The High Speed Rail Group (HSRG) has announced the appointment of Mandy Duncan, managing director, rail and aviation at Kier Infrastructure, and Jonathan Sharrock, senior account director at Arcadis, to its board of directors.
The appointments come at a pivotal moment for the rail sector, with the Government looking to rail infrastructure investment to drive economic growth, improve productivity, unlock regeneration opportunities, and strengthen connectivity between towns and cities across the UK.
Mandy brings extensive leadership experience from across the rail, aviation, water and nuclear sectors. Having worked on some of the UK’s most significant infrastructure programmes, she offers a valuable cross sector perspective on delivering major projects efficiently and maximising the long term value of infrastructure investment. She also brings significant experience in strengthening supply chains and retaining the skills needed to deliver future infrastructure projects.
Jonathan leads the Arcadis’ work supporting Britain’s largest infrastructure project. Combined with 13 years at the Department for Transport, he brings an understanding of both policymaking and project delivery. His experience will support HSRG’s work to develop practical, deliverable approaches to future rail investment and help demonstrate how major infrastructure programmes can be delivered successfully and with confidence going forward.
Together, Mandy and Jonathan further strengthen the breadth of expertise represented on the HSRG Board. They will bring valuable strategic and commercial insight as the Group continues to champion rail investment that supports growth, connectivity, skills, jobs and long term regional and national prosperity.
Commenting on the appointments, Huw Merriman, chair, High Speed Rail Group: “At a time when Government is rightly looking to infrastructure to unlock growth, the debate is no longer whether better connectivity matters. The challenge now is how we deliver the next generation of rail investment in a way that is efficient and affordable, while learning the lessons from projects like HS2 already under way.
“Mandy and Jonathan bring exactly the kind of delivery experience needed to help shape that conversation. Their expertise will strengthen HSRG’s work as we continue to advocate for new rail infrastructure that enables a better connected future for all across the UK.”
Commenting on her appointment, Mandy said: “I’m delighted to be joining the High Speed Rail Group Board at such an important time for the industry. Throughout my career, I’ve seen first-hand the value that rail investment delivers by supporting economic growth, improving connectivity and creating opportunities for communities across the UK.
“I look forward to working with fellow Board members and the wider industry to help support a collaborative and forward-thinking approach to delivering infrastructure across the sector.”
Jonathan commented: “I’m delighted to join HSRG’s Board. My experience working on major projects across both the public and private sectors has shown me that successful delivery depends on a strong relationship between supply chain partners and project delivery teams, especially when navigating pressures, constraints and trade-offs. I look forward to contributing to HSRG’s work to help apply these lessons to HS2 and other major rail projects across the UK.”
Image credit: High Speed Rail Group
