North East Area Council Members

Jason Wade BSc (Hons), CMILT, FIRO: Area Chairman

E-mail: jason.wade@northernrail.org

Jason works for train operator Northern Rail as Head of Performance. He began his railway career in 1993 with Regional Railways North East and has since progressed through a variety of roles within train-crew management, safety management, area operations and service delivery. Jason fully supports the ethos behind the IRO and has been a member of the Institution since it's early beginnings and Chair of the North East Area Council since September 2008, having been an Area Council member for two years. For Jason, the IRO has provided him with the opportunity to enhance his railway knowledge, whilst meeting new industry colleagues and learning from their experiences.

David Monk-Steel MILT, TechIOSH, FPWI, MIRO: Area Secretary

E-mail: northeast@railwayoperators.org

Now semi retired, David works part-time for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway as Safety Systems Manager. He joined the railway industry in 1964 in the District Engineer’s Office at Purley, Southern Region, before gradually working his way both through ‘the ranks’ and ‘up the country.’ David settled in York 15 years ago, working in Safety Management for Regional Railways North East and subsequently, Railtrack/Network Rail. A member of the IRO from the outset, David has been a member of the IRO’s North East Area Council for four years and is keen to promote the IRO’s aims and objectives.

Jim Dedicoat  ACIB, CMILT, MIRO: Area Treasurer

E-mail: jdedicoat@gmail.com

Director of the North Yorkshire Moors Historic Railway Trust and PLC (which operates the railway), Jim’s rail career began in the 1960’s, learning his trade on the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway as a driver. He transferred to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) in 1978 whilst working for the Midland Bank (now HSBC), where he held many managerial posts, until taking early retirement in 1995. Since that time, he has worked for the railway’s civil engineer as a consultant, also spending two years in Railtrack Control, Birmingham, monitoring possessions at weekends. Jim was recruited by EWS as a driver at Doncaster in 2002, becoming a driver/route instructor and assessor, prior to accepting early voluntary redundancy in 2009. Like many of his IRO North East colleagues, Jim became a member of the IRO shortly after its inception, providing him with opportunities to meet people from all parts of the railway industry. Last year he was invited onto the IRO’s North East Area Council to act as Treasurer.

Phil Thickett CEng, MIMechE, FIRO: Council member

E-mail: Phil.thickett@googlemail.com

With a career that covers engineering and operations management, Phil has recently retired from his position as Area Operations Manager for Northern Rail, where he was responsible for the delivery of a robust train service in West and North Yorkshire. He has a strong record of people development and leadership and also has experience in cost management, including making operational changes to re-focus resources.

David Court AIRO: Council Member

E-mail: 

Now retired as a Driver Instructor for DBS/EWS, David started his railway career in the early 1960s and progressed through the ranks from the footplate as engine cleaner to fireman, secondman, assistant driver, relief driver, driver and eventually driver/instructor, which involved training and assessing traincrew. He spent most of his working life at Doncaster Carr Loco TMD/WRD, with the exception of a number of years spent at Leeds (Neville Hill) TMD. David has worked on numerous traction, steam, diesel and electric units of every conceivable type, as well as HST and MPV units and has deputised for the Duty Train Crew Manager. Career highlight for David was to be made fireman of 4472 'Flying Scotsman' on the 1969 British Trade Mission to the USA, Boston to Houston, and to be the driver of the 2008 test runs of the newly built A1 Pacific steam locomotive 60163 'Tornado'. He is also proud to be a member of the IRO's North East Area Council.

Chris Jackson: Council Member

E-mail: christopher.jackson@networkrail.co.uk

Chris works for Network Rail as Area General Manager for Great Northern. He has also served in a variety of front line operational roles in the West and East Midlands and London North Eastern route including Signaller, Mobile Operations Manager, Local Operations Manager and Current Operations Manager. Chris has also spent time in project management roles for performance improvement and also as Stations Manager for St Pancras and High Speed. Chris is keen to make the IRO more attractive for younger members in the North East to develop learning and networking opportunities along the lines of the IRO South East. One of the newest members of the Council, he is keen to see the NE Area go from strength to strength. 

Emrys works for Network Rail as Senior Operations Delivery Manager for the London North Eastern Route. Emrys has worked in a wide range of train and engineering Planning and Delivery roles throughout the London North East route and London North West route including a period working for an engineering contractor. Emrys has been a member of the IRO for nearly 10 years and has recently joined the IRO North East Area as a council member with the aim of promoting and supporting the railway’s engineering and access delivery.