Curriculum
Vitae
Date
of Birth
9 January 1955
Address:
10 Bude Close
Nailsea
Bristol
BS48 2FQ
Telephone:
07961 701 702
Email:
paul@balmer.co.uk
Professional
qualifications
·
2(i) Honours Degree in Electronic Engineering (1977, Birmingham
University)
·
Chartered Engineer (CEng)
·
Member of Institute of Electrical Engineers (MIEE)
·
Member of Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (MIRSE)
·
Member of Institution of Railway Operators (MIRO)
·
Chartered Member of Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH)
Skills
summary
·
38 years experience in the Railway
Industry from local level to Company Headquarters covering many geographical
areas
·
Safety and Business Auditing
including development and implementation of responses to improve efficiency and
correct deficiencies found
·
Financial and Commercial skills in
developing business plans and handling contracts and insurance claims
·
Legal and Administrative skills
including the Public Inquiries into the Southall and Ladbroke Grove Rail
Accidents, Railway Privatisation and representation in Court
·
Background in Railway Signal
Engineering with skills in Railway Operations and other Railway Functions
·
Accident and Incident
Investigation from minor incidents to major accidents
·
Computing and IT skills in the
management of computer projects and the production of computer simulations
Career
1999-now
Independent Consultant
Provision of consultancy services to
Railway Industry Companies using 38 years of knowledge and experience.
Recent work
includes:
·
Development and delivery of Safety and Accident Investigation
Training for the rail industry with Arthur D Little
·
Auditing of staff competence and compliance systems within a major
London Underground contractor
·
Independent Expert Witness in legal proceedings
·
Production of Network Rail’s Lead Investigator’s Pack and
facilitating training and workshops throughout Network Rail for its introduction
·
Management and development of London Underground Performance
Measurement Process for PPP Contractors
·
Management of signalling interface problems with introduction of
new trains and power supply upgrades on Southern Region.
·
Development and delivery of Practical Accident Investigation
Training for a Fire and Rescue service
1996-2000 Special Projects Manager, Amey Rail, Swindon / Bristol
Following my role as Railway
Privatisation Manager I took on the new role as Insurance Manager for Amey Rail,
handling post-sale claims and complexities of the pre-sale claims and
liabilities, which transferred from British Rail.
After the tragic Railway accident at
Southall in September 1997 I managed the processes including the Internal
Railway Inquiries, the accident investigations and representation of Amey Rail
at the Public Inquiry.
I produced computer simulations for
Railtrack and gave evidence at the Southall Public Inquiry. I also prepared
animated graphical presentations for the Health and Safety Executive and used by
them during the inquiry.
1994-95 Safety Manager, Swindon (additional to Privatisation Manager)
During my time as Privatisation Manager
(see below) the Company Safety Manager’s position fell vacant. With the
necessary experience and qualifications I was asked to fill this role, in addition
to that of Privatisation Manager.
I wrote the Railway Safety Case and the
Contractors Safety Cases for Amey Rail and led these through the Railtrack
acceptance process.
I produced and implemented the Company
safety strategy working from the Swindon Headquarters in conjunction with the
seven Divisions and their safety staff. I developed the Company audit strategy
and, through the Audit Manager who reported to me, provided positive safety
assurance.
1993-96 Privatisation Manager, Swindon
Management of a project team legally
separating the company from British Rail and facilitating the sale to become
Amey Rail.
I was initially seconded from the Area
Signal Engineer’s position at Reading to join a small project team. This
rapidly developed to become the Privatisation Team which I then led. We formed
the new Divisions of British Rail and ensured their vesting as separate legal
companies and the subsequent sale to the private sector.
1992-93 Divisional Signal Engineer, Reading
Responsible for the maintenance and
minor renewals of the signalling equipment on the Great Western Main Line from
Paddington to Didcot, and on the Chiltern Lines from Marylebone to Aylesbury.
Management was through a team of two
Signalling Maintenance Engineers, a Technical Support Engineer, six Supervisors
and around 150 staff.
1991-92 Assistant Area Signal & Telecomms Engineer, Bristol
Support the Area Engineer in management
of the Signalling & Telecommunications throughout the area from Swindon to
Penzance and formal deputy for the Area Engineer.
Finalisation of the S&T staff
restructuring arrangements, management of the payroll and admin staff,
management of the material supply arrangements and stores, operation of the
computer networks.
1988-91 Resource Engineer, Glasgow
Reporting directly to the Regional
Signal & Telecomms Engineer at Glasgow I provided support services throughout
Scotland. I project managed the implementation of the S&T staff restructuring
package, and the implementation of the recommendations of the “Hidden” report
into the Clapham Rail Accident.
Management of the payroll and admin
staff, operation of material ordering and delivery systems and the three central
stores. Computer and IT management throughout Scotland, installing the largest
local area network at the time and one of the first wide area networks on
British Rail.
1985-88 Signal Maintenance Engineer, Perth
Responsible for the maintenance and minor
renewals of all Signalling equipment in the North of Scotland from Stirling
(exclusive) through Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Aviemore to Inverness, Wick,
Thurso and Kyle of Lochalsh – the largest geographical area on British Rail.
Staff of around 70 were controlled through four supervisors and based at 7
depots.
Equipment ranged from the modern Radio
Electronic Token Block (RETB) and the first production installation of Solid
State Interlockings (SSI), through conventional route relay interlockings to
traditional mechanical signalling.
1982-85 Resource Manager, British Railways Board, Marylebone
Working directly for the Director of
Signalling & Telecommunications at Marylebone to co-ordinate information and
actions from all Regions of British Rail on a variety of Engineering Projects.
I was the first holder of this new post and, following my successes, the post
became a permanent position.
1980-82 Section Leader, Signalling Design Office, Euston
Leading a team of 6-8 staff designing new
and updated Signalling installations for the London Midland Region of British
Rail. Examples included the West Hampstead resignalling scheme under overhead
electrification, and the Liverpool Hunts Cross scheme involving dual
electrification.
1978-80 Signalling Design Office, Croydon
Member of a team planning new
Infrastructure Schemes and Signalling Installations throughout the Southern
Region of British Rail, taking schemes from conception through the planning,
estimating and approval stages.
1973-78 Formal Training Scheme
After leaving school I joined a five
year training scheme with British Rail, including sponsorship through Birmingham
University where I gained a 2(i) Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering.
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