For Will Robinson, building a career in railway operations has always been about more than progression; it has been about making a meaningful contribution to an industry he genuinely cares about.
Having achieved Member (MCIRO) status just one year after upgrading to Associate, Will’s journey demonstrates how professional recognition can accelerate career development while reinforcing a commitment to lifelong learning.
Will has spent the past five years developing his expertise across a range of rail operations and transport planning roles.
He began his career at Capita as a Transport Planner, contributing to the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro between 2020 and 2021. He then joined Mott MacDonald as a Rail Operations Consultant, where he has worked on a wide variety of rail projects. Between 2023 and 2024, he was seconded to the Elizabeth Line, working in the control room as an Incident Support Controller (ISC), gaining valuable operational experience in one of the UK’s most significant railway programmes.
The diversity of these roles has helped Will build a broad understanding of railway operations while strengthening his technical and professional capabilities.
For Will, upgrading his CIRO membership was driven by both professional ambition and personal passion.
“I feel passionately about my industry and genuinely feel as if the work I do benefits the network,” he explains. “That enthusiasm has encouraged me to push myself professionally so I can remain a valuable contributor.”
The benefits of achieving MCIRO were immediate. His new membership status became a key requirement for securing a promotion within Mott MacDonald. Given the Mott MacDonald setup, MCIRO was a requirement for the promotion, so the two went hand in hand.
Beyond the promotion itself, Will sees membership as recognition of the experience and hard work he has invested throughout his career.
“It feels as if my experience and hard work to date have been recognised, and to have that corroborated by leading industry professionals is an extremely validating and rewarding feeling. It has given me the drive to continue pushing myself.”
Throughout the upgrade process, Will found CIRO’s support invaluable.
He credits the Institution’s resources with helping him strengthen areas of his Professional Operations Development (POD) that required further development, while also exposing him to key industry skills he had not yet encountered in his day-to-day work.
One of the most valuable aspects has been the guidance of his CIRO tutor, Alan Giles FCIRO. “Alan has decades of industry experience and has been crucial in my bid to become an MCIRO.”
Will is also continuing his professional development through CIRO learning opportunities and will soon attend the Operational Planning Masterclass alongside a Mott MacDonald colleague to continue building both his own expertise and that of his wider team.
Will’s advice for anyone unsure about upgrading their membership is simple:
“Do it!” Whether the outcome is successful or highlights areas for development, he believes there is significant value in the process.
“Either you pass, or you get invaluable feedback on which areas you need to develop, and, more importantly, how to do that. It’s a win-win in my eyes.”
For Will, CIRO represents much more than professional recognition. Being part of an internationally recognised institution has enabled him to connect with like-minded professionals and build a network of people he knows he can turn to for advice, guidance, or simply a conversation.
He also believes it is crucial for the industry to have an overarching institution that enables skills to be developed, retained and passed down. “CIRO has the potential to become an even stronger partner for professionals as they progress throughout their careers”.
Having achieved MCIRO, Will’s ambitions remain firmly focused on continuous development.
His goal is to work on an even broader range of projects and take on greater responsibility, developing his skills through varied experience.
Ultimately, he hopes this journey will lead to Fellow (FCIRO) status.
“I realise there’s still a lot of work to be done to get to that stage, but that’s the long-term aim.”
Reflecting on his own experience, Will believes the greatest learning opportunities come from the people around you.
Throughout his career, he has worked alongside experienced rail operators from different sectors and organisations, whose knowledge has been invaluable in helping him establish himself within the industry.
His advice is straightforward: “Talk to people and take on board their experiences. Listen to and respect your elders; they truly know their stuff and want to pass it on to you.”
Away from work, Will enjoys keeping active through sport. He plays county badminton and enjoys cricket and football, although, as he jokes, “I’m rubbish at football!”
He’s a dedicated supporter of Burnley FC and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, travelling regularly to watch matches throughout the year. When the weather allows, he’s out paddleboarding, while downtime is spent catching up with friends and family, enjoying the occasional PlayStation session, or, true to his passion for railways, bringing out his old Hornby train set to make sure everything is still running properly.
Accelerate your career journey by upgrading you CIRO membership. Find out how, and take the first step here: https://www.ciro.org/upgrade-your-membership/
