Meet Our Team

The Light Rail Safety & Standards Board team brings together a wealth of experience to support the organisation’s ongoing development and the delivery of key projects. Led by Chief Executive Carl Williams, they share a commitment to driving forward light rail safety and standards, and you can find out more about them below.

Carl Williams

Chief Executive

For more than 25 years, Carl Williams has worked in public transport operations and maintenance and joined the LRSSB in 2020 from West Midlands Metro.

Mark Ashmore

Head of Safety and Assurance

A highly experienced Health and Safety Manager with over two decades of experience within the light rail industry, Mark joined the LRSSB in 2020 after working for UKTram since 2018.

Laura Reardon

Head of Safety Risk Management

Having worked in the rail industry for 13 years, Laura joined the LRSSB in 2022. Working closely with individual networks on the administration, development and implementation of their own risk models, Laura is also driving the development of a national risk model.

Craig O’Brien

Head of Engineering Safety & Innovation

With over 15 years in the light rail sector, Craig brings a wealth of experience to the LRSSB team, having previously worked for UKTram as Engineering Manager and as Infrastructure Manager at Sheffield Supertram. He now leads on a range of projects for the LRSSB relating to engineering safety within

the sector.

Carly Swift

Marketing and Digital Media Manager

Carly has more than 17 years experience across a range of sectors, including public transport, retail and publishing. She is highly skilled in Graphic Design and produced the series of Safety Animations for LRSSB.

With her extensive experience in digital media, her skills will enhance the organisation's communications within the light rail industry.

Matthew Wright

Principal Researcher

With broad experience in the sector with over the past 15 years, including working with an operator’s rolling stock department. Previously employed as the Reliability, Engineering and Competence Manager at
Sheffield Supertram.
Matt has also recently completed a BA (Hons) in Management Practice and achieved Chartered status with the Chartered Management Institute, and in his new role he will help lead research into new technologies with the potential to drive down risks to tramway safety.

Danish Malik

Data Analyst

Danish joined the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board with a wealth of experience across several industry sectors, including finance and medical insurance, where he has provided vital business insights through effective analysis of detailed statistical information.

His experience will help the LRSSB refine its data-driven approach to risk reduction and management, and enable the organisation to offer the sector an even more detailed understanding of the safety threats faced by the sector.