Irish Area Council Members

Hilton Parr MIRO: Chairman
E-mail: hilton.parr@railwayoperators.org / hilton.parr@translink.co.uk

Hilton Parr has been the Customer Services Manager for NI Railways since October 2004, with responsibility for customer service delivery across the entire railway network. As the Customer Service Manager he is also responsible for the recruitment of customer focused professionals and has evolved a ‘Customer First’ culture within the rail company, through improvements in recruitment, staff training, assessments/monitoring and service improvements. Previous roles have included working for retail giant Marks and Spencer in its London Head Office, prior to joining Ulsterbus. Hilton also oversaw the major refurbishment programme at Belfast Central Station, liaising closely with contractors, customers, disability awareness groups and planners. In more recent years he was appointed as the Conductors’ Standards Manager – overseeing the introduction of competency based training and assessments. Hilton has been Secretary to the Irish Branch of the IRO for almost two years and is a full Member of the Institute.

Eugene Egan MIRO: Acting Treasurer & Events Organiser
E-mail: eugene.egan@irishrail.ie

Eugene Egan is Safety Auditor with Iarnród Éireann. Eugene’s previous roles have been in Operation Safety, Train Scheduling, Station Management and Administration and Human Resources. 

Philip Blair MIRO: Website & Promotions
E-mail: philip.blair@translink.co.uk

Philip Blair has been Central Area Route Manager for Translink NI Railways since February 2006, with responsibility for the delivery of customer service in Belfast Central Station, Botanic Station, City Hospital and Great Victoria Street Station. In addition, he has also been responsible for two of the busiest stations on the NI Railways network, Adelaide Great Victoria Street and Belfast Central Station. Philip joined Translink NI Railways in September 1995 as a Senior Porter at Carrickfergus Station, a Conductor/Guard on all Rail Services. In 1997 Philip was appointed as a Customer Services Coordinator on the new Enterprise Train Service between Belfast and Dublin. Philip moved from the Enterprise Service to Station Inspector at Bangor Bus and Rail Centre, following the redevelopment of the station in 1999/2000. In 2003 Philip was appointed to the post of Route Coordinator for the Bangor Line and from here Philip was appointed to the role of Route Manager for the Bangor Line and Great Victoria Street Station. Following a reorganisation of the Customer Services Department in 2006 Philip then took over responsibility for the Central. Philip has been a Full Member of the Institute since 2008 and was an associate member for three years before. 

Richard Knox FIRO: Committee Member
E-mail: richard.knox@translink.co.uk

Richard has over 20 years experience in the rail industry, having started with Translink in Northern Ireland in 1986 as a junior porter, progressing through the company to conciliation/supervisory grades before reaching management level in 1998 as Safety Advisor. Since then, Richard has been involved in Safety Case Development, Traction Management and Rail Operations Management, concluding with the position of Head of Railway Operations. Still with Translink, Richard has recently undertaken the role of Organisational Development Manager.