I have worked in the Infrastructure & Projects Directorate of Translink since 2007.

I graduated from Manchester University School of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic Engineering – Integrated European Programme) in 1997. From there I entered the world of Railway Engineering and have been lucky enough to experience the wide variety of engineering and management disciplines that it takes to ensure the safe and reliable operation of large, multi-disciplinary infrastructure systems. My first ~2-years post-graduate were with Alstom Signalling, Manchester, as part of their IEE(now IET) accredited training scheme, then ~7-years with Atkins Rail’s Control & Systems Division’s Systems Engineering Services (London). My wife and I then returned to Northern Ireland to raise our family and I was very happy to find employment at Translink in the Infrastructure Division and I have not looked back.

Having worked on a variety of projects over the years, I currently lead a small ‘Systems & Performance’ team providing specialist support across the wider Infrastructure and Projects Directorate (IPD) and engaging with colleagues across the whole business as the need requires. Key areas of focus in our team include Asset Management, Track Access and Performance, and Information Management. The wider IPD Team consists of multi-disciplinary teams of experts who look after all the Company’s Infrastructure and Property Assets (e.g. offices, depots, garages, stations, halts, and over 200 route-miles of railway infrastructure assets).

The IPD is currently in a transition period as we re-organise and expand to enable us to ensure that the Public Transport Infrastructure continues to meet both increasing Customer expectations and demand, whilst adhering to industry good practice, to play its part in supporting the overall Northern Ireland economy with a fit-for-purpose public transport system.

In Translink there is an extended-family atmosphere amongst staff and, with the company supporting flexible working, there is even a chance to achieve that all-important work-life balance.

Our aim is to ensure that the Public Transport System infrastructure in Northern Ireland is available both daily and for the foreseeable future. When all goes to plan no-one even realises that we are there – it just works!

I have been with Translink for over 9 years, joining as the Contracts Surveyor in 2010. I have 25 years’ experience and extensive knowledge in the construction industry, previous roles included Quantity Surveying and Project Management. My current role in Translink is Commercial Manager, responsible for leading the Contracts and Frameworks Department within Translinks Infrastructure and Projects division. A key responsibility is the integration of collaborative Frameworks into Translink with a view to improving value for money and delivery times for clients. Since I have joined Translink, I have seen a significant increase in the volume and complexity of work, increasing from a yearly capital spend of £30 million to over £100 million per year.

My role as Commercial Manager requires a high degree of problem solving in order to provide best value to our clients. Whilst it is a challenging environment, as a team we enjoy the work we undertake on a daily basis; no two days are ever the same. The team are focused on improving efficiencies and are keen to develop more robust processes that meet client requirements.

The Contracts and Frameworks Department at Translink is a close knit team with a focus on our clients within the Project Delivery teams. Our aim is to Deliver Commercial Excellence through ensuring commercial integrity and enabling value and efficiencies to be achieved in the successful delivery of Translink’s projects and programmes.

I actively promote the personal development of my team, ensuring they are supported through any relevant training or chartered membership. The Infrastructure Division has recently gone through a significant restructuring and I am looking forward to the future potential and growth of the Contracts and Frameworks Department.

I have been with Translink over sixteen years and my current role is as Head of Rail Infrastructure Engineering within the Infrastructure and Projects Division. In this role I am responsible for ensuring the rail infrastructure is safe, reliable, cost efficient, and has sufficient capital investment to meet the current and future requirements of the operational railway.

The rail infrastructure consists of the following departments, Signalling & Telecoms, Structures, Permanent Way (Rail, Sleepers, Ballast) and renewals and within each of these departments are teams of managers, engineers, technical and non technical staff. Part of my role is to oversee recent organizational changes and to ensure both finance and human resources are appropriate to meet the requirement of the infrastructure. I have found Translink to be a very progressive organisation and the last number of years has seen considerable growth in passenger numbers across bus and rail.

Since joining Translink I have been giving various opportunities and support to develop my career allowing me to advance within the organisation.

Staff have a positive attitude and there is a strong team ethos across all departments and they are encouraged to become involved and put forward ideas for improvement within their particular roles.

There is good communication within the organization ensuring employees know what is happening both at the corporate and department levels.

Staff development is encouraged at all levels within the organization and many members of staff have been supported in obtaining degree level qualifications, assisting them in furthering their career within Translink.

There are various opportunities for graduates and terms and conditions of employment are among the best within NI and many employees have greater than thirty years’ service.

I have been with Translink for 13 years, joining as a Project Manager for the Property Department back in 2006. Over the years the Property Department has grown from strength to strength allowing me to develop my career. I have held the positions of Programme Manager, Senior Programme Manager and more recently Head of Property. Across these roles the work has always been interesting, there is a great team of people supporting you and it is satisfying to know that what you do day to day has a positive impact on the wider public.

Translink’s Property Department is a supporting function to the core public transport operations and engineering functions. Reacting to business needs (both long and short term) means that no two days are the same. At times it can be challenging but the multi-disciplinary make-up of the Property Department means that you can call upon colleagues to assist when working in areas outside of your own professional field or drawing on their vast experience, engendering a real team spirit within the Department.

As Head of Property one of the areas I am driving forward is professional development. We are establishing a Training Schedule to guarantee we are providing regular CPD, this is employee led to make sure that the training is relevant to the job and not just training for the sake of it. I want to ensure that we have a competent, confident and enthusiastic workforce.

The future of the Property Department is bright! We have some great projects currently on site such as the Northwest Transport Hub and other significant projects on the Capital Plan. There is a focus on M&E and developing this as a separate section within the department, recognition of the importance of this discipline within our estate. Opportunities will also be available in the newly established Property Asset Management section; these will focus on compliance and information management. There are busy times ahead but we are ready for the challenge!

I have been with Translink since 2017 and my current role is as the Senior Programme Manager for the Belfast Transport Hub and Weavers Cross Regeneration Projects.

I am a Chartered Civil Engineer, Qualified ILM Level 5 Project Manager, and have over 20 years’ experience in the delivery of major civil engineering and infrastructure projects and programmes throughout the UK, Ireland, and Asia.

I have specialised in project delivery and operational delivery of projects from build to commissioning and handover to operations to include using practical methods to analyse and solve engineering problems while at the same time managing and communicating knowledge and direction effectively with colleagues on large scale and complex construction projects.

The Belfast Hub is a flagship project prioritized in the Programme for Government for funding. The surrounding Weavers Cross neighbourhood offers huge investment potential allowing for over 100,000 sqm of commercial space alongside significant residential and amenity space.

The Belfast Transport Hub is expected to take around five years to complete and during this time, over 400 jobs will be created with commitments to Buy Social and a Construction Academy.

Translink offer a sponsorship Programme for Managers to include the AQM and Prince Training courses leading to qualifications in both of these awards. This is only offered as a Translink employee manager within the Translink Leadership framework Programme.

The Belfast Transport Hub is on track to transform Belfast City Centre promoting cross community initiatives, creating jobs, training opportunities and enabling new investment in the City Centre.

The project offers a unique opportunity for the team members to deliver a major infrastructure project that will transform not only public transport in Northern Ireland but also have a positive growth effect on the economy being accessibility and opportunities to thousands of stakeholders from residents, communities, businesses and visitors to Belfast, Northern Ireland and Ireland over the next decade and beyond.