Professor Lynette J Ryals, OBE has been appointed as a non-executive Director (NED) of East West Railway Company (EWR Co), with effect from 1 November 2020.
Joanna Whittington, Director General, Energy and Security at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) was also appointed.
Professor Ryals, Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Cranfield and MK:U Chief Executive, is leading the development of MK:U, the proposed STEM-focused university in Milton Keynes. She combines extensive leadership experience with a demonstrable commitment to driving the regional development which sits at the heart of the East West Rail Project. Lynette's professional background is in financial services and management consultancy. She was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list for services to Higher Education.
Commenting on the appointment, Professor Ryals said: “I’m delighted to be involved in this important and innovative infrastructure project which will bring sustainable transport to residents and businesses, underpinning growth in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. I look forward to working as part of the EWR Co. team and further developing our region’s mix of highly-planned transport infrastructure and new technology initiatives which has already become a model for smart living and an example for planners to follow internationally.”
Rob Brighouse, Interim Chair of the East West Railway Company, said: “East West Rail will help to create an unrivalled knowledge arc, using new infrastructure and innovative technology to link internationally renowned science parks and world-beating universities. Lynette and Joanna both bring with them the kind of passion and experience which will help to guide EWR Co as we look to deliver an exciting new rail link. I am sincerely looking forward to welcoming them both into the NED team.”
Notes for editors
About the East West Rail project
East West Rail will create a new direct connection between Oxford and Cambridge. Serving communities across the area, it will bring faster journey times and lower transport costs as well as easing pressure on local roads.
Network Rail was responsible for developing the first stage in this project, connecting Oxford with Bicester, and is a partner in a construction alliance to develop the second stage of the route, where East West Railway Company (EWR Co) is acting as the Department for Transport’s sponsor.
EWR Co is now developing the route to enable services to run to Cambridge via Bedford and will be seeking statutory powers under the Planning Act 2008, following a period of extensive consultation.
About Cranfield University
Cranfield University is a specialist postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management.
