27 June 2024
Tonight’s prestigious Railway Industry Association (RIA) Annual Dinner & Railway Industry Supplier Excellence (RISE) Awards celebrated the very best of the rail supply chain.
An expert and cross-sector judging panel consisting of experienced industry figures selected the winners from 12 categories.
One of the main winners of the night was Alex Hynes, Director General Rail Services, DfT, formerly Scotland’s Railway Managing Director, who was awarded ‘Client of the Year’ for unique leadership and successful management of both infrastructure and train operations, demonstrating that they can be lead hand-in-hand.
The Awards took place at The Landmark Hotel, London, with over 350 people in attendance. Guests enjoyed the live entertainment including LED Acrobats and a charity raffle in support of the Railway Benefit Fund.
The evening was hosted by broadcaster and former Shadow Labour Minister Gloria De Piero, and featured keynote speeches from Steve White, Managing Director of Southeastern, and RIA’s outgoing and incoming Chairmen, David Tonkin and Noel Travers respectively.
The 12 Award Winners were:
- Client of the Year Award – Alex Hynes, Director General Rail Services, DfT & former Scotland’s Railway Managing Director
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Award, sponsored by Gleeds – Transreport
- Safety Award, sponsored by Enable Infrastructure – Network Rail partnered with Loccioni
- Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Award, sponsored by CBRE Managed Services – Q Sustain Ltd
- SME Growth in Rail Award – Forte Engineering
- Wellbeing Award, sponsored by AEGIS Engineering Systems – Infinitive Group
- Application of Digital Technology Award, sponsored by Arcadis – Rail Delivery Group and Network Rail
- Innovation Award, sponsored by Infinitive Group – Q Sustain Ltd
- Partnership Award, sponsored by Hitachi Rail – Scott Parnell Ltd and Anchor Systems Ltd
- Rising Star Award, sponsored by EqualEngineers – Larisa Timofte, Labour Manager, Enable Resourcing
- Employee of the Year Award – Mandana Kazem, Systems Engineering Specialist, Transport & Infrastructure, WSP
- Employer of the Year Award, sponsored by Stadler Rail – AtkinsRéalis
The following entries were Highly Commended:
- Client of The Year Award – Anit Chandarana, Rail Group Director & System Operator, Network Rail
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award – Ampetronic
- Wellbeing Award – Hitachi Rail
- Application of Digital Technology Award – Cognizant and Network Rail
- Innovation Award – Rail Delivery Group
- Partnership Award – Transmission Dynamics partnered with Network Rail, Angel Trains and West Midlands Trains
Commenting, RIA Chief Executive Darren Caplan, said:
“We would like to congratulate the suppliers and individuals awarded tonight as well as those Highly Commended. The standard of entries was very high and the judging panel had a difficult job!
“These Awards highlight best practice and innovation from companies across the supply chain. With the country on the cusp of a new Government, whatever its colours, and the railway at the start of a new Control Period, it is a reminder of the important role dynamic rail suppliers can play in delivering a better and greener railway.
“A special congratulations to Alex Hynes, Director General Rail Services, DfT, who won the ‘Client of the Year’ Award. The RIA Board chose Alex for his work as Scotland’s Railway Managing Director, being an excellent ambassador for rail and for advancing the way the industry tackles complex issues, all during a period where there has been considerable political change to navigate. We now wish him well in his new role as DfT Director General for Rail Services.
“Finally, we hope that all individuals who attended this year’s RIA Dinner & RISE Awards had a great evening and we now look forward to next year’s event!”
Department for Transport Director General for Rail Services and former Managing Director of Scotland’s Railway, Alex Hynes, said:
"I am humbled to receive this award and would like to thank the RIA board for nominating me.
"This award is not for me but for Team Scotland and colleagues across ScotRail, Network Rail, Transport Scotland and the supply chain who work so hard to deliver a better railway for Scotland. I look forward to helping bring the best of this approach to the rest of the UK."
We would like to thank the sponsors of the RIA Dinner & RISE Awards 2024: Platinum Sponsor Hitachi Rail (Partnership Award) and the following Gold Sponsors: Arcadis (Application of Digital Technology Award), Stadler (Employer of the Year Award), Gleeds (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)), CBRE Managed Services (Environmental, Social Governance Award), Infinitive Group (Innovation Award), EqualEngineers (Rising Star Award), Enable (Safety Award) and AEGIS Engineering Systems (Wellbeing Award).