Alex Kirk is Commercial Director at GB Railfreight and a board member of the Rail Freight Group. He has extensive experience across the UK rail industry, having begun his career at Network Rail where he held a number of senior operational and commercial roles. Since joining GB Railfreight in 2020, Alex has led major infrastructure and customer contracts, supporting critical national projects and driving the development of new freight services across key sectors. He brings a strong focus on performance, customer delivery, and long-term sustainable growth, alongside a deep commitment to recognising and developing talent across the rail industry.
Kirsty has 30 years’ experience in UK and global businesses including leadership roles at Network Rail, East Midlands Railway, 2 Sisters Food Group and Molson Coors Brewing Company. Kirsty joined the rail sector in 2015 and joined Network Rail in 2021.
In her role as People & Transformation Director Kirsty has led the strategic transformation of industrial relations to deliver significant business benefits and is supporting the industry’s transition to Great British Railways. A longtime supporter of skills, training and supporting the next generation into rail careers, Kirsty has been Chair of the Train Driver Apprenticeship standard since 2017 and overseen the launch of the new apprenticeship. With more than 1,000 apprenticeships underway, over £1 million of apprenticeship levy has been released back to fund further training for the sector. Kirsty also undertakes voluntary work as a non-executive board member for NSAR, mentors for Women In Rail and served on the pension benefits committee for Network Rail."
Maro Sakpere MCIRO is an accomplished railway professional, award-winning ambassador, and passionate advocate for equity, inclusion, and social mobility within the UK rail industry. With over eight years of experience,
Maro’s career reflects a journey defined by resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Maro began his railway career at grassroots level as a Train Dispatcher and Customer Service Assistant with Govia Thameslink Railway, undertaking safety-critical responsibilities and delivering high standards of passenger service. Driven by ambition and a desire to grow, he progressed into engineering roles, becoming an Assistant Service Engineer and subsequently a Service Engineer from 2019. His progression has not been without challenge, facing barriers and setbacks along the way, but through perseverance, continuous professional development, and the support of mentors and mentoring others, Maro has carved out a respected and impactful career within the industry.
His dedication and influence have been recognised through multiple accolades, including winning Ambassador of the Year at the RailStaff Awards 2025 and the Multicultural Apprenticeship Award (Transport and Logistics category). These honours reflect both his professional excellence and his commitment to championing diversity and representation across the sector.
Maro holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (2:1) from Kingston University and completed a Level 4 Passenger Transport Operations Manager Apprenticeship. He is a full Member of the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators (MCIRO), a milestone he is particularly proud of, and actively advocates for the institution’s programmes to support the development of future rail leaders.
Passionate about creating a more inclusive and equitable railway, Maro uses his platform to open doors for others, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, so they do not face the same barriers he encountered. He strongly believes the rail industry is a powerful driver of social mobility and is committed to ensuring it remains accessible, fair, and representative of the communities it serves.
As a judge for the RailStaff Awards 2026, Maro brings not only technical expertise and operational insight, but also a deep appreciation for the people behind the industry, those whose dedication, resilience, and innovation keep the railway moving every day.
RailStaff Editor, Matt Atkins, has worked in journalism and publishing for over 15 years. In that time, he’s worked for numerous trade publications focusing on sectors as diverse as high finance, recruitment, maritime shipping, and now rail. Matt joined Rail Media from the academic publisher, Taylor & Francis, where he edited leading journals covering the humanities, science and technology, and medicine.
Mike Roberts has been on the railway since 2018, serving as a Railway Mission Chaplain in the North West. His work involves supporting railway staff through traumas, personal and professional challenges. He is passionate about seeing people do amazing things and celebrating our railway family. Mike, who has worked for over twenty years in pastoral care and wellbeing, enjoys both reading and writing and heading out for a day with no idea where he will end up.
Monica Barbosa has worked in the transportation sector for over 16 years, officially joining the railway industry in 2018. Throughout her career, she has played a significant role in the rail supply community, actively championing SMEs, apprenticeships, and wider industry collaboration. She now holds the position as Client Account Lead for Transport for London and East West Rail at Jacobs, where she is responsible for leading client engagement, strengthening strategic relationships, and supporting the successful delivery of major transport programmes. Across all her positions, she has remained a passionate advocate for social value, leading initiatives that deliver meaningful community impact and advance client ESG priorities. Monica is deeply committed to the rail and wider transport industry. She actively champions equality, inclusion, and diversity, and is particularly dedicated to inspiring and empowering the next generation, especially women, to pursue rewarding careers in transportation.
Phil has over three decades of experience working in the UK rail industry, starting his career as an apprentice engineer with British Rail, before joining the management programme with English Welsh & Scottish Railways (EWS). During his time with EWS, which became DB Cargo (UK), he managed engineering depots, capex investment projects and organisational change programmes, before moving into risk management in a senior HSE role. Secondments to operations as an Area Manager gave Phil a well-rounded view of how a rail organisation operate before he was appointed Head of Safety for DB Cargo (UK). In 2017, after 25 years in the rail freight sector, Phil joined the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), where he worked wide range of organisations, helping shape their strategies through the adoption of products and services. In 2024 he joined Transport UK Group, providing leadership in risk management and sustainable development. Phil is a member of Parliamentary Advisory Committee for Transport Safety and the Chair of the RSSB Safe Insights Working Group.
John's personal journey with TBF, which began in 1998, is a testament to the transformative power of our charity. His deep passion for the charity sector is fuelled by the knowledge that TBF's support can make a significant difference in the lives of public transport workers and their dependants during times of need, hardship and distress.
John started his career path as a guard at LUL and later transitioned to a train operator role. However, his career in operations was abruptly halted by Type 1 Diabetes. This personal experience of adversity led John to a new path in administration, where he found a new purpose in supporting others.
With an impressive 60,000 contributing members, TBF's impact is far-reaching. It's not just the members who benefit, but also their partners and dependent children, showcasing the diverse range of people who can find support in our fund. In the current financial year, TBF is projected to allocate £3 million on direct benefits to its beneficiaries. This substantial investment in the well-being of its members is made possible by the modest membership fee of just £1.25 a week, gift aid, donations and investments.
John says he is incredibly proud to be part of TBF as it is not every day that you can be part of an organisation that makes such a difference to people when they need a helping hand, and each year that passes, more and more help is required. He would like all employing companies within the public transport sector to appreciate the difference TBF membership can make to their employees' work-life balance, which helps reduce employee turnover. Some employers have agreed to “Employer Paid” and pay their staffs' £1.25 weekly contribution, as they see this as a benefit they can afford, and demonstrate they care about their employees' wellbeing.
