The following DRES Committee Members were elected at the October 2025 AGM…
Our current President is Ray Pettit, please see below…
Ray Pettit
President
Ray Pettit was elected President of the Society in October 2025.
Ray began his professional journey after earning a Mechanical Engineering degree in Manchester, completing a Graduate Apprenticeship at Brush Traction in the early 1960s before becoming a Design Engineer. He transitioned into computing while still at Brush, recognizing greater opportunities in this emerging field compared to the railway industry. His early computing roles included positions with Hawker Siddeley Group Management Services and PERA at Melton Mowbray. As his career progressed, Ray worked as a programmer, systems analyst, technical support manager, software house partner, and eventually project manager, adapting to industry shifts and his own evolving interests.
Ray considers his tenure as Technical Support Manager at Burroughs Computers particularly formative, citing the company’s dynamic culture and efficient management structure as key influences. With a family background in small business, Ray was inspired to become an independent software supplier. In 1977, he co-purchased a software firm in Halifax, later named QRH Software, where he directed custom system implementations for a diverse client base. Notable projects included computerizing an Anglican Diocese, developing order processing for Mabey Bridge, and providing stock management systems for the National Freight Corporation’s cold stores.
In 2000, Ray shifted careers, joining Willis Limited as a Risk Manager, where his railway expertise supported insurance placements for global railway operators, including HS1. He retired in 2018 after a management restructure. A Chartered Engineer and lifelong railway enthusiast, Ray actively volunteers with heritage railway organizations and enjoys model locomotive construction, supporting several key railway preservation projects.
Photograph by Phoebe Start
Neil Andrew
Immediate Past President
Neil joined British Rail in 1992 after his early career GEC Turbine Generators as a project engineer responsible for final assembly and test of large electrical machines up to 1000MW. Working at the Railway Technical Centre in Derby, Neil became Operations Director for Railtest (later Serco Railtest) managing the ongoing testing of railway infrastructure in the validation and testing of rail vehicles as part of the acceptance process.
In 1999, Neil became the Technical Director of Balfour Beatty Rail with specific responsibility for innovation in track inspection and maintenance techniques. Six years later Neil established Balfour Beatty Rail Technologies Ltd this resulted in a range of innovations that have been adopted in the UK and overseas including video inspection of track, switch monitoring, PU injected track and resulting in new products.
From 2014, as General Manager of Balfour Beatty Rail Engineering and Technology Solutions, Neil became responsible for all the engineering teams in Balfour Beatty Rail in the UK and overseas, including 300 staff of all disciplines.
In 2019, Neil became an independent consultant and works with the University of Leeds Institute of High Speed Rail and Systems Integration to develop ‘state of the art’ rail infrastructure and vehicle testing facilities.
Richard Tapping
Treasurer
Richard is a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA).
He joined British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) as a clerical officer in 1981 and had various roles within BREL and the BR Mechanical and Electrical Engineers (M&EE) until 1991 when he joined InterCity Fleet Engineering HQ as a senior accountant.
Richard was a key player in the management buyout of Interfleet Technology from British Rail in 1996 and in the role of Financial Director worked with the Leadership team in growing the company from a £5M turnover UK centric business to a turnover of over £100M on 4 continents. He had a key role in the acquisition of businesses in Sweden, Germany and Canada and the successful integration of those businesses into the Interfleet group of companies.
Following on from the acquisition of Interfleet by SNC-Lavalin in 2011 he continued to work in a senior finance role for that business until his retirement in 2018.
Mark Zawisza
Multi Media Secretary & General Secretary (Interim)
Mark is Multi Media Secretary of the Society and is also interim General Secretary. He is responsible for managing all social media and communications from the Society.
Having joined British Rail in 1991, he spent nearly 30 years working for railway associated consultancies such as Interfleet Technology and SNC-Lavalin.
Mark comes from an engineering and project management background but spent the latter part of his career, before retirement, in software development and strategic IT management.
He is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer, a European Engineer and has a Honours Degree in Mechanical and Production Engineering.
Jonathan Wragg
Corporate Liaison Officer
Jonathan is currently our Corporate Liaison Officer supporting the Society by reaching out to many corporate contacts in the industry for support and resources. Jonathan also gives guidance to the younger members of our Society. He is a former DRES President.
Jonathan is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and has an MBA from Loughborough University Business School. He was a key player in the management buyout of Interfleet Technology from British Rail in 1996 then oversaw growth in their Rail Engineering portfolio to over £100M on 4 continents. He led the expansion of the Rail & Transit portfolio, originally under the Interfleet brand and later under SNC-Lavalin. This included expansion into all types of rail systems including Light Rail and APM as well as developing Strategic Advisory services. He is an experienced programme director and has played key roles in several train procurement projects including Heathrow Express for BAA. Jonathan also supported the franchise bidding process for several mainline rail franchises.
Jonathan set up Vine Rail Solutions in 2018.
Dave Saunders
Membership Secretary
Dave has been the Society’s Membership Secretary for a number of years and is responsible for ensuring all membership details are kept up to date and for regular contact with our Members.
He spent his career in the Railway Industry, initially with Brush Traction then with British Rail HQ. Amongst his roles was that of Project Engineer responsible for the introduction of three phase ac traction to BR and as a lead UK engineer on the approval team for the Eurostar project. He represented BR and the UK on a number of European and ORE committees. He was founding Chairman of the Railway Industry Group within the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Following privatisation, Dave held senior positions within the railway business of WS Atkins including responsibility for developing their overseas rail business and as Director of Atkins’ Rolling Stock and Electrification Design Consultancies.
Although working throughout in engineering roles, Dave has always been interested in the railways from a systemwide and operational perspective.
Dave has a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and is a former President of DRES.
Richard Hobson
Visits Secretary
Richard is responsible for organising a variety of visits for our Members to different organisations in and around Derby.
Richard Hobson worked in the rail industry for 41 years, having commenced employment with British Rail as a Technician Engineering Trainee in 1979. He worked in various engineering roles in British Rail, from Senior Technical Officer through to Principal Engineer. He then transferred to Serco in 1997 following the sale of British Rail’s Railtest business and has held various technical and managerial roles including General Manager (Testing Services), Manager Major Projects and latterly Director, Rail Technical Services. Richard is a Graduate of Nottingham and Sheffield Universities, with an Honours Degree in Electronic Engineering and a Masters Degree in Railway System Engineering, he is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Martin Giles
Annual Dinner Secretary
Martin is responsible for organising the Annual Dinner and chairs the Marketing Sub Committee. Martin is a Past President of the Society.
Martin is now retired but has worked in the rail industry for over 45 years – commencing employment as a British Rail Engineering Ltd trainee in 1975. He has worked in various engineering roles both in British Rail and in a number of companies post railway privatisation – prior to joining SNC-Lavalin, he was for over ten years the Managing Director of Lloyds Register Rail Limited (now Ricardo Rail).
Martin is a Graduate of Sheffield University and holds a MSc(Eng) Degree in Railway System Engineering. He is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and Member of the City and Guilds of London Institute.
Martin is also a long standing Board Member of the National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR) and currently Chairs its Finance, Audit and Remuneration Committee.
Jimmy Austin
Lectures Secretary
Jimmy has taken over as Lectures Secretary from Ray Pettit and is responsible for organising the lecture programme for each season.
Jimmy is a Graduate Mechanical Engineer at AtkinsRéalis having joined the business in early 2021. He has undertaken a number of rotations within different rolling stock focused departments and currently works as a Dynamics and Gauging engineer.
Prior to joining AtkinsRéalis Jimmy completed an integrated Masters in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leicester. He is a registered member of the IMechE and currently working on his Chartership application.
He became involved in DRES in Spring 2021, initially sitting on the young members sub-committee. In 2022 he presented and won the annual young member’s Peter Parkin Memorial Lecture with his presentation on Digital Automatic Coupling and its deployment in Europe. (Pictured on the left with Neil Foster)
Samuel Hurst
Young Members Representative
Sam Hurst is responsible for organising the annual Peter Parkin Memorial Lecture (PPML) as well as interacting with our Affiliate Members.
Sam has been a rail enthusiast for a long time, starting out as a volunteer at the Rudyard Lake Railway in 2018, becoming a committee member for Famous Trains Model Railway in 2024 and now the Young Members Representative for Derby Railway Engineering Society.
Sam is currently a student at the University of Derby doing Civil Engineering and is currently doing a placement year for Via East Midlands working for their Highways Improvement Team. Sam is hoping to become a Rail Engineer after graduating. Sam won the PPML in 2024 and was a contestant in 2025 so is familiar with the competition.