Stephen Clews
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My background is as a Marine Engineer rising to the rank of Chief Engineer with Shell and then BP. Coming ashore in 1997 and initially working on ship construction and culminating in managing 40% of BP’s fleet – 23 ships. This gave me knowledge and experience of managing safety management systems in high-risk environments. I then moved into standardisation running BP’s engineering standards function. I was on five international technical committees, including ISO, and chaired one BSI committee. I have an in-depth knowledge and experience of the development and management of standards, practices and guidance. I am Vice Chair of the HRA Operations and Safety Committee and a member of the HRSSB Implementation Board.
I am a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.
I have worked on heritage railways, predominantly the W&L, since 2004 and have been its Chairman since 2015. I am also a driver, mechanical inspector and controller. I am line manager to the railway’s General Manager which keeps me very close to the management of the railway, both operational and commercial.
Following the upheavals of 2020, we are now in a crucial phase in the life of heritage railways. For them to survive they must get the mix of commercialism and nostalgia/heritage right as they search for the new ‘normal’. The public now expect a lot more than just a train ride and environmental expectations and regulation have increased. I think the HRA has a role to play in the future as the single face to the regulators, as lobbyist on behalf of our membership and providing guidance and best practice.
I hope that my experience of safety management systems, standards development and railway management and operation is thought a useful contribution to the HRA Board
