The High Speed Rail Group (HSRG) has appointed Mandy Duncan and Jonathan Sharrock to its Board of Directors. Duncan is Managing Director, Rail and Aviation at Kier Infrastructure, and Jonathan Sharrock is Senior Account Director HS2 at Arcadis.
HSRG said the appointments have been made 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 Duncan has extensive leadership experience across the rail, aviation, water and nuclear sectors. She has been with Kier Group for four years., before which she spent two years at Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure, eight years at Costain Group, four years at Mace and two years at Network Rail.
HSRG says that Duncan offers a 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, it adds.
Jonathan Sharrock has been Senior Account Director HS2 at Arcadis for the past four years. His CV includes 13 years at the DfT in a range of roles including as Director HS2 Strategy and Communications and Director London & Olympics.
HSRG said Sharrock’s experience would support its work to develop practical, deliverable approaches to future rail investment and help demonstrate how major infrastructure programmes could be delivered successfully and with confidence going forward.
HSRG said it expects Duncan and Sharrock to “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.
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.”
The other members of the HSRG Board of Directors are: Jim Steer, Director, Greengauge 21; John Downer, Director, ESG33; Susan Evans, Sector Director, Amey; Mike Muldoon, Director, Moderamen; Chloe Smith, Director of Communications, STRABAG; and Ben Tirunawarkarisu, Director, Sector Lead, Jacobs.
