Our team

Regional Community and Stakeholder Managers

West and Central

Name: Simon Abbott

Region you’re based in: West and Central. I work across Greater Manchester, Merseyside and parts of Lancashire.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your career:  I started as a Conductor for Northern in 2007, and during this time I was also a Community Rail Ambassador. I stayed within the rail industry when I moved to be a Conductor with TransPennine Express, where I later took a role in TPE’s Control Room. After this, I became Team Leader at Manchester Piccadilly, then a Duty Station Manager at Manchester Airport. I made my way back to Northern in 2020, joining as a Regional Community and Sustainability Manager.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time on my plot in the allotment or trying different recipes for brewing beer.

What you enjoy about your role:  Being able to make a difference to people’s lives, by supporting people making positive changes! Including our stations in local community activities helps to build on the additional purpose railway stations have as the gateway to cities towns and villages. I especially enjoy working with socially excluded groups and helping to shape projects which will enhance wellbeing and give a sense of personal achievement. 

Name: Rebecca ‘Becky’ Styles

Region you’re based in: Central Region – South Manchester

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your career: I am an avid runner having taken part in many events including marathons and ultra marathons. I enjoy reading, podcasts and cat whispering!!

I joined the railway as a Conductor in 2010 and had various operational roles until I started this role in early 2019. Previously I worked in the NHS as a critical care co-ordinator and have worked in East Manchester as a Home School Liaison Officer delivering parent support. These mixed experiences have equipped me a set of skills that help me develop my community work.

What you enjoy about your role: I like the fact that no two days are the same! I can honestly say that although it is a busy and sometimes challenging role I get a great deal of satisfaction from helping our groups achieve their goals. Getting their ideas for their communities into reality. 

Name: Martin Keating  

Region you’re based in: West (covering Cumbria, South Fylde and East Lancashire)  

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your career: I have nearly 30 years’ experience within the rail industry with a broad portfolio of job assignments ranging from operational to performance and retail.  I have been in my current role since 2017.  

In my spare time I enjoy the cinema, music and the theatre and particularly enjoy reading anything historical. I also like to travel, especially in North America and Europe. I also enjoy sporting activities such as cycling and walking.  

What you enjoy about your role: The variety of the role – each day is different! I can be working with Local Transport Authorities on their aspirations to station volunteers on their plans to enhance their station. I enjoy meeting people from a variety of backgrounds as well as bringing joy to those who have not experienced rail travel.  

East

Name: Danielle Clarkson (Currently on maternity leave)

Region you’re based in: East Region

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your career: I joined the railway in 2019 as a Business Administration Apprentice for the Conductor Team Management in West and North Yorkshire. Once I completed my apprenticeship, I joined the performance team in 2020 for 3 years as the Performance Improvement Coordinator in the East Region. I have recently been appointed to the Regional Community and Sustainability Manager for the East Region in 2023 and I am looking forward to the new challenge and working closer with our local communities.

What you enjoy about your role: I enjoy engaging with our local communities and driving different ways that we can make improvements to the railway, create opportunities and encourage local engagement. Customers are at the heart of the railway and it is important that we engage with them to ensure that the railway is an enjoyable and accessible mode of transport.  

Name: Richard Isaac  

Region you’re based in: East, covering West Yorkshire Combined Authority, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, and the Wolds Coast.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your career: I gained my BSc degree in Environmental Science, majoring in Environmental Management and Pollution Prevention, from the University of Bradford. I have 25 years of experience working with community groups, initially with Seven Trent Water, Transco and Bradford Metropolitan District Council. I’ve been working in Northern since 2013/14, developing my knowledge and understanding on community engagement to help increase access to Northern services for all, youth employment/engagement opportunities and bringing communities together, forming sustainable partnerships with group and organisations who support the communities we serve in the North.

In my spare time, I support the Rugby League and I have three sons who take up most of my time, by running around and supporting them.

What you enjoy about your role: I enjoy opening opportunities from all the communities we serve in the North to get involved in their station, and for young people to explore how they can volunteer and look at careers within the rail industry. I really enjoy showing what the rail industry really is and how it connects us all and supports our move to a low carbon economy. Also, highlighting how the rail network can link young people to job opportunities in the employment growth areas across the region and for all the access to great leisure opportunities on our doorstep.  

North East

Name: Marie Addison 

Region you’re based in: North East  

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your career: I began my career on the railway in 1991 as a Rail Trainee in Newcastle, working in various departments including Customer Services, Rail Enquiry Bureau and Telesales before going on to work in ticket offices across the region until I became Area Team Leader for stations in 2013. I began my current role as Regional Community and Sustainability Manager for the North East Region in 2016.  

 What you enjoy about your role: I just love working with people! I thoroughly enjoy working with the many diverse community groups and organisations in the North East. I am so lucky to have been involved in a number of fantastic projects which have made a huge impact at stations and in local communities. The dedication and enthusiasm shown by volunteers is so overwhelming and to see local communities taking pride in their stations is second to none. I look forward to continuing the hard work and dedication through the delivery of future projects.