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Saturday 15 Jun 2024

Network Rail employee recognised in HM The King's Birthday Honours list

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National

Network Rail’s Sharon Salmon has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the railway and diversity and inclusion.  

In her 18 years at Network Rail, Sharon has devoted much of her time volunteering to help make Network Rail and the industry a more diverse, open & inclusive place for everyone, committed to removing barriers for people and helping Network Rail become increasingly representative of modern Britain.

Sharon was a founding member of Network Rail’s Cultural Fusion Network (CFN) in 2014 – an employee network for black, Asian and minority ethnic employees & their allies, and became chair in 2019. Before leading the network, she volunteered as the network’s communications, marketing, external liaisons lead and deputy chair all on top of her busy day job as a commercial analyst for Network Rail’s Route Services function. 

Membership of the CFN grew from 565 to 1162 within a year of her leadership and the CFN has been recognised for taking initiative to make positive change in the business.

Sharon has also coordinated events for Black History Month, organising inspiring speakers such as Ansel Wong CBE, Board Director for Nottingham Hill Carnival and founder of Black History Month in the UK, and award winning actor Naomi Ackie, who gave a candid interview on the importance of representation and how she navigates remaining authentic in the industry.

The award includes Sharon’s collaborative work with the charity Anthony Nolan, where the CFN supported events to highlight the lack of black, Asian and minority ethnic stem cell donors. The network also worked with the Sickle Cell Society, organising a 10k charity run and raising money.

The result of her hard work saw an increase in people joining the stem cell register and raising awareness on the debilitating disease for sufferers of Sickle Cell disease which is prominent in Ethnic minorities.

Sharon has since stepped down as the lead of the CFN but continues her commitment to diversity and inclusion as a trustee of Women in Rail.

Andrew Haines, Network Rail's chief executive, said:

"Huge congratulations to Sharon on this well-deserved recognition. She has shown true leadership in making Network Rail a more inclusive workplace, in particular in being a founding member of our Cultural Fusion Network. She is an inspiration to many across our industry and a real credit to Network Rail.”

Sharon Salmon MBE said:

“When I found out about my Royal Honour, I was absolutely thrilled but also speechless, and then I went really calm afterwards to digest it all. I was just so happy and over the moon.

“I’m so passionate about my work, I’ve been at Network Rail nearly 20 years and I’ve been involved in the employee networks since they were created.

“One of the things that really spurred me on is being able to be the best you can be. I’ve seen so many people limit the belief they have in themselves. I decided to get up and do something about diminishing  self-doubt so that you can be the best version of yourself.

“It grew from there. I love getting involved with people and I was so inspired by great female leaders I worked with. Seeing someone that looked like me, achieving things, motivated me to work harder.

“The pandemic was a really difficult time for people. I wanted to make sure, as the leader of the Cultural Fusion network, that people stayed connected. I worked with my hardworking CFN team to organise tea breaks to provide a platform so people could share their lived experiences in a safe space.

“I’m passionate about that shift change towards being able to be more open about who you are and feeling safe to own it. In some cases, people subdue it, so all the work I do enables people to be themselves and learn from each other. 

“I’ve learnt so many different skills through being involved in the networks at Network Rail. I really recommend joining them. You can engage with people from across the business at all levels; have access to senior management and share ideas you’d like to see changed in the organisation.

“I’d like to thank Network Rail’s Diversity and Inclusion team for always being supportive, and whoever submitted me for an award. I also want to thank my supporters and champions who have spoken and recommended  me when I was not in the room and also the CFN Team who worked hard.  It is a real honour and I’m so excited to celebrate with my son, family, friends, and colleagues.”

 

ENDS