5thMay 2015

Dear Colleague,

iRail 2015Distinguished Lecture–Chris Green, ex-Chief Executive, Virgin Trains.

Tuesday16th June, 2015 – 5.00pm to 7.30pm

I am delighted, on behalf of Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum (DDRF), Derby City Council, Derby Railway Engineering Society (DRES), The Transport Innovation Network (iNet), Porterbrook, Atkins and Interfleet Technologyto invite you to the Sixth Annual Innovation RailDistinguished Lecture to be delivered on Tuesday16th June2015at the Carriage Shop Theatre, The Roundhouse, Roundhouse Road, Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8JE. The event is also kindly supported by the National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering (NSARE) and Rail Technology Magazine (RTM).

The Distinguished Lectureis the closing event of a series of activities taking place throughout the day at the historicRoundhouse as part of iRail 2015, now part of the Big Bang initiative. iRail is once again raising the profile and highlighting the importance of the Rail Industry within the region,endeavouring to inspire and engage young people and the education sector in identifying the diverse career opportunities that exist within the industry.

The sixth iRail Distinguished Lecture is presented by Chris Green, ex-Chief Executive, Virgin Trains.

Born in Winchester and educated at St Paul's School, Hammersmith, and Oriel College, Oxford (where he read history), Chris began his career in 1965 as a trainee manager with British Rail in the West Midlands, becoming area manager at Hull in 1973. In 1984 he became manager of ScotRail, building its new identity.
In January 1986 he became BR sector director for London & South East. In April he announced that Marylebone station in central London would be reprieved from closure, and in June he launched Network SouthEast to unify London suburban rail services. At the beginning of 1992 he was appointed managing director, InterCity with a remit to create a new integrated and profitable business sector (from that April) which he did with a particular emphasis on customer service.
After a brief spell as chief executive of English Heritage, he became a director of consultants Gibb Rail and an adviser to the House of Commons transport select committee. In 1995 he had also been appointed a board member of Eurotunnel. In 1999 he was invited back into active rail industry management as chief executive of Virgin Trains on a five-year contract with a twofold mission - to deliver a markedly improved service on the existing network and ensure the £1.8 billion worth of new class 390 Pendolino, class 220 Voyager and class 221 SuperVoyager trains would be delivered on time. He also served as non-executive chairman of Virgin Rail Group Holdings, 2004-5.
In 2005, he was appointed as a non-executive director of Network Rail. Chris Green has also served as a non-executive director of Connex Rail, chairman of The Railway Forum, 2005–2006, an advisory board member of Cranfield University, and a trustee of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Chris will discuss many of the lessons learnt from both his days with BR Network SouthEast and Virgin Trains.

The programme for the evening is as follows:

5.00pm – 5.30pm – Guests arrive

5.30pm – 5.35pm – Derby City Council

5.35pm – 6.20pm – iRail 2015 Distinguished Lecture – Chris Green, ex-Chief Executive, Virgin Trains

6.20pm – 6.30pm – Question and answer

6.30pm – 7.30pm – Distinguished Lecture buffet

As well as the Distinguished Lecture, the day includes an industry engagement programme involving 70 young people from across the East Midlands and begins with an industry Business Breakfast.

Places at the lecture are limited so we would ask you to reply as soon as you can using the attached booking form. I look forward to welcoming you to the iRail 2015Distinguished Lecture.

Yours sincerely,

Dave Saunders

iRail 2015 Chairman

Booking Form

iRail 2015Distinguished Lecture

Tuesday16th June 2015, 5.00pm – 7.30pm

The Roundhouse, Roundhouse Road, PridePark, Derby, DE24 8JE.

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