Lifetime Achievement Award for Transport for Wales Advisor

Transport News Wales , 5th March 2020

Chris Gibb, a Strategic Advisor for Transport for Wales, was presented with a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the Institution of Railway Operators, Golden Whistle Awards 2020.

The prestigious awards were held in January at the London Marriott Hotel are a celebration of the rail industry, recognising individual and team performances. They recognise those who have gone above and beyond expectations in order to deliver outstanding operational performance.

Chris, whose railway career spans over 38 years, was Managing Director at Wales and West Trains and Managing Director at Wales & Borders Trains up until 2003, when he then joined Virgin Trains and remained for over ten years, ending as Chief Operating Officer.

Since then, he has held Board level appointments including Chair of Southern Rail Network Performance Improvement Board and a Non-Executive Director role with Network Rail.

The presentation of the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ recognises his lifelong dedication to the industry and acknowledges his wealth of knowledge and experience.

Scott Waddington, Chair of Transport for Wales said:

“I’d like to congratulate Chris on winning the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the Golden Whistle Awards 2020. It’s a very prestigious award and demonstrates his commitment and dedication to the rail industry in a career of nearly forty years.

“At Transport for Wales we are on a journey to transform transport and the fact that we have Chris as a Strategic Advisor provides us with a great depth of industry knowledge and ensures that we are strategically aligned with the industry.”

Chris Gibb, Strategic Advisor for Transport for Wales added:

“It was an honour to receive this award and I’m extremely grateful for such recognition. The rail industry has provided me with a diverse and exciting career since joining BR as a junior clerk at the age of 17 and one in which I’ve had the opportunity to work in all parts of the U.K.

“I spent a considerable amount of time living and working in Wales in the first half of my career and it’s great to be back working part time as a Strategic Advisor with Transport for Wales and assisting them in achieving their ambitious plans.”

Cyflwynwyd ‘Gwobr Cyflawniad Oes’ i Chris Gibb, Cynghorydd Strategol gyda Trafnidiaeth Cymru, yng Ngwobrau Chwiban Aur 2020 Sefydliad y Gweithredwyr Rheilffyrdd.

Mae’r gwobrau mawreddog hyn, a gynhaliwyd ar 24 Ionawr 2020 yng Ngwesty Marriott Llundain, yn dathlu’r diwydiant rheilffyrdd, gan gydnabod perfformiad unigolion a thimau. Maen nhw’n cydnabod y rhai sydd wedi mynd y tu hwnt i’r hyn sy’n ddisgwyliedig er mwyn sicrhau perfformiad rhagorol.

Roedd Chris, sydd wedi gweithio ar y rheilffyrdd ers 38 o flynyddoedd, yn Rheolwr Gyfarwyddwr gyda Wales and West Trains ac yn Rheolwr Gyfarwyddwr gyda Wales & Borders Trains tan 2003. Wedyn, ymunodd â Threnau Virgin a bu yno am dros ddeng mlynedd, gan orffen fel y Prif Swyddog Gweithredol.

Ers hynny, mae wedi dal swyddi ar lefel Bwrdd, yn cynnwys swydd Cadeirydd Bwrdd Gwella Perfformiad Southern Rail Network a swydd Cyfarwyddwr Anweithredol gyda Network Rail.

Mae’r ‘Wobr Cyflawniad Oes’ a gyflwynwyd iddo yn cydnabod oes o ymroddiad i’r diwydiant a’i gyfoeth o wybodaeth a phrofiad.

Dywedodd Scott Waddington, Cadeirydd Trafnidiaeth Cymru:

“Hoffwn longyfarch Chris ar ennill y ‘Wobr Cyflawniad Oes’ yng Ngwobrau Chwiban Aur 2020. Mae hon yn wobr uchel iawn ei pharch ac yn dangos ei ymroddiad a’i ymrwymiad i’r diwydiant rheilffyrdd mewn gyrfa sy’n rhychwantu bron i ddeugain mlynedd.

“Yn Trafnidiaeth Cymru rydyn ni ar siwrnai i drawsnewid trafnidiaeth ac mae'r ffaith fod Chris efo ni fel Cynghorydd Strategol yn rhoi inni gyfoeth o wybodaeth am y diwydiant ac yn sicrhau ein bod yn gweithredu mewn modd sy’n gyson yn strategol â’r diwydiant.”

Ychwanegodd Chris Gibb, Cynghorydd Strategol Trafnidiaeth Cymru:

“Roedd yn anrhydedd derbyn y wobr hon ac rwy’n hynod ddiolchgar am gydnabyddiaeth o’r fath. Mae’r diwydiant rheilffyrdd wedi rhoi gyrfa amrywiol a chyffrous i mi ers imi ymuno â British Rail fel clerc iau yn 17 oed, ac mae wedi roi’r cyfle i mi i weithio ym mhob rhan o’r DU.

“Treuliais gryn lawer o amser yn byw a gweithio yng Nghymru dros hanner gyntaf fy ngyrfa ac mae’n wych bod yn ôl yn gweithio’n rhan-amser fel Cynghorydd Strategol i Trafnidiaeth Cymru ac yn eu helpu i wireddu’u cynlluniau uchelgeisiol.”