Charles has had an extensive railway career and has been Managing Director of a number of Train Operating Companies including West Coast Trains from 2003-2007. Since then he has been Vice Chairman of Grand Central Trains and a Board Member of Transport for London from 2008-2016.

Abi Broadley is a consultant, advising small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on how to navigate and thrive in the complex world of rail. Her current work also includes consultancy for the University of Birmingham | BCRRE, including industry engagement for RaisE: the Rail Accelerator and Innovation Solutions hub for Enterprise in Goole, Yorkshire. Her varied career began in design for the arts, starting in film, television and theatre before working in design and sales for a Christmas decoration company providing large displays for shopping centres. Abi’s rail career began in 2010, latterly leading an SME that manufactured and hired out road/rail vehicles, expanding a niche market that improved safety and efficiency in rail. Abi is passionate about empowering people and creating sustainable, long term business strategy to build thriving companies.

Ian was Managing Director of London Rail at Transport for London responsible for the DLR, London Tramlink and London Overground. He was awarded a CBE for services to railways. Ian is now a member of the Metrolinx Capital Oversight Committee in Toronto, Canada.

Michael is an Electrical Engineer and a Team Leader at Atkins, member of the SNC-Lavalin Group. Since graduating from Imperial College London with MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Michael has been working on a range of projects over a number of railway systems disciplines, including traction modelling, Electrical Traction Equipment (ETE), Earthing & Bonding and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC).

Michael has been working on Earthing & Bonding and EMC Safety Justifications for the Crossrail Project over the past couple of years, part of the suite of documentation to get the project onto Trial Running stage. He is an Associate of the City and Guilds of London Institute and currently pursuing chartership accreditation with the IET.

Michael is a passionate volunteer as a STEM Ambassador, and also with Team London, the Postal Museum and the London Transport Museum.

Formerly Chief Executive of Iarnrod Eireann/Irish Rail, Dick has 47 years experience in the rail industry in Britain and Ireland. Dick's railway career began with British Rail in 1973. After privatisation, he became TOC MD South Eastern and subsequently Director of Network Rail's Midland Zone, before moving to Ireland. After his retirement from Irish Rail in 2013, Dick returned to the UK and continues to work in the railways on non-executive responsibilities. He is currently Chair of the Western Route Supervisory Board.

Bill is an independent consultant for his own company, his principal role is as “Rail Director” for the trade association “Civil Engineering Contractors Association”. This role includes helping member companies with rail related queries, including getting started in rail; leading contractor focussed efficiency drives and hosting “Rail Group” meetings for members.

Prior to March 2018 Bill was Carillion Rail’s Business Development Director responsible for strategy and pre-tender activity.

Shamit Gaiger led several cross-industry policies and strategies for the UK railway addressing uncertainties including: future travel behaviour, Innovation framework, Sustainable Development Strategy and the Rail Sector Skills Delivery Plan. Most recently she led the negotiations on the Rail Sector Deal on Behalf of HM Government. She is currently a Non Executive Director for Campaign for Better Transport and Leads the Strategic Advisory Practice in AECOM.

Career railwayman in both public and private rail industry. Created the ScotRail brand when General Manager Scotland and then the Network SouthEast brand when MD NSE. Became MD InterCity before privatisation and then CEO Virgin Trains, where he introduced the new Pendolino and Voyager fleets.

Carolyn founded RAIB and was its Chief Inspector during its first ten years of operation. She has worked in heavy rail, metro and light rail systems; and in operations, manufacturing, consultancy, establishing new rail systems, regulation and managing projects both in the UK and overseas.

She is a Non-Executive Director for Irish Rail and AES Engineering Ltd., External Examiner for the University of Birmingham's MSc in Railway Systems Integration and chair of the Rail Group of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety.

She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for services to the rail industry, is a recent President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and a former Board member of Engineering Council and Imperial College.

As HR and Business Services Director at Direct Rail Services, Natasha actively lead DRS's people agenda, helping them to achieve the coveted Top Employer title at the Women in Rail Awards in 2019. Natasha's background is in regulated and engineering based industries including nuclear, health and aerospace. She is passionate about the ED&I agenda and volunteers for Global Vision International, focusing on the UN sustainability Development Goals. Natasha is also a Non Executive Director Trustee for Sharks Community Trust, which focusses on sporting education in the community.

Richard is a Chartered Engineer working in Signalling and telecoms at Network Rail, with a background in infrastructure projects. He volunteers as Chair the North West region of YoungRailProfessionals, leading on promoting, inspiring and developing people in rail and those who wish to pursue careers in rail.

Career railwayman, most recently as Chief Executive of Directly Operated Railways. Former Chairman of East Coast, Managing Director of South Eastern Trains, Regional Director Southern for Railtrack/Network Rail. Served on ATOC Board, British Transport Police Authority and Department for Transport's Franchising Advisory Panel.

After leaving Dame Allan's School in Newcastle qualified at The Leeds School of Architecture. Worked for Skidmore Owings and Merrill in Chicago and The Louis de Soissons Partnership in London before joining BR's Southern Region architects department progressing to Deputy Regional Architect.

Appointed Head of Architecture and Design for InterCity and part time adviser to Scotrail before ending my career as Projects Director in English Heritage, Currently assisting The Bluebell Railway with their terminus proposal at East Grinstead.

Stephen Joseph is an independent transport policy consultant and visiting professor at the University of Hertfordshire. He was Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport, and its predecessor Transport 2000, from 1988 to 2018, campaigning for sustainable transport policies and being a member of the Commission for Integrated Transport and various Government advisory groups. He was awarded an OBE in 1996 and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Hertfordshire in 2010.

Simon Kendler is the Regional Freight Manager, Southern at Network Rail.

He started his career at TfL with placements on London Underground, Crossrail and Crossrail 2 before working as a Rail Consultant at Jacobs from 2018-2020.

He has been a member of the Young Rail Professionals (YRP) since 2018 where he is currently National Vice Chair, supporting those early into their railway careers, advocating for more diversity and working to attract more young people into the rail industry.

After spending the early part of her career in the Banking Sector, specialising in the Service Profit Link, employee engagement and cultural change, Nina entered the world of Executive Search in 2000 and has been focusing purely on the Transport Sector, primarily Rail since setting up Intuitive Interim & Executive Search in 2013.

Formerly Technical Director of HS2 and before that Chief Engineer of Network Rail, Andrew’s railway career began with British Rail in 1973. He has chaired EU committees on rail infrastructure management and research and latterly the world InterCity & High Speed Rail Committee.

Now a Professorial Fellow at University of Southampton, Andrew advises governments on rail strategy to maximise economic and social impacts. He is also Chair of Network Rail (High Speed) Ltd.

Most recently Managing Director of Northern Rail, but with 25 years of railway experience in companies such as GNER, Midland Mainline and Arriva. She is now Chief Executive of Northumbrian Water Group.

Chief Superintendent Gill Murray first joined BTP in 1990. During her 32 years of service at BTP Gill has extensive experience across multiple disciplines including criminal investigation and specialist policing such as her responsibility for the creation of the national metal theft fusion unit and delivering metal theft partnership reduction and enforcement strategies. She worked as Detective Superintendent; Head of Professional Standards, where she was accountable for delivering professional standards across the United Kingdom in BTP. She was also Operational Superintendent in the Western and London North Home Counties & East Anglia division for BTP where she was responsible for operational management including the delivery of 24/7 London response teams and worked in collaboration with numerous senior stakeholders including Local Authorities, Home office Police colleagues, HS1, Eurostar, C2C, Lorol, TfL and other key train operating companies.

Gill will use her wide range of experience as the D Division Scotland Commander to build upon the collaborative work already being done, seeking new opportunities with partners to improve divisional performance and enhance the policing of Scotland’s railways.

Chairman of the judges.

Launch director of the National Rail Awards and a judge for many years, Clive continues as Chairman of the Judges. From the outset he has been determined to recognise and reward the best people and the best companies in our vibrant and constantly challenging industry. Over two decades of judging, Clive has been committed to highlighting those who make a real and positive difference to our customers: passengers and freight alike.

Bonnie is a consultant to the rail section with over 10 years' experience. She is also the CEO of the not-for-profit Young Rail Professionals LTD (YRP), having spent 5 years on its board of directors. Its mission is to "promote, develop and inspire the next generation of rail." With regions across the United kingdom and the republic of Ireland, as well as working groups to focus on heritage, Young Rail Tours, INTOrail, RAILWEEK and it's own Annual dinner and awards.

She is the winner of the Women in rail awards :Inspirational woman of the year 2022. Working on projects such as Crossrail and HS2, she is primarily an infrastructure consultant.

Lucy is Business Growth Director at Trough-Tec Systems, a HIRD Group company where she champions safety, sustainability and efficiency on the railway. A keen advocate for the railway supply chain she also chairs the Railway Industry Association SME group.

Lucy was awarded an MBE for services to railway exports in 2018, which also cited her work on supporting under-represented groups within rail.

Ian Prosser was the H.M. Chief Inspector of Railways and Director of Railway Safety at the Office of Rail & Road. Responsible for the work of the Railway Safety Directorate, which strives to ensure duty-holders in the railway industry manage health and safety risks effectively and thus comply with their statutory duties. The Secretary of State appointed him to the Board with effect from 26 September 2008.

Prior to joining ORR in 2008, he spent eight years in the rail industry, working for Amey Rail and Amey Operations as both technical director and Quensh director and then Metronet Rail, where he had the leading role in safety management; he was a director of both infraco companies.

Ian is a member of ORR’s safety regulation committee and periodic review committee.

Retired in 2009 as Chief Executive of Transport Scotland. Previously Director General of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive and a member of the Rail Safety & Standards Board Advisory Committee. Ex-deputy chairman of the Railway Heritage Committee.

Connacht is a Consultant within the Engineering & Technical Services team at TXM Consult, a member of the TXM Group.

She has worked on a range of projects since joining the industry including the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme, East West Rail, the Elizabeth Line and the ECDP Freight Programme offering a mixture of technical consultancy, systems engineering and project management services to deliver solutions for her clients.

Connacht is a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and is pursuing chartership accreditation through them. She is also an active committee member for the Young Rail Professionals and TechSoc.

Connacht is passionate about outreach and regularly volunteers as a STEM ambassador to promote careers in Rail and STEM at local schools, colleges and universities.

Tim Shoveller became CEO of Freightliner Group in August 2023.

Tim was previously Managing Director of Network Rail’s North West and Central Region. He started this role in June 2019 after moving from Stagecoach, where he was MD of the rail division and prior to this MD of South West Trains where he led the development of the Alliance working with Network Rail. Earlier in his career, Tim was MD at East Midlands Trains from the start of the franchise in 2007.

Earlier career highlights include senior roles at Virgin Trains and Eurostar.

Tim has over 30 years’ experience in the rail industry, initially joining British Rail as a Guard at Guildford.

He is Chairman of the Railway Benefit Fund charity, which supports current and former employees and their families.

Anthony is currently chair of Independent Rail Retailers and the Heathrow Area Transport Forum. He is also a member of the Affinity Water Independent Consumer Challenge Group.

Formerly Anthony was chief executive of Transport Focus and its predecessor bodies. He also worked at Consumers’ Association and Consumers International. Having studied law Anthony is also a qualified solicitor.

Laura joined Network Rail in 2018 and has flourished in her career with a real passion for running a safe and reliable rail system. Having graduated in 2018 with an honours degree in International Business Laura recently went onto complete a postgraduate certificate in Strategic Leadership at the prestigious Warwick Business School.

Laura now works in Network Rail’s Eastern Region as the Lead Business Change Manager, focussing on the implementation of new systems and technology to modernise the rail industry. Having started her career in a track maintenance team, followed by a move to operations, Laura has an appreciation of the complexities which front line teams face when running the rail network for passengers and freight users. Now leading on the transformation of Doncaster Rail College to bring it back to operational use, Laura uses her passion for mentoring new starters into rail and undertaking STEM activities in her day-to-day role.

Richard has spent more than 50 years in the UK bus and rail industry, holding senior positions with London Underground, the ORR, TfL London Rail and latterly ATOC where he managed European Rail Policy. Although now retired he has since written a number of books on bus and rail transport matters and is still actively involved in UK coach operations.

Fiona (Fi) Westcough is an award-winning engineering consultant at SNC-Lavalin Atkins and National Chair of the Young Rail Professionals (YRP).She recently won the Future Leader Award at the Railway Industry Association (RIA) Supplier Excellence Awards, recognising her commitment and contribution to the industry.

At SNC-Lavalin, Fi has delivered in a variety of roles ranging from client facing Rolling Stock Engineering projects, to business development, strategy and public speaking on behalf of the company at major conferences such as InnoTrans.

On top of her day job, Fi was National Chair of the YRP for 2022/23, an 8000+ member volunteering organisation which aims to promote, inspire and develop the next generation of railway talent through networking and development events.

Fi is also an associate member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers; she is actively working towards Engineering Chartership and is passionate about inspiring the next generation of engineers.

Rita is an award-winning multidisciplinary Project Manager currently working on the multibillion pound Piccadilly Line Upgrade.

Having graduated with a 1st Class and a Distinction, Rita started her rail career at TfL. She excelled in managing a variety of high profile construction and engineering projects including; commercial developments, depot refurbishment, bridge refurbs, software upgrades, data centres, the Tour De France and award-winning projects to bring cooling and ventilation to the network.

She was previously seconded to Hong Kong MTR, engaging in knowledge exchange to assist the UK rail industry.

She is an active mentor and member of Staff Network Groups, coaching and engaging other young people in rail.

Also a published academic, Rita is making an impact in railway by implementing initiatives and innovations that bring meaningful sustainable change to the industry.