Strategy, Budget & Performance Monitoring

Chairman

• Millie Banerjee Biography

Members

• Ian Dobbs Biography
• Robin Gisby Biography
• Michael Holden Biography
• Christine Knights Biography
• Sir David O’Dowd Biography
• Jeroen Weimar Biography

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  Millie Banerjee

  Ms Banerjee is no stranger to the rail community, having served as a non-executive director at the Strategic Rail Authority between 2000 and 2005. She brings to the BTPA her extensive experience from several non-executive appointments, including chairing Postwatch and Carnegie Trust, and directorship of the Sector Skills Development Agency and Channel 4 Television. She spent 25 years with BT and more recently served on the board of Ofcom.

  Aside from the BTPA, she also serves on the boards of the Newham Primary Care Trust and the Peabody Trust. Her appointment at the BTPA will be for four years from December 2008, with the option to renew for a further four.

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  Ian Dobbs

  Ian Dobbs is a railway manager and advisor who has a long career in railways and public transport management, both in the UK and overseas, where he has run large railway systems in both the private and public sectors. He joined British Rail from University as a management trainee in 1977 and had a 16-year career with the business. Following a series of operational and commercial roles throughout the UK rail system, Ian progressed to become one of BR’s most senior Area Managers. In 1991 he was appointed by Sir Bob Reid, the then Chairman of British Rail, to become Divisional Director, Great Eastern, where he was responsible for Liverpool Street station and its train services in to and throughout East Anglia, one of Britain’s busiest railways.

  In 1993, Ian was recruited by the Victoria State Government in Australia to reform and manage the State’s transport network. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Victoria Public Transport Corporation with responsibility for the train, tram and bus network and he successfully managed the transition to privatisation.

  In 1999 Ian left government service to become a railway management consultant and advisor in Australia, New Zealand and around the Pacific Rim. During this time, he was engaged by banks and financial institutions to advise on and turn around poorly performing railway franchises and concessions, including spells as an interim CEO.

  In 2005 Ian returned to the UK to take up the role as Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group PLC’s Rail Division. In this role he was responsible for running the company’s rail and light rail services including South West Trains, East Midlands Trains, Sheffield Supertram and Manchester Metrolink. He was also Co-Chairman of Virgin Rail Group, which is 49% owned by Stagecoach. As part of this role Ian was also a Director of ATOC (Association of Train Operating Companies) and a member of the National Task Force for Rail in the UK.

  Ian is married and lived in Hertfordshire with his wife and daughter. His son is a serving army officer in the Australian Defence Force and decided to stay in Australia when the rest of his family relocated back to the UK.

  Ian left BTPA to return to Australia on 5 September 2011.

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  Robin Gisby

  Robin became Network Rail’s director, operations and customer services in May 2004. He was appointed to the board in October 2008 following many successful years in the company with roles such as director of the southern region, director of the eastern region and with Railtrack as director network development and director of freight.

  Before joining Railtrack in 1997, Robin, now 54, had a wide range of engineering and operational roles in both the UK and overseas mainly with GKN plc. He has a degree in Engineering Science and an MBA. Robin is married with four children and lives in south west London.

  Robin’s term as BTPA member came to an end on 30 June 2011.

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  Michael Holden

  Michael Holden has extensive experience in managing railways and railway projects within the UK and Europe. He started his early career with British Rail as a Traffic Student in 1978, progressing through a variety of local management roles in different regions to become Divisional Operations Manager for the South West Division of Network South East. In 1994 he joined the newly created Railtrack as Production Manager for the South West Zone, subsequently becoming Zone Director for East Anglia and finally Regional Director Southern, transferring to Network Rail in 2002.

  In 2003 he was appointed Managing Director of Connex South Eastern, one of the UK’s largest and most complex train companies, and immediately found himself negotiating the transition from that franchise into a period of state ownership. He created South Eastern Trains and ran it successfully for a lengthy period until it was re-franchised in April 2006. During this time significant improvements were made in operational and financial performance, as well as in customer satisfaction, and new fleets of trains were successfully introduced into service in difficult circumstances.

  In 2006 he set up his own railway management consultancy service, Coledale Consulting, and has continued to run this. He specialises in providing strategic advice to clients on commercial and operational matters, and leading bid teams for franchise and concession competitions. His work has taken him to Scandinavia, Spain and Ireland as well as in the UK.

  Michael is a non-executive director of East Coast Main Line Company, the current operator of the Inter City East Coast franchise, and is also a non-executive director of the holding company, Directly Operated Railways.

  Michael is married with three children and lives in Woking, Surrey. He is a trustee of Railway Children, the voice for streetchildren worldwide. He is also Chairman of Railway Children Trading Ltd and Railway Children Ball Ltd. In what is left of his spare time he is a qualified judge/starter for the Amateur Swimming Association, Technical Organiser for Woking Swimming Club, and Treasurer of Pinewood Gymnastics Club. He is currently Chairman of Woking 41 Club.

  Michael holds a degree in Business Studies from Portsmouth and is a Fellow of the Institution of Railway Operators.

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  Christine Knights

  Christine Knights is a former member of the British Transport Police Authority. After an early career spanning government, industry and education, she joined Consumers International in 1994. Since then she has worked to promote the interests and rights of consumers abroad and in the UK for a variety of consumer organisations.

  She has been involved in the development of consumer policy, consumer organisations and advice bureaux. Ms Knights chaired the Rail Passengers Committee for North Eastern England and is now a board member of Passenger Focus. She is currently a member of the RSSB Rail Personal Security Group and the Community Safety Steering Group, and was formerly a member of the BTP Committee.

  Christine’s term as a BTPA member came to an end on 30 June 2010.

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  Sir David O’Dowd

  CBE; OStJ; QPM; DL; Dip Soc; BA; MSc; DSc (Hon); CCMI

  Sir David is the former deputy chair of the British Transport Police Authority. He has over forty years experience in law enforcement and served with the Leicestershire, West Midlands, Metropolitan Police Service (at New Scotland Yard) and the Northamptonshire Police Forces. He is a former Chief Constable of Northamptonshire and until December 2001 was Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is the most senior national police figure reporting directly to the Secretary of State on the efficiency and effectiveness of all the UK Police Forces and acting as the principal advisor to the Minister on policing matters. Sir David has personally served with three former Home Secretaries.

  During his police career, he was at the forefront of managerial and organisational change and served as police advisor to the Audit Commission for five years. He previously held a number of national positions and appointments. He was National Director of the Police Graduate and Senior Appointments selection scheme; senior advisor to the Cyprus Police for five years; headed a team to comprehensively review the Trinidad and Tobago Police immediately after the 1990 coup and in 2001 appointed by their Prime Minister to further review the constitutional and organisational changes necessary to bring about fundamental reform to their police service, including integrity issues.

  Sir David’s term as deputy chair came to an end on 30 June 2011.

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  Jeroen Weimar

  Jeroen has been Managing Director of Serco’s UK transport business since March 2010. His responsibilities include the National Traffic Control Centre, the Docklands Light Railway, national motorway traffic infrastructure services, the installation and maintenance of road safety cameras throughout the UK and Serco’s joint ventures with NedRailways that operate Merseyrail and Northern Rail.

  He was previously Chief Operating Officer, Surface Transport at Transport for London, a position he assumed in January 2007. At TfL his responsibilities included transport policing and community safety, regulation and licensing of taxi and private hire industry, congestion charging operations and implementation of the Low Emission Zone, civil traffic enforcement across London’s major road network and revenue protection on London’s bus network.

  At BTPA, he is an industry representative responsible for improving relationships between the rail industry and BTP, and delivering efficiencies across BTP.

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  Millie Banerjee

  Ms Banerjee is no stranger to the rail community, having served as a non-executive director at the Strategic Rail Authority between 2000 and 2005. She brings to the BTPA her extensive experience from several non-executive appointments, including chairing Postwatch and Carnegie Trust, and directorship of the Sector Skills Development Agency and Channel 4 Television. She spent 25 years with BT and more recently served on the board of Ofcom.

  Aside from the BTPA, she also serves on the boards of the Newham Primary Care Trust and the Peabody Trust. Her appointment at the BTPA will be for four years from December 2008, with the option to renew for a further four.

• ---

  Ian Dobbs

  Ian Dobbs is a railway manager and advisor who has a long career in railways and public transport management, both in the UK and overseas, where he has run large railway systems in both the private and public sectors. He joined British Rail from University as a management trainee in 1977 and had a 16-year career with the business. Following a series of operational and commercial roles throughout the UK rail system, Ian progressed to become one of BR’s most senior Area Managers. In 1991 he was appointed by Sir Bob Reid, the then Chairman of British Rail, to become Divisional Director, Great Eastern, where he was responsible for Liverpool Street station and its train services in to and throughout East Anglia, one of Britain’s busiest railways.

  In 1993, Ian was recruited by the Victoria State Government in Australia to reform and manage the State’s transport network. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Victoria Public Transport Corporation with responsibility for the train, tram and bus network and he successfully managed the transition to privatisation.

  In 1999 Ian left government service to become a railway management consultant and advisor in Australia, New Zealand and around the Pacific Rim. During this time, he was engaged by banks and financial institutions to advise on and turn around poorly performing railway franchises and concessions, including spells as an interim CEO.

  In 2005 Ian returned to the UK to take up the role as Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group PLC’s Rail Division. In this role he was responsible for running the company’s rail and light rail services including South West Trains, East Midlands Trains, Sheffield Supertram and Manchester Metrolink. He was also Co-Chairman of Virgin Rail Group, which is 49% owned by Stagecoach. As part of this role Ian was also a Director of ATOC (Association of Train Operating Companies) and a member of the National Task Force for Rail in the UK.

  Ian is married and lived in Hertfordshire with his wife and daughter. His son is a serving army officer in the Australian Defence Force and decided to stay in Australia when the rest of his family relocated back to the UK.

  Ian left BTPA to return to Australia on 5 September 2011.

• ---

  Robin Gisby

  Robin became Network Rail’s director, operations and customer services in May 2004. He was appointed to the board in October 2008 following many successful years in the company with roles such as director of the southern region, director of the eastern region and with Railtrack as director network development and director of freight.

  Before joining Railtrack in 1997, Robin, now 54, had a wide range of engineering and operational roles in both the UK and overseas mainly with GKN plc. He has a degree in Engineering Science and an MBA. Robin is married with four children and lives in south west London.

  Robin’s term as BTPA member came to an end on 30 June 2011.

• ---

  Michael Holden

  Michael Holden has extensive experience in managing railways and railway projects within the UK and Europe. He started his early career with British Rail as a Traffic Student in 1978, progressing through a variety of local management roles in different regions to become Divisional Operations Manager for the South West Division of Network South East. In 1994 he joined the newly created Railtrack as Production Manager for the South West Zone, subsequently becoming Zone Director for East Anglia and finally Regional Director Southern, transferring to Network Rail in 2002.

  In 2003 he was appointed Managing Director of Connex South Eastern, one of the UK’s largest and most complex train companies, and immediately found himself negotiating the transition from that franchise into a period of state ownership. He created South Eastern Trains and ran it successfully for a lengthy period until it was re-franchised in April 2006. During this time significant improvements were made in operational and financial performance, as well as in customer satisfaction, and new fleets of trains were successfully introduced into service in difficult circumstances.

  In 2006 he set up his own railway management consultancy service, Coledale Consulting, and has continued to run this. He specialises in providing strategic advice to clients on commercial and operational matters, and leading bid teams for franchise and concession competitions. His work has taken him to Scandinavia, Spain and Ireland as well as in the UK.

  Michael is a non-executive director of East Coast Main Line Company, the current operator of the Inter City East Coast franchise, and is also a non-executive director of the holding company, Directly Operated Railways.

  Michael is married with three children and lives in Woking, Surrey. He is a trustee of Railway Children, the voice for streetchildren worldwide. He is also Chairman of Railway Children Trading Ltd and Railway Children Ball Ltd. In what is left of his spare time he is a qualified judge/starter for the Amateur Swimming Association, Technical Organiser for Woking Swimming Club, and Treasurer of Pinewood Gymnastics Club. He is currently Chairman of Woking 41 Club.

  Michael holds a degree in Business Studies from Portsmouth and is a Fellow of the Institution of Railway Operators.

• ---

  Christine Knights

  Christine Knights is a former member of the British Transport Police Authority. After an early career spanning government, industry and education, she joined Consumers International in 1994. Since then she has worked to promote the interests and rights of consumers abroad and in the UK for a variety of consumer organisations.

  She has been involved in the development of consumer policy, consumer organisations and advice bureaux. Ms Knights chaired the Rail Passengers Committee for North Eastern England and is now a board member of Passenger Focus. She is currently a member of the RSSB Rail Personal Security Group and the Community Safety Steering Group, and was formerly a member of the BTP Committee.

  Christine’s term as a BTPA member came to an end on 30 June 2010.

• ---

  Sir David O’Dowd

  CBE; OStJ; QPM; DL; Dip Soc; BA; MSc; DSc (Hon); CCMI

  Sir David is the former deputy chair of the British Transport Police Authority. He has over forty years experience in law enforcement and served with the Leicestershire, West Midlands, Metropolitan Police Service (at New Scotland Yard) and the Northamptonshire Police Forces. He is a former Chief Constable of Northamptonshire and until December 2001 was Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is the most senior national police figure reporting directly to the Secretary of State on the efficiency and effectiveness of all the UK Police Forces and acting as the principal advisor to the Minister on policing matters. Sir David has personally served with three former Home Secretaries.

  During his police career, he was at the forefront of managerial and organisational change and served as police advisor to the Audit Commission for five years. He previously held a number of national positions and appointments. He was National Director of the Police Graduate and Senior Appointments selection scheme; senior advisor to the Cyprus Police for five years; headed a team to comprehensively review the Trinidad and Tobago Police immediately after the 1990 coup and in 2001 appointed by their Prime Minister to further review the constitutional and organisational changes necessary to bring about fundamental reform to their police service, including integrity issues.

  Sir David’s term as deputy chair came to an end on 30 June 2011.

• ---

  Jeroen Weimar

  Jeroen has been Managing Director of Serco’s UK transport business since March 2010. His responsibilities include the National Traffic Control Centre, the Docklands Light Railway, national motorway traffic infrastructure services, the installation and maintenance of road safety cameras throughout the UK and Serco’s joint ventures with NedRailways that operate Merseyrail and Northern Rail.

  He was previously Chief Operating Officer, Surface Transport at Transport for London, a position he assumed in January 2007. At TfL his responsibilities included transport policing and community safety, regulation and licensing of taxi and private hire industry, congestion charging operations and implementation of the Low Emission Zone, civil traffic enforcement across London’s major road network and revenue protection on London’s bus network.

  At BTPA, he is an industry representative responsible for improving relationships between the rail industry and BTP, and delivering efficiencies across BTP.