WOMEN IN RAIL AWARDS 2025

Alex Hynes

Director General, Department for Transport

Alex Hynes was appointed Director General Rail Services Group in the Department for Transport (DfT) on 1 April 2024. 

Alex is an experienced transport professional with over 25 years of industry experience and a proven track record of delivering rail improvement and investment programmes. 

Prior to joining DfT, Alex was the Managing Director of Scotland’s Railway for nearly 7 years, where he led the delivery of Scotland’s Railway through the ScotRail Alliance, a unique and industry-leading partnership between ScotRail Trains Ltd and Network Rail Scotland. 

Before joining Scotland’s Railway, Alex was Managing Director of the Northern rail franchise for 3 and a half years, where he successfully delivered their best-ever customer satisfaction scores as well as record levels of employee engagement. 

Having spent his early career as a consultant for Halcrow Fox, Alex worked at the Office of the Rail Regulator before joining the Go-Ahead Group in 2005 as Strategic Planning Manager and, in 2007, as Commercial Director at London Midland, and finally, as Managing Director – Rail Development. 

Alex is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, a Fellow of the Permanent Way Institution and a member and former Chair of the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators. 

He is a former Rail Business Awards Industry Leader of the Year. 

Claire Mann

Chief Operating Officer, Transport for London

Claire took up the position of Chief Operating Officer at Transport for London (TfL) in April 2024. Claire oversees all of TfL’s modes of transport including TfL’s roads and infrastructure, cable car and cycle hire. 

Prior to this, Claire held the position of Managing Director at South Western Railway. 

Claire has over 25 years’ experience in the transport industry and has held a range of senior leadership roles in a number of Train Operating Companies, including previously working for TfL as Director for Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and Director of Bus Operations, TfL.

Claire has been a Non-Executive Director role at the Royal Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) since 2022. Claire also sits on the Board of Governors for the Chartered Institute of Railway Operators (CIRO).

Fi Westcough

Senior Consultant - AktinsRéalis

Fi is a Chartered Engineer and Senior Consultant at AtkinsRéalis. With a background in rail engineering, Fi now works as a Project Manager & Business Change Consultant and focuses on digital rail & ETCS projects. As the 2022-23 National Chair and Director of Young Rail Professionals (YRP), Fi led a team of over 70 volunteers to deliver 80+ events, shaping YRP’s strategy and promoting professional development across the industry. She is a member of the Women in Rail/RIA EDI Charter Working Group and the IMechE Education and Skills Strategy Board, where she advocates for talent retention and inspiring the next generation of female engineers. Fi won the 2021 Railway Industry Association Future Leader Award and was a finalist for the ‘Young Professional’ and ‘Rising Star’ awards at prestigious industry events. She remains committed to fostering an inclusive and innovative rail sector.

Jac Starr

Executive Chair and CEO - Rail Delivery Group.

Jacqueline Starr has been the CEO of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) since December 2020 and leads the organisation to create a simpler, better railway for all customers. Delivering key whole-industry services such as national ticketing, train information and reservations. Jac is a dedicated customer champion, advocating future proof change in support of evolving customer needs. 

Jac has worked in the railway for over 8 years and has previously held the roles of Chief Operating Officer and MD of Customer at the RDG. Before joining the railway Jac worked in senior leadership positions in the banking and telecommunications sector. Holding the roles of internal consultant as Director of Experience in Barclays Design Office, Head of Experience at O2 UK and Head of Customer Experience and Loyalty at Orange France. 

Jac became Chair of LiveWest (Housing Association) in September 2023 following a number of years as a Non-Executive Director (NED) on the Board. She lives at her home in North Somerset with her husband and 3 children.

Jacqueline Starr has been the Executive Chair and CEO of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) since December 2024 and December 2020 respectively leading the organisation to create a simpler, better railway for all customers.  

Jo Gretton

CEO - Telent

Jo Gretton is Telent’s Chief Executive Officer responsible for leading the company to deliver excellent customer service, continued growth and ensuring that Telent is a great place to work.

Jo was a member of Telent’s founding management team in 2006. Previously she was Telent’s Chief Operating Officer and before that Head of Legal and Commercial which also included responsibility for Telent’s QEHS and Company Secretarial functions.

Jo is an Exeter University law graduate and practised as a barrister before joining Marconi in 2000. She held various commercial and legal roles at Marconi and was Head of Legal for AsiaPac and the Americas prior to Telent’s formation.

Kamini Edgley

Director of Safety & Engineering - North-West and Central

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, Sustainable Growth, Engineering and Asset Management for the region which includes the West Coast Main line running from London to Carlisle, 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. 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 Oldale

Head of Strategy, Policy & Communications - DB Cargo UK

Kathryn joined DB Cargo UK in 2016, having previously worked as a Commercial Manager at the multinational pharmaceutical giant, Johnson & Johnson.

In her current role as Head of Strategy, Policy and Communications, Kathryn is responsible for managing all the company’s domestic, international, governmental and industry stakeholder relationships.

She was responsible for developing and delivering the company’s high-profile ‘Freight Belongs on Rail’ campaign aimed at promoting rail freight over road haulage and encouraging the UK Government to set a target for modal shift.

She is also coordinating the company’s drive to achieve Net Zero by 2050.

Mary Grant

Chief Executive Officer - Porterbrook

Mary Grant has been leading the Porterbrook team as CEO since 2017. She has overseen a strategic transformation that has secured key shareholder investment, pioneering railway innovation and sector leading global sustainability scores, underpinned by an award-winning people strategy.

With 30 years’ experience in the UK and international transport sector, including leadership roles at FirstGroup Plc, National Express Plc, ScotRail and Eurostar, Mary has a proven track record of driving business growth and delivering ambitious projects that break new ground to improve performance, safety and sustainability.

Dedicated to helping the next generation, Mary is Chair of the National Skills Academy for Rail, a Patron of the King’s Trust, and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity to support essential services for underprivileged children and communities.

Natalia Pickett

Head of Procurement - KeolisAmey Docklands Ltd

Natalia Pickett is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in the rail industry, specialising in strategic procurement, compliance, and operational excellence. As Head of Procurement for KeolisAmey Docklands, Natalia has played a pivotal role in delivering impactful results across highly regulated transport sectors, ensuring efficiency and innovation in procurement processes.

In addition to her professional achievements, Natalia is deeply committed to giving back. She actively supports several charitable causes, including Cancer Research UK, and Railway Children. Natalia is also a passionate advocate for mentoring and has spent over four years guiding women in transport and other industries, helping them achieve their professional goals.

Her dedication to fostering inclusivity and promoting talent within the rail sector reflects her belief in empowering others to drive positive change.

Neil Blagburn

Programme Director - Aecom

Neil is an experienced and accomplished project management professional with 21 years’ experience in delivering high profile, complex, multi‐discipline projects within challenging railway and construction environments. Neil started out as an apprentice rolling stock 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 jumped at the opportunity to deliver a £700m train fleet and depot investment programme before taking up his current role as the Programme Director of the Northumberland Line Programme – a transformational railway construction programme that reintroduced passenger rail services between Ashington and Newcastle in December 2024.

Nia Mellor

Detective Chief Inspector - British Transport Police

I have 24 years’ experience of policing in both Uniform and Detective roles, in London and beyond. I currently lead our response to sexual offences and Violence and Intimidation Against Women and Girls (VIAWG), working within our Public Protection and Vulnerability Department. I also have national responsibility for ViSOR (offender management) and the newly established Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime team. 

I am passionate about ensuring that BTP is an inclusive and supportive place to work and am a peer supporter and Inclusion and Diversity Champion, acting as a mentor to colleagues to help them become the best possible version of themselves. 

Rob Morris

Joint Chief Executive Officer - Siemens Mobility, Managing Director - the Rail Infrastructure and Software Businesses

Rob is Joint CEO and Board member of Siemens Mobility Limited, the UK and Ireland Rail Infrastructure and Rolling Stock company. He is Managing Director responsible for all of its UK rail signalling, digital, automation and electrification activities.

His career spans five decades in multi-disciplined major projects working for mining, power, general construction, rail and technology-based businesses both internationally and in the U.K. His achievements include transformational change culturally, organisationally and at industry level. 

Rob is passionate about the Rail Sector, its reputation, the health, safety & wellbeing of all, driving efficiencies and improving diversity and inclusion in the workplace. 

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 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Siemens Mobility businesses.

Sarah Fortune

Commercial Director of Rail & Aviation - Kier Transportation

Sarah Fortune is the Commercial Director for Kier Transportations Rail & Aviation business since 2021.  With over 25 years’ experience within Rail, Water, Civils, and Infrastructure industries, where the last 17 years have been spent working predominantly within the Rail sector working for main Tier 1 contractors, including Volker Rail and Balfour Beatty.  

Sarah is passionate about the development of others and working to create diverse and inclusive organisations and has held diversity and inclusion lead roles for the last 10 years.  She is a member of Women in Transport and SWiFT

Sir Andrew Haines

Chief Executive and Board Member - Network Rail

Andrew Haines was appointed as Chief Executive and Board member of Network Rail in August 2018. Prior to this, he served as Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority following a wide-ranging career in the rail industry, including roles as Managing Director of South West Trains, and Managing Director of the Rail Division for First Group plc.

In addition to his Network Rail role, Andrew has been tasked by the Secretary of State for Transport as one of the three leaders of Shadow Great British Railways (SGBR), supporting the integration of track and train ahead of legislation to create Great British Railways (GBR).

Leading a team of over 40,000 employees across Network Rail, Andrew has a vision to create a railway where everyone has a chance to reach their full potential, and he is Executive Sponsor of the industry’s Social Mobility Employee Network Group.

Tricia Williams

Managing Director - Northern Trains Limited (NTL)

Tricia took on the role of managing director in May 2024 bringing a wealth of experience from her career in transport and utility services.

With extensive management experience Tricia was, for three and a half years, chief operating officer at Northern successfully leading the day-to-day operation of trains, stations, engineering and control.

Tricia has always worked for companies with a strong purpose and is proud to lead an organisation that puts customers and communities at its heart. Driving forward change and transformation is one of her key priority areas underpinned by a strong focus on train service performance.

Tricia has a passion for people – both customers and colleagues – and is an advocate for equality and diversity, believing that Northern has an important role to play in creating jobs that are accessible to as many people as possible and creating an environment where people feel included at work.