The Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB) has strengthened operator representation on its board with the appointment of KeolisAmey Metrolink Managing Director Damien Chabas as a Non-Executive Director.
The appointment forms part of the organisation’s ongoing governance reforms and is intended to ensure greater operator involvement as the UK’s light rail sector continues to evolve.
Operator voice added to governance
Chabas, who has led KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM) since July 2023, becomes the latest addition to the LRSSB board following a call for managing directors from UK tram and light rail systems to take on a governance role.
His appointment means the UK’s largest light rail network is now directly represented on the safety body’s board.
George Lowder, Chair of the LRSSB, said: “We’ve been hugely encouraged by the response from the managing directors of UK systems to a call for one of them to join our Board.
“Damien’s appointment as an NED was confirmed during our latest board meeting, and to have representation from the operator of the UK’s largest light rail system reflects the growing influence of the LRSSB at an exciting time for the wider light rail sector.”
International experience
Before becoming Managing Director, Chabas held the roles of Director of Service Delivery and Director of Customer Experience and Growth at KeolisAmey Metrolink after joining the business in 2019.
Prior to moving to the UK, he held several senior leadership positions at Yarra Trams in Melbourne, Australia, covering business strategy, operations and customer services.
He brings more than 15 years of international mass transit experience and holds master’s degrees in international business and business management.
Commenting on his appointment, Chabas said: “I am privileged to join the organisation at such a pivotal time for the sector. Ensuring the highest levels of safety is a collective, continuous responsibility.
“I look forward to collaborating with the Board to champion robust standards, mitigate existing and emerging risks, and ensure existing light rail systems remain safe, reliable, and trusted in our ever-changing environment. Securing these foundations is also vital as we support the development of new mass transit schemes across the UK.”
Supporting a growing sector
The appointment comes as the LRSSB continues to reshape its governance structure to strengthen collaboration across the light rail industry.
With a number of new tram and mass transit schemes under development across the UK, the organisation is seeking to ensure safety standards and industry guidance evolve alongside network expansion. Bringing greater operator representation onto its board is expected to help align strategic decision-making with the practical challenges of running modern light rail systems while supporting continuous improvements in safety and operational performance.
