Adrian Caffrey ACIRO CIRO North East Area Council Chair
Role and Railway Journey: Adrian is currently seconded as Head of Performance at Northern, where he leads a team driving exciting improvement projects. He began his railway career in 2007 as a conductor based in Leeds— a role he held for nearly a decade.
got the chance to join the council, I took it— and it’ s opened up so many opportunities.”
A Standout Moment:“ One of my highlights was attending the Chairs’ meeting in London. It coincided with an event for CIRO degree students and gave me a glimpse into how CIRO is shaping the next generation of railway professionals.”
His Message to Members:“ With membership set to reach 14,000 this year, I’ d say: take full advantage of what CIRO offers. Talk to your local council, attend events, and don’ t be afraid to get involved.”
Looking ahead, Adrian’ s council will be focusing on events tied to current industry shifts— including performance improvement, new technologies, and infrastructure changes.“ And we’ re always open to feedback,” he added.“ If members want to see something specific, or even present themselves, we’ d love to hear from you.”
Bronnie Clarke CIRO Midlands Area Council Chair
“ That experience was a great intro to railway operations,” Adrian said.“ I’ ve always believed in grabbing opportunities when they come along, and that mindset has really shaped my path.”
Passions Beyond the Railway: Adrian is a seasoned traveller, having visited nearly 80 countries.“ I love immersing myself in different cultures. Myanmar and Japan are two of my favourites,” he said.“ I usually travel by rail when abroad— every journey is a chance to learn more about international railway operations.”
His Role as Chair: As Chair, Adrian leads a group of passionate volunteers in organising events that support member development and professional growth.
“ It’ s all about creating opportunities for connection, learning, and shared insight,” he said.“ We want our events to reflect the latest in railway developments, from new rolling stock to digital technologies like ETCS.”
Why He Joined the Council: Adrian credits CIRO with broadening his understanding of the railway system and helping him take his career to the next level.
“ I started as a conductor and used CIRO’ s resources to explore beyond operations. When I
Role and Railway Career: Bronnie is Head of Control for Network Rail East Midlands. Her team manages daily operations and oversees longerterm planning, including engineering work and special events.“ No two days are the same,” she said.“ The variety keeps you sharp, and there’ s always a new challenge to tackle.”
Life Outside of Work: Bronnie spends her downtime outdoors with her two Labradors and recently picked up Canicross— a sport that combines running with dog-walking.“ I also read a lot,” she adds.“ Autumn is perfect for a good horror novel!”
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