Difference between revisions of "Helen Smith"
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| − | '''Helen Louise Smith''' (b. July 1976) was | + | '''Helen Louise Smith''' (b. July 1976) was [[The Severn Valley Railway in preservation#General_Manager|Managing Director]] of both SVR(H) and the Guarantee Company on between 2019 and 2023, in succession to [[Nick Ralls]]. She was born in Yorkshire. |
==Prior to the SVR== | ==Prior to the SVR== | ||
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==At the SVR== | ==At the SVR== | ||
| − | As with her predecessor, the new | + | As with her predecessor, the new General Manager’s arrival was followed by several serious events, in this case [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2020-2029#2020|Storm Dennis and severe flooding]], the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic]] which coincided with a major project at [[Falling Sands Viaduct]], and landslips at [[Sterns]] and [[Alveley Sidings|Alveley Woods]]. From 2022 the Railway, like other attractions, faced drops in visitor numbers made worse by an economic downturn and cost-of-living crisis.<ref name=bljan23>[https://www.svrlive.com/bljan21 Branch Lines, January 2023]</ref> |
| − | In 2020 she became an SVR(H) director, the first woman to do so. In 2021 she was confirmed as managing director, taking complete responsibility for the safe operation of the Railway, its financial health and future growth. | + | In 2020 she became an SVR(H) director, the first woman to do so. In 2021 she was confirmed as managing director, taking complete responsibility for the safe operation of the Railway, its financial health and future growth. She resigned in January 2023 to take a new role with another organisation.<ref name=bljan23/> |
| + | |||
| + | Helen steered the SVR through the pandemic, ensuring it secured substantial government support and emergency grant funding. She oversaw the reopening of the Railway in very changed circumstances with the country still in partial lockdown. During her leadership the Railway won a [[Awards | national VisitEngland excellence award for Resilience and Innovation]]<ref name=bljan23/>. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 03:40, 13 January 2023
Helen Louise Smith (b. July 1976) was Managing Director of both SVRSevern Valley Railway(H) and the Guarantee Company on between 2019 and 2023, in succession to Nick Ralls. She was born in Yorkshire.
Prior to the SVRSevern Valley Railway
Helen was previously Deputy Director at the Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset. Her earlier roles were as General Manager at The Fusilier Museum in Bury and Operations Director at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham.[1]
She graduated in 1997 from the University College of Ripon and York St John as a Bachelor in Communication Arts, and in 2001 obtained a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from the University of Huddersfield[2].
At the SVRSevern Valley Railway
As with her predecessor, the new General Manager’s arrival was followed by several serious events, in this case Storm Dennis and severe flooding, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic which coincided with a major project at Falling Sands Viaduct, and landslips at Sterns and Alveley Woods. From 2022 the Railway, like other attractions, faced drops in visitor numbers made worse by an economic downturn and cost-of-living crisis.[3]
In 2020 she became an SVRSevern Valley Railway(H) director, the first woman to do so. In 2021 she was confirmed as managing director, taking complete responsibility for the safe operation of the Railway, its financial health and future growth. She resigned in January 2023 to take a new role with another organisation.[3]
Helen steered the SVRSevern Valley Railway through the pandemic, ensuring it secured substantial government support and emergency grant funding. She oversaw the reopening of the Railway in very changed circumstances with the country still in partial lockdown. During her leadership the Railway won a national VisitEngland excellence award for Resilience and Innovation[3].
See also
References
- ↑ SVRSevern Valley Railway NBINotice Board Issue. The SVR's on-line method of circulating information to working members.
- ↑ LinkedIn profile
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Branch Lines, January 2023
