Four Network Rail employees have been recognised for their outstanding contributions in the King’s New Year Honours list.
- Kathleen O’Malley, Project Manager in the Southern Region, received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her work in creating the ‘Routes Out of Homelessness’ charter. This initiative has already helped over 300 people secure accommodation.
- Peter Gibbons, Chief Security Officer, was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his leadership in delivering a £10 million aid programme to Ukrainian Railways following the Russian invasion.
- Janet Trowse, former Human Resources leader, also received an MBE for her impactful work in raising awareness of menopause in the workplace.
- Andrew Haines, Chief Executive, was knighted for his outstanding leadership in the rail industry.
Mr Haines, whose career began as a holiday job at Victoria Station, has led Network Rail through significant challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. He has prioritised safety and improved passenger services, while also focusing on social responsibility initiatives, such as tackling homelessness and supporting mental health.
On being named in the Honours, Kathleen O’Malley said: “I feel really honoured. It’s been incredibly rewarding to get to work on such a special project that helps so many vulnerable people but to receive this recognition is really lovely.”
Peter Gibbons said: “I feel really proud to receive the award. It really is a huge honour to be recognised for the work that we’ve done to protect the railway and of course to support Ukraine’s railway following Russia’s brutal invasion. I can’t thank my team enough for the work they do. It might be my name on the honours list, but without their hard work and dedication and the support of the team at Network Rail, none of it would be possible.”
Janet Trowse said: “My journey to create greater menopause awareness started in 2017 as a ‘kitchen table’ project in my spare time, alongside a colleague, as we both had realised there was a gap in employment policy and general awareness around menopause. The project highlighted that menopause is not just a personal journey, it needs to be considered as a business imperative. This has been addressed in the Employment Rights Act (2024), which sets out an obligation for all large employers to have action plans to support employees through menopause. I’m proud to accept this recognition with gratitude to Network Rail and the numerous colleagues who supported me in achieving that success.”
Lord Peter Hendy, Rail Minister said: “I would like to congratulate Kathleen, Peter, Janet and Andrew for their very well-deserved awards.
“Having worked closely with Andrew for many years, I know first-hand how warranted this award is. Andrew is the most outstanding railway manager of his generation, having transformed every organisation he’s led and is laying the foundations of the future integrated railway.”
Andrew Haines, Chief Executive, added: “I am incredibly honoured to receive this award. It’s not every day a boy from a comprehensive school in Merthyr Tydfil, or indeed anyone from the railway is recognised in this way, so it is immensely humbling. It’s a tribute to the work of the many thousands of people in the rail sector.
“That’s why it’s a special pleasure to offer my congratulations to Kathleen, Janet and Peter for achieving recognition for the exceptional work that they have done in support of homelessness outreach, menopause awareness and Ukrainian Railways aid, respectively. We are all proud members of a railway industry that strives to deliver the best for passengers, freight users and the communities that we serve, every day.
“We are now approaching the end of a busy Christmas period when many colleagues have been out working to improve the railway for our passengers. I know that there is still so much more we can do to deliver a better service for today’s passengers and knowing that many thousands of my colleagues share my commitment to doing our best makes my job an absolute privilege. I am very proud to accept this honour in recognition of what we are achieving together and our commitment to doing better.”
The New Year Honours list celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities and the nation.
