You can find biographies of all our current board members below.
You can also find out to whom our board is accountable, as well as view their approvals and responsibilities. The board meets at least eight times a year, and the minutes are made available following each meeting.
Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, chair
Appointed to the board: 2015
Skills and experience
Peter was commissioner of Transport for London (TfL) from 2006 to 2015. He led the successful operation of London’s transport for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Peter’s experience in leading urban transport in a world city is critical to chairing Network Rail and managing its complex relationships with stakeholders.
Peter is a past international and UK president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transport, and of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
He was awarded a life peerage in 2022, and knighted in the 2013 New Year’s Honours List, having been made CBE in 2006.
Current external appointments
Chair of London Legacy Development Corporation; trustee of the Science Museum Group; trustee and director of the London Transport Museum; patron of the Independent Transport Commission; chair of the Euston Partnership Board; and honorary president of the London Bus Museum.
Andrew Haines, chief executive
Appointed to the board: 2018
Skills and experience
Andrew Haines was appointed as Chief Executive and Board member of Network Rail in August 2018. Following the publication of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail in May 2021, Andrew was also tasked with establishing interim arrangements for the creation of Great British Railways, alongside his role in Network Rail.
Prior to joining Network Rail, Andrew was the chief executive officer of the Civil Aviation Authority from 2009-2018. He has also had a wide-ranging career within the rail industry, having started his career with British Rail and followed on to work for Railtrack, Network Rail’s predecessor. He served as managing director of South West Trains and managing director FirstGroup plc where he led the rail division which included intercity, commuter, rural, freight, open access and tram services in England, Scotland and Wales. In addition, he was a non-executive director at a rolling stock leasing company.
Andrew was awarded an OBE in the 2016 New Year Honour’s list for services to transport and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Institute of Railway Operators and the Permanent Way Institute.
Jeremy Westlake, chief financial officer
Appointed to the board: 2016
Skills and experience
Jeremy was formerly senior vice president for finance at Alstom Transport in France, responsible for investor management, financial performance and control,and project finance. Previously he spent 14 years at Rolls-Royce in a range of senior finance and supply chain roles in the UK and the United States. Jeremy is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and has a master’s in manufacturing from University of Cambridge.
Ismail Amla, non-executive director
Appointed to the board: 2021
Skills and experience
Ismail has lived in the USA for nearly a decade and has extensive international experience helping leading brands and disruptive start-ups leverage emerging technologies.
Ismail is the chief growth officer at Capita where he is responsible for driving sales, the brand position and marketing, Capita’s strategy for key clients and developing investment strategy for clients.
Prior to this, Ismail was the managing partner in IBM, leading the North American Services business from New York. Previous to this, Ismail was chief executive officer for the consulting firm Capco in North America and before that was a member of the leadership team for Accenture in the UK.
Current external appointments
Chief growth officer at Capita, and a board member at UK Sports and the board of governors at University of East London.
Mark Bayley CBE, non-executive director
Appointed to the board: 2020
Skills and experience
Mark has spent much of his career in the rail sector. He has particular experience in major projects, restructurings, and corporate finance.
Mark was chief executive of London & Continental Railways Limited, developer of the High Speed 1 (HS1) railway and owner of the UK arm of Eurostar. He led the sale of HS1 for £2.1bn and was a board member of Eurostar. Mark was also chief executive of the Green Deal Finance Company (GDFC). Mark’s interim work includes commercial director of High Speed 2 Ltd, and chief financial officer and board director of the Submarine Delivery Agency at the Ministry of Defence.
Mark was awarded a CBE in 2012 for services to the rail industry.
Current external appointments
Non-executive director of Ofwat; non-executive director of UK Atomic Energy Authority; and a member of the DfT’s Group Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.
Rob Brighouse, senior independent non-executive director
Appointed to the board: 2016
Skills and experience
Rob has 40-years’ experience in the rail industry and was formerly managing director of Chiltern Railways where he was responsible for the operation and safety of the passenger rail service between London and the West Midlands. Rob first joined the rail operator in 2000 as projects director, where he led the Evergreen 1 and 2 infrastructure projects and also the building of Chiltern’s Wembley depot. Rob brings vast rail industry experience to the Board and understands the complexities facing train operating companies.
Rob is a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Institute of Directors and is a chartered director. Rob holds an MBA from Aston Business School.
Current external appointments
A member of the Advisory Board at Aston Business School and advisor to the Board and the Programme Board of Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART).
Stephen Duckworth OBE, non-executive director
Appointed to the board: 2021
Skills and experience
Stephen founded and ran Disability Matters Limited, a research and consultancy business with expertise in health and safety, sustainability and diversity with an emphasis on inclusive design. Stephen initially qualified as a medical doctor, and followed this with an MSc in rehabilitation studies and PhD in disability equality.
Stephen has over 20 years’ experience at board and senior executive level in a range of private, public and not for profit organisations. He currently sits on the boards of several organisations, has held numerous advisory roles to government, and carried out consultancy work with Southwest Trains and Eurostar.
Stephen was awarded his OBE for services to disabled people in 1994 and has been listed in the Power 100 of the most influential disabled people in Britain.
Current external appointments
Non-executive director of Palace of Westminster Restoration & Renewal Delivery Authority; trustee of Leonard Cheshire; trustee of the Rugby Football Union Injured Players Foundation.
Michael Harrison, non-executive director
Appointed to the board: 2020
Skills and experience
Michael is a director in UK Government Investments (UKGI) an arm’s length body of HM Treasury. As part of this role Michael has been a non-executive director of a number of companies in which the UK Government has a shareholding including Porton Biopharma, Ordnance Survey, the Met Office and Working Links.
Prior to working in UKGI Michael had a broad international corporate finance advisory career, with over 20 years working for Credit Suisse First Boston, Barclays de Zoete Wedd, and as independent corporate finance advisor at Caliburn in Australia. He started his career as an accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Current external appointments
Employee of UK Government Investments (UKGI).
David Noyes, non-executive director
Appointed to the board: 2018
Skills and experience
David has spent his career working in the leisure and transport sectors. In a 20-year career at British Airways, he held various directorships, including director UK Regional operations, director Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa; executive vice-president North America and director worldwide customer services. Subsequently, until December 2017, David was chief executive officer of Cunard and P&O Cruises, and a director of Carnival plc.
David is experienced in leading devolved businesses in safety critical industries with a focus on delivering customer service excellence and driving cost efficiency.
Current external appointments
Non-executive chair of Grays of Cambridge (International) Limited; non-executive director of London Luton Airport Operations Ltd; and corporate advisory board member for The Teenage Cancer Trust.
Mike Putnam, non-executive director
Appointed to the board: 2018
Skills and experience
Mike has worked across the development, construction and services sectors, and has been closely involved with the successful delivery of high-profile projects and programmes. He has over 25 years’ experience at senior management level.
Mike was president and chief executive officer of Skanska UK plc from October 2009 until May 2017. Prior to this, he was executive vice-president and director of Skanska UK plc and was responsible for leading first the infrastructure, and then the building and construction businesses. He was also involved as a non-executive director on several of the international Skanska businesses.
Mike is a Chartered Engineer and a fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Current external appointments
Non-executive director of Southern Water Services Limited and Bazalgette Tunnel Limited; member of the DfT’s Acceleration Unit Expert Panel; and a member of the Supervisory Board of Arcadis NV.
Fiona Ross, non-executive director
Appointed to the board: 2020
Skills and experience
Fiona is an experienced public and private sector chair and non-executive director, having served on boards in Ireland and the UK. Fiona chairs the Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), Ireland’s public transport provider and is a Board member of the HSE, Ireland’s public health service. Fiona is also a non-executive director at The Scottish Government.
Fiona began her career as a stockbroker in London and spent 25 years working in Capital Markets in Dublin, London, Eastern Europe and the United States. In 2012 Fiona was awarded a fellowship in Governance at George Washington University in the United States.
Current external appointments
Chair of Córas Iompair Éireann; non-executive director HSE Ireland; non-executive director of The Scottish Government; non-executive director JK Funds; non-executive director of SphereInvest (a UCITs fund listed in Dublin; and chair of the audit and risk committee of Smith & Williamson.