Fiona Malcolm was announced as the ‘Young Rail Professional of the Year 2016’ at the YRP Dinner on Friday 8th April 2016.

Fiona joined Porterbrook in September 2012 with a MEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering and has since followed Porterbrook’s IMechE accredited Monitored Professional Development Scheme. On completion of her initial training, Fiona was appointed as Fleet Engineer with responsibility for Porterbrook’s fleets on lease to Northern Rail.

The award was given in front of over 300 rail professionals at this year’s spectacular event at the National Railway Museum in York.

Fiona was praised for going above and beyond what is expected of someone at an early stage in her career, in particular with regards to inspiring and supporting other young people to develop themselves. This is demonstrated by her work in organising the IMechE Railway Division Developing Engineers seminar and promoting Porterbrook at iRail and Big Bang fairs. The judging panel, consisting of rail industry representatives from the YRP committee, CPC Project Services, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff and Arriva, were impressed by the range of nominees and their ambition and enthusiasm for their careers.

Notes to Editors: Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited ("Porterbrook") is a leading player in the rail leasing market and has a rolling stock fleet of over 6,000 vehicles on lease or on order, which includes over 4,000 passenger vehicles. Porterbrook has been highly successful in winning new train orders since privatisation, investing in over 2,000 new passenger vehicles and more than 2,000 freight locomotives and wagons, and in the refurbishment of much of its in-fleet equipment. The company also provides ongoing train maintenance services. In October 2014 the Porterbrook Group of companies was acquired by a consortium of investors including Alberta Investment Management Corporation (“AIMCo”), Allianz Capital Partners (“ACP”) on behalf of certain insurance companies of the Allianz Group, EDF Invest and Hastings Funds Management.