Four Network Rail employees have been recognised for their outstanding contributions in HM The King’s New Year Honours list announced today.
Kathleen O’Malley, project manager in Network Rail’s Southern Region has received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her outstanding work in creating the Routes Out of Homelessness charter for the railway. Kathleen’s efforts in promoting support and outreach services to homeless individuals in Birmingham, Manchester and London have already helped more than 300 people secure temporary or permanent accommodation. Kathleen has become a beacon of positive change, inspiring stakeholders across the country to unite behind a shared goal of ending homelessness. With a strong background working on the frontline of the railway, Kathleen understands the challenges both in delivering rail services and supporting the street homeless community. By listening to colleagues, partners, and people with lived experience of homelessness, she has turned frustration and fear into a powerful, collective force for change.
On being named in the Honours, Kathleen said: “I feel really honoured. It’s been incredibly rewarding to get to work on such a special project that helps so many vulnerable people but to receive this recognition is really lovely.”
Peter Gibbons, chief security officer, receives a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his exceptional leadership in delivering the UK’s £10 million aid programme to Ukrainian Railways. As project leader, Peter coordinated the delivery of vital equipment to ensure the continued operation of Ukraine’s rail network, spending time on the ground in Ukraine to liaise directly with Ukrainian Railways and make sure the project was tailored to their specific needs. He secured funding from the Foreign Office’s overseas development aid budget and worked closely with technical engineers to ensure the equipment was suitable for Ukraine’s unique rail gauge. Despite the complexity of the project, he drove the programme forward, ensuring the delivery of all components in less than six months.
Peter said: “I feel really proud to receive the award. It really is a huge honour to be recognised for the work that we’ve done to protect the railway and of course to support Ukraine’s railway following Russia’s brutal invasion. I can’t thank my team enough for the work they do. It might be my name on the honours list, but without their hard work and dedication and the support of the team at Network Rail, none of it would be possible.”
Janet Trowse, who worked as a leader in Human Resources for over seven years, also receives an MBE. Janet was instrumental in making an impactful legacy around menopause awareness. In 2017, recognising a gap in support, Janet spearheaded the Menopause Awareness Project at Network Rail, creating a UK-wide network of allies and ambassadors, reaching 150,000 employees across the rail industry. For the past five years, Janet has driven awareness and change, dispelling myths and taboos surrounding menopause, making the organisation and the wider rail industry a more menopause-friendly workplace.
As a result of her work, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has submitted Network Rail as a case study to the All-Party Political Group for policy reform, and Janet gave evidence at the Women and Equalities Select Committee consultation, supporting calls for free HRT for women in England. Her efforts have shifted the conversation from a taboo subject to one of support and inclusion, influencing organisational policy and practice.
Janet said: “My journey to create greater menopause awareness started in 2017 as a ‘kitchen table’ project in my spare time, alongside a colleague, as we both had realised there was a gap in employment policy and general awareness around menopause. The project highlighted that menopause is not just a personal journey, it needs to be considered as a business imperative. This has been addressed in the Employment Rights Act (2024), which sets out an obligation for all large employers to have action plans to support employees through menopause. I’m proud to accept this recognition with gratitude to Network Rail and the numerous colleagues who supported me in achieving that success.”
Andrew Haines, chief executive, has received a Knighthood in the Honours list. With his railway career beginning as a holiday job in the left luggage office at Victoria Station, he has become a once-in-a-generation transport leader addressing challenges head on whilst maintaining a focus on safety and delivering the best possible services for the public.
As head of the Civil Aviation Authority, his fresh thinking and vision were crucial in implementing passenger-focused reforms. He did this whilst building on the UK’s excellent record in aviation safety and security. He also successfully led the sector through the process of reopening the airways following the Icelandic volcanic eruption in 2010 and transformed the CAA into an emergency airline for what was the largest peace time repatriation of British citizens following the collapse of Monarch Airlines.
Previously, as one of the youngest leaders in rail at South West Trains, he transformed its declining performance by delivering class leading passenger experience and a significant improvement in punctuality. Since 2018 he has led Network Rail, an organisation of more than 40,000 people, through an immensely challenging period; navigating the impact of Covid, the businesses response to the death and funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth and the coronation of King Charles III. He has turned Network Rail’s performance on major projects and infrastructure delivery around, driving a new focus on cost-control and efficiency, such as the £10 billion TransPennine Route Upgrade and outperforming its regulatory efficiency targets.
The company has achieved best-ever levels of safety under his leadership. Andrew describes Network Rail as Britain’s biggest neighbour and he has a sharp appreciation of the wider role of the railway in the community, forging relationships with the Samaritans to tackle suicides on the railway, with Shelter and other charities to tackle rough sleeping at stations and leading the railway’s work to establish the Windrush national memorial at Waterloo. Recently, Andrew has been a co-instigator and sponsor of a new social mobility network across the rail sector reflecting his passion to create opportunities for everyone who strives to succeed and make a difference.
Lord Peter Hendy, Rail Minister said: “I would like to congratulate Kathleen, Peter, Janet and Andrew for their very well-deserved awards.
“Having worked closely with Andrew for many years, I know first-hand how warranted this award is. Andrew is the most outstanding railway manager of his generation, having transformed every organisation he’s led and is laying the foundations of the future integrated railway.”
Andrew added: “I am incredibly honoured to receive this award. It’s not every day a boy from a comprehensive school in Merthyr Tydfil, or indeed anyone from the railway is recognised in this way, so it is immensely humbling. It’s a tribute to the work of the many thousands of people in the rail sector.
“That’s why it’s a special pleasure to offer my congratulations to Kathleen, Janet and Peter for achieving recognition for the exceptional work that they have done in support of homelessness outreach, menopause awareness and Ukrainian Railways aid, respectively. We are all proud members of a railway industry that strives to deliver the best for passengers, freight users and the communities that we serve, every day.
“We are now approaching the end of a busy Christmas period when many colleagues have been out working to improve the railway for our passengers. I know that there is still so much more we can do to deliver a better service for today’s passengers and knowing that many thousands of my colleagues share my commitment to doing our best makes my job an absolute privilege. I am very proud to accept this honour in recognition of what we are achieving together and our commitment to doing better.”
The Royal Honour nominations mark the extraordinary contributions and service of people across the UK. These honours celebrate those who go above and beyond, making a lasting impact on their communities and the railway industry.
Image credit: Network Rail
