Institution Of Railway Operators Management Team

Fiona Tordoff: Chief Executive

I have joined the IRO as the new Chief Executive Officer taking over the reins from Chris Daughton who has stepped down after successfully leading the IRO for more than a decade. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Professional Development with 20 years experience in the field of organisational change management. For the past ten years I have headed Whitebridge Consultancy which has Network Rail and National Express amongst its clients.

I am very much looking forward to working with you all to help the Institution grow and develop and to serve its members through the membership and academic routes we offer.

Claire Wickes: Finance & Administration Manager

I have worked for the Institution since May 2001, and have responsibility for all the administrative activities of the Institution. 

I previously worked on the railway as a Marketing Manager with Network SouthEast and subsequent franchises. I have a daughter, Katy, who (like the Institution itself) was born in the Millennium year. My husband is employed within the industry and as my father and late father-in-law were also career railwaymen, I feel perfectly at home working in this environment.

Jo Lane: Administration Assistant

I joined the IRO in March 2007.  I am responsible for a range of administrative duties amongst which are: answering members queries, updating the website, collating information from the areas for inclusion in the IRO website, Rail News and Rail Professional and provide general administrative support to Claire Wickes.

I was most recently employed in the City for a major Merchant Bank as an PA supporting senior staff. Prior to this, I worked in the Airline Industry as a Passenger Service Agent for UK and Spanish Airlines.

Tricia Meade MIRO: Learning & Development Manager

My primary role as Learning and Development Manager for the Institution is to manage, develop and promote the education programme and to manage the contract between Glasgow Caledonian University and the IRO. I also liaise with students and tutors from the programme and railway industry stakeholders.

I have previously worked as a safety and risk management consultant for the rail industry and have also worked in the HR and training profession. I am also a graduate from the first IRO BSc degree course.

Mike Hill: Education Programme Organiser

I have worked in various operations posts for 31 years and took early retirement in 1998. I am now the Programme Organiser for the IRO's education programme. I have responsibility for the processing of applications for our three courses from the initial enquiry to acceptance on to the course. Once students commence the programme I collate all the assignments and feedbacks for final assessment and approval from the University.