Paul Maynard MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport

Paul Maynard was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport on 17 July 2016. He was elected Conservative MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys in May 2010.

The minister is responsible for:

• rail (including housing development)
• rail security
• light rail

Professor David Begg (Chair)
Chief Executive
Transport Times

Prof David Begg is Chief Executive of Portobello Partnership Ltd which specialises in strategic advice to clients in the transport sector; publishes Transport Times magazine; and runs a series of transport best practice awards in conjunction with the Department for Transport, Transport Scotland and Transport for London.

He is a non-executive board member of Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd, a member of the Cubic Transportation Systems' Advisory Board and a non-executive chairman of EAMS Group.

From 1999 to 2005 he chaired the Government's Commission for Integrated Transport which was set up to advise the Government on transport policy and to monitor performance. He was a board member of Transport for London from 2000 to 2006 before joining Tube Lines as chairman (2006-2010). He was a non-executive director of the Strategic Rail Authority and before that British Rail. From 2005-2014 David was a Non-Executive Director of First Group Ltd.

Before moving to London he was Professor of Transport Policy at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. He is a visiting professor in Transport at Plymouth University. In the 1990s he was the political lead on transport on Lothian Region and then the City of Edinburgh councils.

Phil Heathcote
Sales Director, Rail Systems UK
Siemens plc

Phil Heathcote is Sales Director for Siemens Rail Systems in the UK - a division of Siemens that employs some 700 people nationwide and maintains over 350 passenger trains each day. In total Siemens have over 13,500 employees in the UK. The company's extensive business activities support more than 54,000 jobs in the UK and stimulate the creation of more than £3billion gross value added.

He is responsible for sales and business development strategy for metro, commuter, intercity and high speed rolling stock in the UK. His role will also include relationship management, business development, tendering, major contract negotiations, amendments in new rolling stock, lead negotiations on contracts for maintenance, service, modification and upgrades.

Phil joined Siemens in September 2015 from Arriva UK Trains Limited, where as Bid Director, he led teams responsible for rail franchise Pre-Qualifications (PQs) and Invitations to Tender (ITT). During his time at Arriva, he led the teams responsible for the Caledonian Sleeper and ScotRail bids. Most recently, he was responsible for the leadership of the winning bid to run the Northern franchise.

Before Arriva, Philip held key sales, marketing and delivery roles with Angel Trains, Bombardier and Daimler Chrysler Rail Systems.

Graeme Clark
Head of Business Development, Rolling Stock
Siemens Rail Systems UK

Graeme Clark is Head of Business Development, Rolling Stock for Siemens Rail Systems in the UK – a division of Siemens that employs some 700 people nationwide and maintains over 350 passenger trains.

Graeme is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers with over 30 years experience in the rail industry.

He has held senior positions within several other prominent rolling stock manufacturers and has extensive knowledge of the UK rail market.

David Horne
Managing Director
Virgin Trains East Coast

David is the Managing Director of Virgin Trains East Coast. David has more than 25 years experience in the rail industry, having started his career in 1988 as a ticket office clerk in Cornwall. He has also held senior positions within South West Trains and East Midlands Trains.

Councillor Liam Robinson
Chair
Merseytravel

Cllr Liam Robinson is a Liverpool City Councillor, who has represented the Kensington and Fairfield Ward since 2008. He was elected Chair of Merseytravel in June 2012. Merseytravel is the Executive body that provides professional, strategic and operational transport advice to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to enable it to make informed decisions. It is also the delivery arm, making transport happen.

Cllr Robinson has key roles in strategic transport groups, ensuring the Liverpool City Region is at the 'top table' when it comes to influencing and decision making on a regional and national basis. He is city region representative on the Transport for the North board and currently Chairs the Rail North Limited Board.

Making public transport more affordable, particularly for young people, is a key focus for Cllr Robinson. He has championed the introduction of reduced price bus fares for all young people up to their 19th Birthday. The development of a bus strategy, believed to be the first of its kind, has been introduced under Cllr Robinson's chairmanship with the aim of focused collaboration between Merseytravel and the operators, with the joint objective of sustainable patronage growth

Cllr Robinson grew up in Cheshire and studied politics at Manchester University. He has held a number of management positions in the Bus, Coach and Rail sectors including managing three of Britain's largest railway stations: Liverpool Lime Street, London Liverpool Street and Sheffield.

Louise Ellman MP
Chair of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee

Louise Ellman has been Labour and Co-operative MP for Liverpool Riverside since 1997. She was leader of Lancashire County Council from 1981-1997.

She has been Chair of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee since 21 May 2008.

Louise has a BA (Hons) from Hull University and MPhil (Soc Admin) from York University. She has worked in Further Education and in the Open University.