The Climate Resilience Podcast
Aug 11, 2026 · 34 min · 9 segments
Transport networks are the backbone of modern life, yet they are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In this episode, host Phil Emonson is joined by two leading voices in rail…
I previously worked with the Highways Authority in Northern Ireland after graduating from university in the design section and highway structures, civil engineering assets across the whole of the province.
I joined the rail sector seven years ago with TransLink, and for those of you who don't know who TransLink are, we're an integrated public bus and rail provider for Northern Ireland.
I joined TransLink as a professional head and asset owner, so essentially wearing two hats in the railway infrastructure division, responsible for bridges, sea defences, earthworks, drainage, retaining walls, tunnels, viaducts, etc.
Wearing two hats in the day-to-day job, I'm responsible for safe management and maintenance of assets, and also for setting the policy and strategy to make sure that they're fit for purpose for tomorrow.
Another key aspect of my role is that I have taken the lead on the development of the first climate change adaptation strategy for the business, predominantly focused on railway infrastructure.
So hopefully today I can illustrate in fairly practical and simple terms from the perspective of an asset owner predominantly, what some of the challenges have been around our early adaptation journey, and we are at the start of that journey at present.
You and I have been talking about this podcast for about a year, so it's great to finally make it happen.
And Lisa as well, maybe you could introduce you and your background as well, please.
So we own and operate the railway infrastructure across England, Scotland and Wales and Great Britain.
I've been in this role for 10 years and I sit in a national function that provides overarching strategic guidance, the standards and control framework for managing risk and providing guidance and support to our regions and routes who are responsible for delivery of and operating the railway on the ground.
My overarching role is making sure that the railway keeps operating in the future as climate change makes operating and weather increasingly challenging.
I previously worked with the Highways Authority in Northern Ireland after graduating from university in the design section and highway structures, civil engineering assets across the whole of the province.
I joined the rail sector seven years ago with TransLink, and for those of you who don't know who TransLink are, we're an integrated public bus and rail provider for Northern Ireland.
I joined TransLink as a professional head and asset owner, so essentially wearing two hats in the railway infrastructure division, responsible for bridges, sea defences, earthworks, drainage, retaining walls, tunnels, viaducts, etc.
Wearing two hats in the day-to-day job, I'm responsible for safe management and maintenance of assets, and also for setting the policy and strategy to make sure that they're fit for purpose for tomorrow.
Another key aspect of my role is that I have taken the lead on the development of the first climate change adaptation strategy for the business, predominantly focused on railway infrastructure.
So hopefully today I can illustrate in fairly practical and simple terms from the perspective of an asset owner predominantly, what some of the challenges have been around our early adaptation journey, and we are at the start of that journey at present.
You and I have been talking about this podcast for about a year, so it's great to finally make it happen.
And Lisa as well, maybe you could introduce you and your background as well, please.
So we own and operate the railway infrastructure across England, Scotland and Wales and Great Britain.
I've been in this role for 10 years and I sit in a national function that provides overarching strategic guidance, the standards and control framework for managing risk and providing guidance and support to our regions and routes who are responsible for delivery of and operating the railway on the ground.
My overarching role is making sure that the railway keeps operating in the future as climate change makes operating and weather increasingly challenging.
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