Hello and welcome to the Women in Rail South West Regional Group!

We want to support and empower women across our network to develop personally and professionally, build confidence, and make connections across companies that strengthen our sector. We also welcome men to become part of the group and participate in events – real equality, diversity and inclusion require all of us to come together.

The South West Group covers: Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucester, Bristol, Bath, Wiltshire, Dorset, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Buckinghamshire and Surrey.  

The group is led by Co-Chairs, Sophia Morgan (Network Rail) and Eleanor Wills (PwC); supported by the Steering Committee below.

We encourage new ideas and energy and would warmly welcome volunteers to the Women in Rail South West Committee. If you are interested, please do let us know. 

We are all volunteers, collectively representing a cross-section of the railway industry in the South West region and are passionate about working with men, women, and like-minded organisations to support the diversity and inclusion ambitions championed by Women in Rail.

To make sure you do not miss out on any of these activities organised by the WR South West Group, please register on the Contact Us page and join the Women in Rail community in the region. Membership is free and gives you access to the local and national events organised by the team.

Hope to see you soon!

Sophia and Eleanor

Sophia Morgan, Senior Business Manager, Network Rail

Sophia has worked in the rail industry for 13 years, building a varied career across project management, frontline operations and senior leadership. She joined Network Rail through its Project Management Graduate Scheme and has since held a range of operational and leadership roles, including Local Operations Manager and Senior Business Manager to the Chief Executive. She is currently working on the design of Network Operations for Great British Railways.

Sophia is passionate about supporting and championing women across the rail industry encouraging more women to build long and fulfilling careers in rail and ensuring they feel supported throughout them. She is committed to helping create an industry where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to thrive, free from harassment and discrimination.

“I’m delighted to be appointed Co-Chair of Women in Rail South West alongside Eleanor. It’s a fantastic opportunity to establish our new region and build a strong and supportive network, bringing people together through engaging events, creating new connections and championing women across the rail industry in the South West.”

Eleanor Wills, Senior Manager, Transport, PwC

With ten years’ experience in transport, I am passionate about rail’s role in supporting regional growth, improving connectivity and creating opportunities for communities. From rolling stock to regional development, and from organisational design to business planning, my work at Great Western Railway, Chiltern Railways, KPMG, the Department for Transport and PwC has given me a broad perspective on strategy, public policy and infrastructure.

“I enjoy building partnerships across industry and government to improve passenger outcomes, support sustainable growth and shape the future of transport. I am particularly interested in how integrated transport and strategic planning can unlock regional potential and deliver lasting benefits for people and places. I want Women in Rail South West to be a place that is a tireless advocate for an equitable industry, as we look ahead to GBR in 2027.”

Jacqui Kendall, Traincrew Programme Manager, Rail Delivery Group

Jacqui Kendall is a project management professional with more than 20 years’ experience, including over five years in the rail industry. She specialises in leading and developing innovative projects and programmes and currently serves as Traincrew Programme Manager within the Rail Delivery Group’s People Strategy team. In this role, she leads the Traincrew Programme and delivers its outputs in line with Traincrew Board priorities. Throughout her career, Jacqui has managed complex projects across the transport industry, delivering significant improvements in efficiency and cost reduction. Her strong interests in sustainability, society and safety reflect her commitment to continuous improvement and responsible working practices. She is passionate about bringing cross-functional teams together and enabling transformative change to achieve project objectives. 

Jacqui holds a master’s degree in Environmental Strategy, which strengthens her ability to integrate environmental and technological considerations into transport solutions. She is also committed to advancing gender diversity and inclusive leadership. As co-chair of Empower, RDG’s women’s network, and a member of the Women in Rail South committee, she supports women’s career progression across the rail industry.

Hannah Shackleford, Regional Development Manager (Wales & West of England), Great Western Railway

Hannah joined GWR in 2025 as Regional Development Manager for Wales and the West of England, a role that focuses on engaging stakeholders to shape industry plans and collaborating with partners to finance and deliver new services and infrastructure.

Hannah has a background in policy and partnerships, having worked previously in local government, the charity sector and in consulting across a broad spectrum of policy areas. The common thread throughout has been her focus on embedding stakeholder and community engagement as central to tackling challenges in complex areas such as climate, economic development, and now transport. 

This exposure to other industries prior to joining the industry means Hannah has seen examples of good (and less good!) practice elsewhere when it comes to inclusion. It’s no secret that Rail has a long way to go towards being a more attractive and supportive industry for women, and Hannah is keen to play her part in shifting the dial. In particular, she’s keen to see more women in leadership positions.  

Outside of work, Hannah has served as a trustee for a period poverty charity and has mentored young women facing barriers to employment. She loves travelling and the outdoors – you can usually find her hiking, swimming or plotting her next trip!

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