The High Speed Rail Group (HSRG) has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Mandy Duncan, Managing Director, Rail and Aviation at Kier Infrastructure, and Jonathan Sharrock, Senior Account Director at Arcadis, to its Board of Directors.
The appointments come at a crucial time for the UK rail sector as Government continues to position infrastructure investment at the heart of its economic growth agenda. With connectivity, productivity and regional regeneration high on the national agenda, HSRG says both appointments will help support its mission to champion investment in transformational rail infrastructure.
Duncan brings extensive leadership experience spanning the rail, aviation, water and nuclear sectors. In her role at Kier Infrastructure, she has worked across some of the UK's most significant infrastructure programmes, giving her a unique cross-sector perspective on how major projects can be delivered efficiently while maximising long-term value for taxpayers and communities.
Her expertise in supply chain resilience and workforce development is expected to support HSRG's focus on maintaining the specialist skills and capabilities needed to deliver future rail projects.
Meanwhile, Sharrock joins the Board from Arcadis, where he serves as Senior Account Director for HS2. Leading the consultancy's work on Britain's largest infrastructure project, he combines significant private sector experience with 13 years at the Department for Transport.
His background in both policy development and infrastructure delivery provides valuable insight into the practical challenges of delivering major rail investment programmes and ensuring projects are delivered successfully and efficiently.
Together, the appointments broaden the expertise represented on the HSRG Board and reinforce the organisation's commitment to promoting rail investment that supports economic growth, connectivity, skills development, job creation and long-term prosperity across the UK.
Industry Experience to Support Future Rail Investment
Commenting on the appointments, Huw Merriman, Chair, High Speed Rail Group, said:
"At a time when Government is rightly looking to infrastructure to unlock growth, the debate is no longer whether better connectivity matters. The challenge now is how we deliver the next generation of rail investment in a way that is efficient and affordable, while learning the lessons from projects like HS2 already under way.
"Mandy and Jonathan bring exactly the kind of delivery experience needed to help shape that conversation. Their expertise will strengthen HSRG's work as we continue to advocate for new rail infrastructure that enables a better connected future for all across the UK.”
Duncan welcomed the opportunity to contribute to HSRG's work during what she described as a particularly important moment for the sector.
Commenting on her appointment, Mandy Duncan, Managing Director, Rail and Aviation, Kier Infrastructure, said:
"I'm delighted to be joining the High Speed Rail Group Board at such an important time for the industry. Throughout my career, I've seen first-hand the value that rail investment delivers by supporting economic growth, improving connectivity and creating opportunities for communities across the UK.
"I look forward to working with fellow Board members and the wider industry to help support a collaborative and forward-thinking approach to delivering infrastructure across the sector."
Sharrock highlighted the importance of close collaboration between project delivery teams and supply chain partners when delivering complex infrastructure programmes.
Commenting on his appointment, Jonathan Sharrock, Senior Account Director for HS2, Arcadis, said:
“I’m delighted to join HSRG’s Board. My experience working on major projects across both the public and private sectors has shown me that successful delivery depends on a strong relationship between supply chain partners and project delivery teams, especially when navigating pressures, constraints and trade-offs. I look forward to contributing to HSRG’s work to help apply these lessons to HS2 and other major rail projects across the UK.”
As the Government looks to major infrastructure projects to drive growth and improve connectivity across Britain, HSRG believes the additional expertise of Duncan and Sharrock will play an important role in shaping the industry's future direction and strengthening the case for continued investment in rail.
Image credits: High Speed Rail Group
