Young Rail Professionals (YRP) has started a new chapter, marked by a change of leadership at national level and underscored by another highly successful Annual Dinner and Awards.
Following the conclusion of its latest National Board elections, YRP has named a new executive team tasked with guiding the organisation through its next phase of development.
On 1 April, Richard Harmer took up the role of chief executive officer, supported by Rony Roy as chief operating officer, Victor Poznyak as chief financial officer, Michael Haigh as chief technology officer, and Aaron Smith as chief commercial officer. The position of chief projects officer currently remains open and will be filled by the new board in the near future.
The elections themselves saw strong engagement from YRP members across the industry, reflecting the scale of YRP’s reach and the level of commitment among its volunteer base. As an organisation built on the energy and enthusiasm of early-career professionals, that engagement is fundamental to YRP’s continued success.
Outgoing CEO Bonnie Price described her time in post as a privilege, pointing to the organisation’s significant growth during her tenure. Membership has more than doubled over the past three years, a clear indication that YRP’s offer of professional development, networking, and industry insight continues to resonate with the next generation of rail talent.
YRP has now turned its attention to its regional chair and vice-chair elections across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. These roles are critical in maintaining YRP’s grassroots presence and ensuring that its impact is felt at both local and national level.
Celebrating the next generation
The leadership transition formed the backdrop to the Young Rail Professionals Annual Dinner and Awards 2026, which was held at London’s Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge. Bringing together professionals from across disciplines, organisations, and career stages, the event provided an opportunity to recognise excellence while reinforcing the importance of investing in the future workforce.
CEO Richard Harmer used his first public address to set out the scale of the challenge facing the Rail industry.
“The UK rail market has experienced significant growth in recent years, with investments in infrastructure projects and technological advancements driving progress and innovation,” he said.
“However, alongside this growth, we are faced with a pressing issue – the skills gap within the UK rail, engineering, and construction market. The demand for skilled professionals in these sectors continues to outstrip supply, posing a challenge to the industry’s sustainability and future development.”
“As we gather here tonight,” he added, “let us reflect on the importance of investing in the future of our industry by supporting and empowering young professionals. Together, we can bridge the skills gap, drive innovation, and ensure the continued success of the UK rail, engineering, and construction market.”
Richard also highlighted the dual role of the Awards: not only celebrating individual and team achievement, but also acting as a catalyst for others considering a career in rail. In a market shaped by increasing demand for skills and rapid technological change, attracting and retaining talent remains one of the industry’s most pressing priorities, he said.
The wider challenge
The evening’s keynote address, delivered by Ruth Busby, people director at Govia Thameslink Railway, brought a broader perspective to the discussion, focusing on the barriers facing young people entering the workforce and the role rail can play in addressing them.
“One in eight young people, aged 16 to 24, is not in education, employment or training,” she reminded the audience.
“That’s nearly 1 million young people who haven’t got work or educational activity. We think there’s maybe another half a million in the same boat, but who just aren’t receiving benefits. That’s huge.”
Drawing on her work as non-executive director with the Youth Futures Foundation, Ruth highlighted the uneven distribution of opportunity. Factors such as geography, ethnicity, disability, and personal circumstance continue to shape outcomes for young people, making targeted intervention essential.
Against this backdrop, she positioned rail as part of the solution. With its national footprint, structured career pathways, and strong sense of purpose, the industry offers a compelling proposition. Yet participation remains low, with just 6.8% of the workforce aged between 16 and 24.
“Rail is sometimes the best kept secret that no one knows about,” Ruth said.
Central to her message was the need for coordinated action. Ruth outlined plans for a Rail Youth Promise, built around five pillars: Inspire, Hire, Learn, Grow, and Connect. The ambition is clear: to double the proportion of young people in the rail workforce by 2030. But, as she stressed, success will depend on more than recruitment alone.
“It isn’t a workforce strategy,” she said. “It’s a social value commitment… a chance to shape the future of rail for decades so that no one is left behind.”
Ruth left the audience with a clear call to action, closing her speech with a quote from American writer and civil rights activist Maya Angelou: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better”.
Recognising excellence
If the speeches set the tone, the awards themselves provided a powerful demonstration of the talent already shaping the industry’s future. This year’s winners reflected the breadth and diversity of roles within rail, from engineering and operations to leadership and innovation.
Among the headline honours, the Young Rail Professional of the Year award was taken away by Lizzie Stevens of WSP, who was recognised for her outstanding contribution and impact.
Other winners included:
Mentor of the Year – Mohammed Al-Sharif, Skanska
Employer of the Year – Telent Technology Services Ltd
Employer of the Year (SME) – RPS
Distinguished Service Award – Kathryn Lancaster, Alstom
Apprentice of the Year – Ethan Madina, AtkinsRéalis
Volunteer of the Year – Olive Shuk Sze L.
Innovation of the Year – The DICE Team, Network Rail and WSP
Operational Excellence of the Year – The Greatest Gathering, Alstom
Personality of the Year – Charlotte Southwick, Network Rail
Each award offered a reminder that while the industry faces challenges, it is also rich with capability, commitment, and innovation.
Building for the future
Taken together, the leadership transition and the success of the YRP Awards underline the organisation’s growing significance within the rail sector. With a growing membership, a refreshed national team, and a clear focus on supporting early-career professionals, the organisation is well placed to play a central role in addressing the industry’s long-term workforce needs.
The challenge ahead is not insignificant. An ageing workforce, evolving skill requirements, and increasing competition for talent all point to the need for sustained, coordinated action. But as the evening demonstrated, there is also a strong foundation to build on.
For YRP, the task now is to harness that momentum by supporting its members, strengthening its networks, and continuing to champion the next generation of rail professionals.
As Richard Harmer made clear, the objective is not simply to recognise talent, but to nurture it, retain it, and ensure it thrives.
Image credit: Young Rail Professionals
