WOMEN IN RAIL AWARDS 2026

Alison Thompson

Infrastructure Management Director, Core Valleys Lines, Amey

Alison Thompson has dedicated over 36 years to the rail industry starting as a Civil Engineer with British Rail.

She has held many senior positions for Metronet, London Underground, Network Rail and Amey, where she is currently Infrastructure Management (IM) Director on the renowned Core Valley Lines (CVL). She is responsible for leading asset management, maintenance, operations, renewals, planning and performance teams inspecting, maintaining, renewing and operating infrastructure for Transport for Wales. Alison has guided the operations of the railway through the largest transformation on the CVL since they were constructed, ensuring safety and punctuality of the railway during major upgrade works.

Alison is known for her compassionate but strong leadership, guiding her teams through both huge successes and crisis. She has been recognised for her commitment and achievements within the rail industry at the 2025 Women in Rail Awards, where she was awarded the Adeline Ginn Lifetime Achievement Award.

Annabelle Pryce

Head of Customer and Growth (acting), KeolisAmey Metrolink

As Customer and Accessibility Lead for KeolisAmey Metrolink, I have a strong background in the delivery of customer engagement and accessibility strategies, working on connecting empathy, design, and operational excellence together. Not only ensuring the initiatives we deliver are intuitive and effective, but also accessible to users of all abilities on UKs largest light rail network

Experience working cross-functionally with stakeholders across Greater Manchester and beyond to embed accessibility and EDI standards into everyday processes, translating customer insights into meaningful improvements. By advocating for inclusive design principles into service delivery, we have a passion to help remove barriers and create experiences that work for everyone. 

I pride myself on a human approach to my work and most recently delivering an initiative that includes colleagues and decision makers to ‘Travel in the shoes of our customers’. This strategy will continue in 2026 and beyond as we continue to drive the belief that accessibility is fundamental to great customer experience.

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, AtkinsRéalis

Fi is a Chartered Engineer and Senior Consultant at AtkinsRéalis. With a background in rail engineering, Fi now works as a Business Change and Project Management Consultant within the Transportation Industry. 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. Through her involvement on working groups, such as the Women in Rail/RIA EDI Charter for Rail, 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.

Jeremy Westlake

Chief Executive, Network Rail

Jeremy Westlake became Chief Executive of Network Rail in October 2025, following a successful tenure as Chief Financial Officer since 2016.   

Jeremy brings over three decades of leadership experience across the transport, engineering, and manufacturing sectors, both in the UK and internationally. Prior to joining Network Rail, he served as Senior Vice President of Finance at Alstom Transport in France, where he played a key role in driving global growth through acquisitions and operational improvements. He also spent 14 years at Rolls-Royce in senior finance and supply chain roles in the UK and the United States. Earlier in his career, Jeremy held finance positions in the international manufacturing sector, working in France, Italy, and Turkey. He is a Chartered Accountant, holds a Master’s degree in Manufacturing from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Exeter.

Kamini Edgely

Sustainable Growth and Business Development Director, Network Rail

An experienced and motivated industry leader with a wide range of expertise in the rail industry spanning over 28 years. Kamini became Sustainable Growth and Business Development Director in November 2025, having previously acted as Chief Engineer for Network Rail.
In her current role, her main focus is on developing a railway that is sustainable and is ready to embrace GBR and grow to become more efficient and self-sufficient for UK Plc.

She has previously been the guiding mind for safety and Engineering as Director of Engineering and Asset Management, and through engineering excellence aimed to deliver a whole railway system that puts passengers first.

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 the 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 postgraduate 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

Mandy Duncan

Managing Director - Rail & Aviation, Kier Infrastructure

Mandy is the managing director for Rail and Aviation within Kier Infrastructure. With 36 years’ experience in the Rail, Aviation, Nuclear and Water sectors, Mandy has invaluable experience and knowledge in corporate and major project environments, with a background in engineering, commercial and project leadership.

With a reputation for people-centred leadership, Mandy is recognised by colleagues for her openness, support, direct communication style and commitment to helping others thrive.

Mandy has a passion for diversity & inclusion, which has been with her since early on in her career. At 19, she became the first woman p-way track engineer in the south of the UK. She found that the industry could be an intimidating and lonely place for women, and this has shaped her career and values, to make the industry more accessible for everyone.

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 over 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.

She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (FCIM).

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 Keolis Amey Docklands, Natalia has played a pivotal role in delivering impactful results across highly regulated transport sectors, driving efficiency and innovation in procurement and supplier management.

Alongside her executive career, Natalia holds a number of non-executive and trustee roles. She is a Trustee for Youth4Youth (Y4Y) and a Non-Executive Director for several SME start-up organisations, supporting governance, growth, and sustainable leadership.

Natalia is deeply committed to giving back to society. She actively supports charities including Cancer Research UK and Railway Children, is a long-standing mentor, and has donated blood more than 35 times. Her work reflects a strong belief in inclusion, social responsibility, and empowering others to create positive change.

Neil Blagburn

Programme Director, AECOM

Neil is an experienced and accomplished project management professional with 22 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 and completes in 2026.

Nia Mellor

Detective Chief Inspector - British Transport Police

I have 25 years’ experience of policing in both Uniform and Detective roles, in London and beyond. I currently lead our response to Violence and Intimidation Against Women and Girls (VIAWG), working within our Public Protection and Vulnerability Department. I also have national responsibility for the Offender Management and Modern Slavery and Organised Immigration Crime teams.

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.

Richard George

Chair of Network Rail

Richard became Chair of Network Rail in February 2026.

He is a highly experienced UK railway industry leader with Chairmanship, Managing Director, Major Project Director and Plc Main Board experience. A strategic operator in global private sector companies, large public sector organisations as well as in small private sector specialist consultancies and in dealing with both regional and national politicians and stakeholders.

His roles have included Business and Strategy Director IntercIty for BRB, Franchise Development Director BRB, Managing Director and then Chairman of Great Western Trains, Board Member First Group Ltd, HS1 Project Director for Eurostar, Director of Transport for the London 2012 games for the Olympics Organising Committee (LOCOG) LOCOG, Group Managing Director Interfleet (SNC-Lavalin) and Chair of DFTO.

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.

Steph Hitchen

Driver, Lumo

Steph joins Lumo in March 2026 as a Driver on their new West Coast route. She brings five years of freight experience, having started as a depot driver with Freightliner before training and qualifying as a mainline driver with GBRf.

Based in Crewe, Steph is passionate about building a rail industry where everyone has the chance to belong and grow, and she’s grateful to those who have helped pave the way before her. She brings a grounded, real-world perspective and a deep appreciation for the skill, dedication, and impact of people across the industry. Alongside this, she’s a strong advocate for more inclusive, fair, and welcoming workplaces, and for encouraging more women to join the railway.

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.