Office of the Rail Regulator

Rail Regulator appoints new 'non-executive' director
_______________________________________________________________

date 21 January 1997
source Office of the Rail Regulator
type Press release

note ORR/97/03

Mr John Swift QC, the Rail Regulator, today announced the appointment of Mrs Ann Foster, Director of the Scottish Consumer Council, as a non-executive director .

Mrs Foster takes up her three-year consultancy post on February 1 and joins Sir Wilfrid Newton CBE and Dr Stephen Glaister as the third 'non-executive' director of the Rail Regulator's Council, its principal advisory body.

Mr Swift said : "I am delighted that Ann Foster has accepted my offer to join the top team at the Rail Regulator's Office. She has demonstrated great skills and commitment in the advancement of the interests of consumers, not least in the interests of disabled persons.

"I believe Mrs Foster will bring that experience and judgement to the promotion of the Great Britain railway network and especially to the promotion of passenger benefits.

"I have already the benefit of advice from Sir Wilfrid Newton, former chairman of London Transport and Dr Stephen Glaister, Reader in Economics at the London School of Economics. Each of them has contributed a great deal to the work of this Office. I know Ann Foster will make an equally important contribution.

Mrs Foster said :"With my background in consumer affairs, I have developed an expertise in promoting the interests of consumers. I am looking forward to this new challenge particularly in ensuring that the rail service meets the needs of its users. I am especially concerned that disabled passengers have equal access to the rail network."



Further Biographical Details

1. Mrs Foster, 47, graduated with an MA from University of St Andrews, took a Diploma in Management Studies (City of London Polytechnic) and an MA(Educ) at the University of Reading.

2. Her first job was as a graduate trainee at Harrods. She then became a senior lecturer at the ILEA College for the Distributive Trades. In 1978 she joined the National Consumer Council latterly becoming its Food Policy Advisor.

3. In 1991 she was appointed to the post of Director of the Scottish Consumer Council. Among her key achievements :

successfully lobbying to gain acceptance of Council's amendments to Government Bills;
raising the Council profile among high profile contacts so it is regularly consulted;
convincing service providers of the positive contribution that effective complaints procedures can have in raising standards; and
chairing the Scottish Office Working Group on Information Services for People with Disabilities.

4. Mrs Foster is also a non-executive director of the Scottish Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

5. Mrs Foster speaks French, German and Spanish and enjoys opera, theatre, music, skiing, travel, golf and gardening.

Railhub Archive ::: 1997-01-21 ORR-001