Breaking Boundaries: Kirsty Mitchell, MCIRO
Kirsty Mitchell’ s( also featured on page 49) career began with a nudge from family. Her aunt suggested she apply for a Grade 2 Signaller role at age 19. That advice sparked a journey through the ranks of rail operations, from signalling to Local Operations Manager, and later into Route Control and senior network delivery positions.
For those considering an upgrade, the message is clear: you don’ t need to wait for the perfect moment or a particular qualification. Whether you’ ve accumulated years of hands-on experience or you’ re actively developing your academic credentials, CIRO provides multiple pathways to advance your professional standing.
Mentorship, community, and recognition. These are the hallmarks of CIRO’ s growing membership network. With more than 13,000 professionals
Kirsty’ s transition into leadership wasn’ t without its challenges, managing peers, balancing motherhood, and undergoing heart surgery all shaped her path. In 2023, she stepped up as Head of Control, later joining Northern on secondment, gaining insight from the train operating company perspective.
Despite academic interruptions, Kirsty recognised her industry experience spoke for itself. She upgraded from Associate to Member via the professional route, a move that boosted her confidence and reaffirmed her place in the profession.
“ Applying through the professional route validated my expertise beyond academic achievements,” Kirsty explains.“ It positioned me well for the future, and I’ m already working toward Fellowship.”
She encourages others to explore their options:
“ There’ s more than one route to upgrading. It’ s not just about degrees, your experience counts. Talk to others, find a mentor. I’ m always happy to help demystify the process.”
Encouraging Growth Across the Network
Craig and Kirsty’ s stories are more than individual success narratives, they are examples of how CIRO membership upgrades can empower professionals to reflect on their experience, boost their confidence, and actively shape the future of the industry. already part of this community, upgrading your membership can open doors to new opportunities, leadership roles, and lifelong learning.
As Craig puts it:“ Step out of your comfort zone. Embrace change. Surround yourself with knowledgeable and supportive people.”
Or, in Kirsty’ s words:“ Be curious. Say yes to opportunities, even the scary ones and find a mentor who inspires you.”
Find out about upgrading your membership on the CIRO website, or get in touch with the team on membership @ railwayoperatos. co. uk
www. ciro. org
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