Susie Lawson joined Network Rail in 2015 as an HR Business Partner. Prior to that, she had worked for around five years in the HR team of an infrastructure business. As an HRBP, she supported frontline operations and maintenance colleagues in the North East.
However, a desire to better understand the operational side of the railway soon led Susie to a pivotal shift. Moving into a Local Operations Manager role on the Harrogate line opened the door to hands-on experience in railway operations. Shortly after, she transitioned into Incident Response, managing Mobile Operations Managers, which sparked her lasting passion for incident management.
This passion continued to evolve through a role in route control as a Route Control Manager, where Susie oversaw Incident Controllers and gained valuable insight into the control function. Susie currently works in Network Rail Control York as a Senior Network Delivery Manager, supporting both the East Coast and North & East routes. Her role blends real-time operational oversight with strategic responsibilities, including safety, compliance, competency, and continuous improvement.
Earlier last year, during her maternity leave, a long-considered goal became a reality for Susie: upgrading her CIRO membership from Affiliate to Member level.
Rather than viewing time away from work as a pause, she used it as an opportunity to balance life with three children under six, choosing to invest in her professional development. Although Susie holds formal academic qualifications, she recognised that none directly reflected her extensive operational experience.
Achieving Member level gave her a way to formally validate years of hands-on expertise. At a senior level, credibility matters, and this recognition helps demonstrate both the depth and breadth of her industry knowledge.
Broadening Perspective Through CIRO
Membership with CIRO has proven to be far more than a title for Susie. Through events, seminars, and resources, she has expanded her understanding beyond the immediate control environment.
In a role where it’s easy to become immersed in a specific function, CIRO offers her a broader industry lens. This wider perspective enhances her situational awareness, an essential skill in railway operations, and directly informs her decision-making at a local level. It reinforces the importance of seeing how individual roles contribute to the bigger picture of the railway network.
Making the Upgrade: Simpler Than Expected
For those hesitant about upgrading membership, Susie’s message is clear: “it’s actually really easy to upgrade your membership, if I can do it whilst on maternity leave with 3 children under the age of 6, you certainly can too!”
What initially appeared to be a complex and time-consuming process turned out to be a matter of articulating existing knowledge and experience. By attending a CIRO seminar, she found that the process became clear and straightforward, making it achievable even during maternity leave.
The key takeaway from her experience is simple: the expertise is often already there; it just needs to be captured.
What CIRO Membership Represents
Achieving Member status carries both personal and professional significance for Susie.
As she explained, “personally, it is a source of pride, recognition of years of dedication, and a confidence boost in my capability as a railway operator. Professionally, it signals credibility to peers, demonstrating the knowledge and skills required to operate effectively within a complex and demanding industry.”
Looking Ahead: Ambition and Industry Change
Looking to the future, Susie has a strong interest in deepening her involvement in emergency planning and collaboration with blue light services, areas that align closely with her incident management expertise.
With anticipated changes from Great British Railways, she is excited about new opportunities for professional growth, particularly in working more closely with train and fleet operations.
Susie’s next milestone is already in sight, and this is progressing to CIRO Fellow status, as she is motivated to help shape a more diverse and representative leadership within the industry.
Advice for Aspiring Railway Professionals
For those just starting out in railway operations, Susie’s advice is simple yet powerful: “be curious, take every opportunity to learn, ask questions, and explore different parts of the industry. Building strong relationships with colleagues and drawing on their experience is invaluable”. As she highlights, the railway is a complex, interconnected system, and understanding it comes from both knowledge and collaboration.
Time to Upgrade Your CIRO Membership?
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/
