2017: Carolyn Griffiths

Carolyn Griffiths

132nd President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Carolyn Griffiths, FREng Ceng FIMechE, has been an influential figure within the rail Industry. Griffiths has taken on numerous roles in the UK and overseas since starting out on the shop floor as a trainee, including the role of senior maintenance engineer for the Mass Rapid Transit in Singapore, the engineering director at South Yorkshire Supertram and as senior vice president for Adtranz in Berlin.

After Adtranz, she went on to found and lead the UK's Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) reporting directly to the Secretary of State for Transport in 2003. At the point she left in 2015, RAIB was considered a world leading organisation in its field and ranked as one of the top performing organisations in terms of team work and motivation across the Civil Service. Under her management, the RAIB conducted over 250 full investigations; 95% of the recommendations arising from those were accepted and implemented, creating real positive change in the industry.

Griffiths has supported the Institution throughout her career. She has been a member and Chairman of the Railway Division Board, Member of Council, Deputy Chairman of the Technical Strategy Board, Chairman of the International Board and a Trustee. She established the Institution's successful railway training scheme as well as the International Rail Accident Investigation Conference.

Griffiths is a Non-Executive Director of Irish Rail and spends significant time working voluntarily with the Engineering Council and the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. She is Chair of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety Rail Safety Working Party. Griffiths was formerly a Governor of Imperial College London.

Griffiths has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Cranfield University for her professional work and achievements within the rail industry.

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