2025 Shortlist - Women in Rail

We are delighted to announce the Women in Rail Awards 2025 shortlist.

Women in Rail received over 380 submissions from – and in respect of – a wide range of individuals, teams and companies in the railway sector, many of them from male allies nominating their female co-workers. The judges commented that the calibre of the entries was truly remarkable and selecting who should be shortlisted and ultimately win was a very difficult task.

WOMEN IN RAIL AWARDS 2025 SHORTLIST

Best Training or Development Programme Award

Balance Better Programme – Arriva Ltd
CIRO Connect – Chartered Institution of Railway Operators
Greater Anglia Team Code Project Team – Greater Anglia
Inclusive Leadership Programme – Hitachi Rail
Finance Strategy & Development Team, Group Finance – Network Rail
Engagement and Development Team – MTR Elizabeth line
The Learning and Development (L&D) Team – c2c
Unipart

Social Value Award

Alstom
KeolisAmey Metrolink
Kier
Morgan Sindall Infrastructure
Community Ambassador Team – MTR Elizabeth line
Siemens Mobility

Employer of the Year Award

BTTC
c2c
Hull Trains
South Western Railway
Southeastern
Transpennine Express

Best Network Group Driving Gender Equity and Intersectionality Award

Global Arriva Inclusion Network (GAIN) – Arriva
Women and Allies Network – Hitachi Rail
Inspire – Network Rail
W.I.R.E – Women in Rail Empowerment – Southeastern

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team Award

CAF’s Women’s Network
CFO EDI Champions Working Group – Network Rail
Hull Trains
Kier
Rail Unites for Inclusion – GBRTT
South Western Railway

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Individual Award

Annabelle Pryce – Customer and Community Engagement Manager – KeolisAmey Metrolink
Carys R Thomas – Safety Audit Manager – Great Western Railway
Daisy Daymond – Project Manager – Network Rail
Dannielle Dickens – Senior EDI Specialist – Network Rail
Nina Atwal – Head of Social Value, UK&I – Alstom
Taija Clarke – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lead – Hitachi Rail

Female Apprentice of the Year Award

Chloe Draper – Project Management Apprentice – Network Rail
Evie Bracher – Project Manager Apprentice – Alstom
Evie Morley – Human Resources Apprentice – Network Rail
Katie Garvin – Early Talent Coordinator Apprentice – Transport for Wales
Lucy Lightbown – Sustainability Apprentice – TransPennine Express
Saarah Iqbal – Conductor – Northern Trains

Female Rising Star of the Year Award

Aona Stuart – Environment Manager – Network Rail (High Speed)
Connie Huntingford – Site Engineer – BAM Nuttall
Daisy Daymond – Project Manager – Network Rail
Ellie Harper – Account Manager – Hitachi Rail
Gemma Lochrie – Principal Consultant – First Rail Consultancy
Jessica Marson – Fatigue Risk Manager – Avanti West Coast
Katie Roberts – Design Engineer – Siemens Mobility
Kennedy Wheeler – Site Engineer – EKFB
Lauren Morgan – Content Producer – Transport for Wales
Lily Shimmin – Scheme Project Manager – Network Rail
Molly Wakelin – ESG Support Officer – Arriva

Male Ally of the Year Award

Gerry Scott – Interim Head of Operations – Lumo
James Gossage – Train Manager – LNER
Kane Jellyman – UK Business Development Manager – CAF
Matthew Byrne – Services – Product Line President – Alstom
Oliver Gant – HR, Communications and ESG Director – Arriva Rail London
Peter Broadley – Commercial Director UK & Ireland – Alstom

Inspirational Frontline Woman of the Year Award

Bridget Nolan – Rail Enforcement Team Leader – GTR Southern / Gatwick Express
Denise Bloom – Train Driver (Southern) – GTR
Helen Gander – Train Manager (Driver) – GBRailfreight
Kath Martin – Rail Enforcement Team Leader for Great Northern – Govia Thameslink Railway
Niambie Harris – Retail Assistant – East Midlands Railway
Susannah Carroll – Train Driver – Transport for Wales

Inspirational Woman of the Year Award

Alyson Downham – Engineering Delivery Manager – Hitachi Rail
Ellie Burrows – Regional Managing Director, Eastern – Network Rail
Geeta Morar – System Safety and Assurance Manager – Hitachi Rail
Hannah Linford – Head of Advanced Timetable Analysis – Network Rail
Jo Boocock – Project Director – Alstom Transport UK & IRL
Joanne Cox – Head of Quality Manufacturing Rolling Stock Goole – Siemens Mobility
Lisa Bowden – Work Winning Director – Balfour Beatty
Michelle Raven – Driver Manager Southern – GTR

The Adeline Ginn Unsung Hero Award

Caitriona O’Brien – Safety Improvement Specialist – Network Rail
Esther Steele – Station Duty Manager – East Midlands Railway
Lorna Richardson – Head of Customer Engagement – Alstom
Natalie Thornton – Operations Support Manager – Siemens Mobility Limited, Goole Rail Village
Priti Patel – Chief Health, Safety and Wellbeing Officer – Network Rail
Rehana Marylebone Khawaja – Safeguarding and Security Manager – Chiltern Railways
Viktorija Novikova – Early Careers & Apprenticeships Manager – Greater Anglia

The Adeline Ginn Lifetime Achievement Award

Alison Thompson – Infrastructure Management Director – Amey
Aziza Imaaingfen – Head of Planning, Western Route – Network Rail
Jenny Illingsworth – Head of Business and Operations – University of Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE)
Lara Fish – Operations Manager, TBROC – Network Rail
Sarah Swanston – Right Time Railway Manager East – Greater Anglia
Zoe Vale – Rail Enforcement Officer – GTR Southern Railway