Wo m e n i n R a i l
10 years of Women in Rail Celebrations will be taking place this year to mark the anniversary which improves diversity in the industry through networking opportunities and support for women
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t was 10 years ago this month that Adeline Ginn MBE set up Women in Rail (WR), creating a LinkedIn account and posting a message inviting women working in the UK railway sector to join a new network created for them to meet like-minded female colleagues. Fast forward to the present and the organisation has grown to 7,500 members, providing networking opportunities and support for women within the sector, driving change within businesses to adopt diversity as a business strategy, and positioning rail as an attractive career choice for young people. Several events will be taking place throughout the year to mark the anniversary including individuals sharing their stories of the impact the group has had on their careers, activities within the eight regions of WR, the creation of a special film, and of course birthday cake. “Women feel more supported and empowered now than they did 10 years ago,” said Adeline, who set up WR out of frustration with the low numbers of women in the railways, especially in mid-management and senior roles. “Through our campaigns, we have demonstrated the business case for improving gender balance and broader diversity in our sector, and with the launch of the EDI Charter, orchestrated an industry-wide coordinated effort to improve equality, diversity and inclusion throughout all grades and roles in UK rail.” In the beginning... WR was set up on April 12, 2012, with an official launch the following April in front of more than 200 key stakeholders and senior people in the industry. Since then WR has gone on to hold selfconfidence workshops, and awards ceremonies, through to a mentoring programme with more than 520 mentors, and launching an EDI Charter with the Railway Industry Association. “The key to WR’s success is without a shadow of a doubt the team,” said Adeline. “From the outset, we were driven by the same vision and the same values. We support each other, and treat each other with kindness and respect. “Pushing the WR agenda is a lot of work, especially out of hours, and you cannot do it sustainably if you do not have a strong team to encourage and support you. 74 | April 2022
“And there is also the WR trustees, our supporters, allies and advocates, such as the mentors and mentees on the mentoring programme, the judges on the WR Awards panel, the organisations that sponsor our events, offering venues and refreshments, and the industry itself. WR is an industry-wide team effort.”
Through our campaigns, we have demonstrated the business case for improving gender balance and broader diversity in our sector Earlier on this year, chair and founder Adeline stepped down, feeling the eve of the 10th anniversary was the right time to make space for someone else in the team to step up, take over the helm, and drive the charity further forward. That person is Christine Fernandes, who alongside her role as the new chair of WR is working in business development at CAF.
“It is fantastic to be leading WR on its 10th anniversary,” she said. “The railway is an integral part of my life and I want to give something back, to leave a legacy behind that will be for the benefit and good of the future of the industry. “Through my career I have faced some challenging aspects in a maleorientated environment, and while there is acknowledgement and improvement, there is still a lot more to be done. “The work of Adeline and the team over the past decade has given a structure and a voice to how women are treated in the railway and we have to continue to build on that – it is getting great traction. “I want WR to be the choice for the rail industry when it comes to gender balance, equality, diversity and inclusion. We’re not there to necessarily set standards, but to build awareness. We also have an important role in promoting the industry as a career of choice, being proactive in how we can support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and other initiatives.” More details of the various events and how to get involved will be revealed in the coming months. Visit womeninrail.org
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