In this episode of Intuitive Insights, Nina Lockwood is joined by Richard Brown CBE, former Chairman and Chief Executive of Eurostar. Together, they discuss topics including the importance of supporting younger talent in bring through future leaders, and what the coming years hold for the rail industry.

Richard talks about his own 40-year career in UK rail and how, having entered the industry originally by chance, he worked his way into its highest echelons. In particular, he highlights the importance of supportive leaders willing to trust capable young people with real responsibility.

Also, Richard and Nina delve into the politics of running the UK’s rail network. Richard argues that the complexity of running railways is often underestimated by policymakers, insisting that change will only succeed if both leaders and frontline staff are trusted and empowered.

Richard Brown CBE is a senior British transport executive. He was Chairman of Eurostar until June 2013, and Chief Executive from 2002 to 2010. A former chair of the Association of Train Operating Companies and former president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, among numerous other roles in the industry, he has served on the board of HS2 Ltd since 2012.

In this episode of Intuitive Insights, Nina Lockwood is joined by Laura Shoaf, Chair of Shadow Great British Railways, to discuss the meaning of leadership, culture change and what a truly passenger-first transport system looks like.

Laura shares her unorthodox career journey – from early customer-facing roles in the US to senior leadership in UK public transport – and explains how curiosity, a commitment to public service and saying “yes” to opportunity have combined to shape her unique path.

Together, Laura and Nina talk through what good leadership truly means, why learning the right lessons from failure is a vital precursor to enduring progress and how empowering the people closest to passengers can inspire meaningful change across UK rail.

Laura Shoaf CBE is Chair of Shadow Great British Railways. With extensive experience across public both public transport and local government, Laura has led initiatives to enhance transport connectivity, economic growth and encourage skills development. She also served as one of the UK’s first Transport Champions for tackling violence against women and girls.

Nina is joined today by Sarah Boyd, MD, Lothian Buses

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Nina is joined today by Vinay Parmar, Chief Everything at Dhruva Star

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Nina is joined today by Laura Hadzik, Partner, Co-Head Commercial Road Transport at JMW LLP

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Nina is joined today by Louise Cheeseman, Founder and Chair of Women in Bus and Coach

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Nina is joined today by Mike Roberts, Railway Chaplain for the North West

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Nina is joined today by Leon Daniels, President Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

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Nina is joined today by Paul Evans, CEO of Carlisle Support Services

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Nina is joined today by Fraser Pithie, Community Rail champion and Customer Account Manager, Network Rail

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