Women in Rail (WR) has appointed five new trustees to its governing board.
Shona Clive, Vice-Chair of Women in Rail made the announcement at the Women in Rail Awards (18 May), welcoming Angie Doll, Sharon Salmon, Darren O’Brien, Karen Paton and Neil Robertson to the WR team.
All five trustees are passionate supporters of WR which was founded in 2012 to improve diversity in the UK rail industry by providing networking opportunities and support, encouraging diversity as a business strategy, and developing initiatives to promote rail as an attractive career choice.
Shona Clive says: “I am delighted to welcome the new trustees to the charity.
“Angie, Sharon, Darren, Karen and Neil are all exceptional members of the rail industry, each bringing valuable influence and experience which will not only benefit WR, but the wider industry as we continue our efforts to achieve a more gender-balanced and diverse UK rail industry.”
Angie Doll is Chief Operating Officer of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). With over 20 years’ experience in the rail industry, Angie is an advocate for Diversity in the workplace and is a champion for increasing the number of women in rail. Angie was also on the judging panel for the Women in Rail Awards 2023.
Sharon Salmon is Supplier Manager (Corporate Services) for Network Rail. A Diversity and Inclusion champion, Sharon has previously chaired Network Rail’s Cultural Fusion Employee network (CFN), the organisations’ Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) employee network aimed at recognising the benefits of a diverse workforce. Sharon’s
inspiring and engaging leadership has built the group to over 1,000 members. Sharon was recently recognised at the Rail Staff Awards, winning the HR Diversity and Inclusion Award for 2022.
Darren O’Brien is Deputy Head of Retail for Southeastern. During the covid pandemic, Darren is credited for initiating ‘Rail to Refuge’, an initiative aimed at securing free train tickets for women, men and children escaping domestic abuse to refuge accommodations, assisting thousands to reach safety. Darren was awarded an Outstanding Contribution Award at the Women in Rail Awards 2021 and remains an avid supporter and ambassador for all women in rail.
Karen Paton is Onboard Manager, Glasgow for Avanti West Coast, recipient of the Women in Rail Awards 2021 Inspirational Woman of the Year Award, as well as serving on the Judging Panel for 2022. Motivated to continue the fantastic achievements the industry has seen in improving gender balance, diversities and inclusion within rail, Karen is passionate in making real change for future generations.
Neil Robertson is the Chief Executive of NSAR, joining the organisation in 2015 following senior roles in both the utility and hospitality sectors. Neil has been an avid supporter of Women in Rail for many years, serving on the Women in Rail Awards judging panel and supporting other initiatives, such as The Big Rail Diversity Challenge since its launch in 2016. He is also passionate about mentoring and the difference it can make for burgeoning leaders.
With more than 7,500 members worldwide, WR brings together men and women from the UK railway sector.
The charity holds regular networking events and development workshops across the UK through its regional groups and runs a successful cross-industry mentoring programme and senior leadership programme (SWiFT), both open to female and male participants.
For more information about WR visit https://womeninrail.org
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