols.

Kathryn joined Nichols full time 28 years ago as the company’s finance Director, following a career in legal practice.

Kathryn has strong vision and values with a strategic focus on making connections, relationships and solving complex challenges, using the business to make a difference to society and the world. She is a strong advocate for equality, diversity and virtual working styles.

Mary Grant

Chief Executive Officer, Porterbrook

Mary joined Porterbrook in 2017 and has over 25 years’ experience working in the UK and international transport sector. 

Previous roles include Divisional Managing Director bus and rail FirstGroup, Managing Director ScotRail, Managing Director National Express and Business Change Director Eurostar.

She has a proven track record of developing transformative business strategies, improving operational performance and delivering financial success as well as driving positive culture change within organisations.

Mary is a Board member of the National Skills Academy for Rail.

Natalie Greenwell

Director, People, Network Rail

Director, People at Network Rail, a national infrastructure organisation employing 40,000 employees leading the people agenda.

Natalie has a specific focus on (and passion for) creating great employee experiences,  transformation and change, achieved through great leadership and development.  Natalie believes that for people to be at their best, they need to be supported by great leadership and provided with opportunities to develop and grow in a safe space.

Natalie has held large leadership roles focussing on people and transformation and has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in  recruitment and talent development, employee policy and reward, complex industrial relations and organisation development and leading transformation programmes designed to put customers and employees at the heart of all decision making.

A graduate in Law specialising in Family and Employment Law, Natalie started her career in the legal profession working on both individual cases and then latterly within in-house teams in large manufacturing companies.  Natalie is also a trustee for a children’s charity and a governor for a school federation.

Neil Blagburn

Programme Delivery Director - Rail, AECOM

Neil is an experienced and accomplished project management professional with 19 years’ experience in delivering high profile, complex, multi‐discipline projects within challenging railway and construction environments. Neil started out as an apprentice traction fitter on the Tyne and Wear Metro and undertook various roles in rolling stock maintenance before making a move into infrastructure maintenance. In 2003 Neil launched his career in project management with a move into infrastructure projects and within 10 years he had progressed to running a £400m railway investment programme. He then moved on to deliver a £700m train fleet and depot investment programme before taking up his current role as the Programme Director on the Northumberland Line Programme – a transformational railway construction programme to restore passenger rail services to South East Northumberland.

Richard McClean

Managing Director, Grand Central

Richard joined the railway industry as an Engineering Management Trainee in 1982, working in various parts of the network, mainly in the London area.  He spent 18 months acting as Personal Assistant to the Chairman of the British Railways Board at the time of Railtrack’s vesting.  Richard joined GNER in 1998, as Production Director, having previously been Production Director on LTS Rail.

Richard then performed the role of Development Director including leading on Franchise Bids and delivering GNER’s major Franchise investment commitment projects, including rolling stock/station remodelling schemes.

In December 2007, Richard became the Production Director of National Express East Coast, leading the transformation of operational performance for the business and the continued development of its timetable and fleet.

Immediately prior to joining DB Regio UK in February 2010, Richard was the National Express Project Director for the Intercity Express Programme with responsibility for ensuring that these DfT procured trains entered service successfully without impact on the East Coast Franchise.

Richard has undertaken the role of Chair of ATOC’s Engineering Council - a cross industry body looking at all aspects of railway rolling stock activity. He also served as Chair of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Railway Division.

As of 1st April 2010, Richard became Managing Director of DB Regio Tyne and Wear who operated Metro trains and stations on behalf of Nexus under a Concession Agreement. In this role Richard was responsible for the launch of the new Concession and the ongoing deliver of all services to passengers on the Metro network.

In February 2012, Richard took up the role of Managing Director of Arriva’s Grand Central open access operator.

Richard was seconded to the role of Arriva’s Mobilisation Director preparing for the commencement of the new Northern Franchise but returned to Grand Central following the successful completion of that project.

Having led Grand Central through the period of the pandemic, Richard has recently taken on the role of Transition Director for Arriva, UK Trains. In this role he provides key input on matters relating the Rail Transformation programme, the Whole Industry Strategic Plan, rolling stock decarbonisation strategy development, the 2023 Periodic Review and national strategic timetable change activity.

Richard lives in North Yorkshire and is married with 2 children.

Rob Morris

Managing Director, Siemens Mobility – Rail Infrastructure

Rob is the Managing Director of Siemens Mobility Rail infrastructure, responsible for all of its UK rail signalling, digital, automation and electrification activities across rail infrastructure for Network Rail, London Underground and Crossrail.

With a career spanning four decades in multi-disciplined major projects working for mining, power, general construction and technology-based businesses both internationally and in the U.K. He graduated as an Electro Mechanical Engineer, expanding his knowledge and experience through a multitude of technologies and disciplines throughout his career.

His involvement in major rail, nuclear, Olympics, aviation, power & energy, oil & gas sectors provides him with a uniquely broad experience of what it takes to lead a complex business and to deliver major infrastructure across a number of sectors. His achievements are many and include transformational change culturally, organisationally and at industry level.

Rob is particularly passionate about the Rail Sector, its reputation, health & safety, driving efficiencies and improving diversity in the workplace because of the many challenges it faces. He believes that collaboration, at all levels, is the key to industry success in addressing those challenges.

He is Industry Champion for Digital Transformation for the Rail Sector Deal and is a member of the Rail Supply Group Council.

As part of his passion towards making the industry a more diverse sector, with all the benefits that brings, Rob is an Executive Champion for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for both Rail Infrastructure and the broader Mobility businesses.

Suzanne Tarplee

Partner, co-head of Rail, Stephenson Harwood LLP

Sue is a partner and co-head of the Stephenson Harwood’s Rail Team. Sue started her career at Connex South Eastern and now has over 20 years’ experience in the rail industry. She advises on all aspects of heavy and light rail and has worked on many of the UK’s most transformative and strategic rail infrastructure projects including working with TfL on Crossrail and with the National Infrastructure Commission on the rail needs assessment, and DfT and other rail industry bodies.

Her vast experience ranges from rolling stock (including manufacturing and maintenance arrangements), infrastructure development (including station and depot construction), and regulatory regimes and in advising bidders for franchises and concessions.

Tim Danvers

Business Development - Transportation UK and Europe, Atkins Global

Tim leads business development for rail at Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin group. A trained engineer, Tim has contributed to major projects including the Channel Tunnel, Class 92, Intercity Express Project (IEP) and, more recently, HS2. Tim has built influential relationships across the industry, academia, in government and with clients and uses his platform as a spokesperson to promote skills, apprenticeships and equality, diversity and inclusion.