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“Chris has been an inspiration in the company and profession for many years. From Senior Science and Technical roles in the late 70/80's to Environment Manager at present, Chris developed, informed and built much of the platform that we professionals have climbed onboard (railway pun, sorry) and used since.
Here, I will attempt to compress both the history and legacy of the time Chris has spent in the rail industry, along with some details on the reason for the nomination and inspiration that this individual has imprinted into the psyche of his colleagues.
The history;
Chris industry experience commenced as an 18 year old signalman which he continued while studying as College and then University. I'm certain Chris won't mind when I don't retain my focus on those earliest of years and instead look at the areas he grew into as his skills developed.
Chris is a true scientist, building on from his grades in School and FE in biology and chemistry and majoring in Ecology at Lancaster University. He used this technical knowledge in the former British Rail Research Establishment as a Senior Technical Officer and later, Senior Scientific Officer where he led and managed a team performing critical oil analyses, saving the taxpayer £5m P.A. He then mentored his team through a difficult process when the laboratories were closed down, without disruption to client services.
During the 90's when working in a number of Environmental Management and Strategy roles and spells with the British Railways Board HQ, Chris developed the Regional Railways Environmental Policies. One example was the CFC (Chlorofluorocarbons) policy, which was approved by the then Rail Regulator. Those CFC emissions were successfully reduced by a third once the policy had been implemented.
During this period, Chris was the editor and publisher of not just local award winning newsletters (1993, British Association of Industrial Editors), but was also editor of "Railway Environment Matters", which was circulated to Railtrack staff and over 50 British Rail Industry Companies. The quality of this effort was recognised by being included in the 1995 British Rail Annual Report.
Chris successfully led a series of workshops to assist 29 companies attain environmental licence conditions in preparation for privatisation.
During the first decade of this millennia, Chris really began to lay the foundations for the company journey towards improving and raising awareness of the importance of the environment within the organisation and industry, in addition to his day job. One example of this included the production of interactive maps of designated sites, such as (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) SSSI on or adjacent to the railway estate. Users could access the maps which linked to detailed information for these sites, such as the designation, contaminated land, etc. This tool was very useful to new starts in the company, and very user-friendly, which allowed further in-depth assessment and mitigation to be identified. A handy user manual was produced in conjunction with the mapping team for easy reference.
Throughout this time, Chris worked collaboratively with many stakeholders including voluntary NGO's, internal professions and the regulators, to identify the sites which needed to be improved or protected by producing business cases for these works and demarcation of site boundaries. That work really helped to inform front line staff, to prevent accidental incursion or harm to those locations. Extracurricular activities included volunteering with ecology bodies and charities. A few of these included, the forestry commission, Natural England and the BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) that resulted in creation of habitat for rare butterflies within Shirebrooke sidings, improved habitat adjacent to worksites, and improvements to other SSSI at Great Stukeley.
Chris also brought his influence and expertise to the fore in major planned projects. A couple of examples included;
The advice provided to the company when designing Whitemoor LDC (Local Distribution Centre), which treats and recycles the majority of redundant assets generated through business activities, helping with planning conditions compliance for this major recycling facility.
Another was bringing internal expertise to influence the halting of a planned facility due to the close proximity of European Protected Species. Expected discharge from the site could have harmed the habitat and EPS and the costs to implement the additional treatment facilities would have proven excessive and not provided value for funding or the public purse.
All of the above had resulted in recognition for the effort that Chris had put in, with awards from internal company You Make the Difference schemes and Network Rail Environment Awards for Partnerships.
Now onto the current decade to include more contemporary background. Chris had canvassed to have an internal Ecologists resource to help deliver our natural capital management in a more consistent, high quality manner, which is the most cost effective approach for the taxpayer and the organisation. His business unit (BU) led the way and recruited ecologists in the North and South of the UK. This increased efficiencies significantly in terms of turnaround and reliability. My own and other internal BU's were able to utilise these scarce resources with real and significant benefits. Not just fiscal, but in terms of programme acceleration as well. In a heavily regulated industry, the Ecologists were able to agree a novel approach with the Natural England and the works were brought forward several months in a manner that protected a European Designated Species and achieve an ORR milestone.
Other BU's and Regions have now grasped the importance of this approach and are now recruiting their own ecology resources across the UK. Chris continues to arrange many volunteering opportunities and one such effort was recognised when the construction of a Sandmartin nesting site was received a national award.
The Person;
Much of the aforementioned has been about the work and achievements and not about the individual. I've been moved to nominate Chris also because of his giving and open nature. He is always first to share best practice and all of his work to the benefit of others development and learning. He is a first class mentor with a real in depth knowledge of his profession across the many many aspects of environmental and sustainability topics. He's earned unswerving trust and whenever the need to challenge the norm is required, Chris delivers this in a respectful and learned way.
He cascades his expertise across the profession not least by extracurricular involvement with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assurance where Chris has represented the North East Branch as, past Branch Chairperson, Vice Chair and Steering Group member for many years, organising and delivering CPD opportunities for all, including of course external colleagues.
He does so with modesty only allowing himself on the very rare occasion by stating 'Not bad for an old signaller'.
And I for one cannot but help agreeing with those sentiments. I've some gold dust photographs showing Chris in his glory as an 18 year old. in his box operating the levers, to new-fangled ergonomic panels which I've enclosed for posterity.
I'd like to sum up by saying that it's been a real pleasure to work alongside this individual and have been a small part of that journey. I have no hesitation in commending Chris Davis and to recognise the fantastic contribution that he has given to the railway in more four decades of service to the industry. Thank you.“
““I have known Chris and worked with him for the last 18 years. He introduced and influenced me into considering the Environment in everything I and my colleagues do.
The words Chris first said to me I still remember to this day.
‘We only custodians of the Environment for our children’, inspirational and it’s what lead me to doing an AIEMA as well as becoming a member of the WLT and Woodland trust.““
“Assets. Its word used daily in the rail industry. It can refer to any number of items that are absolutely integral in the running of the railway. But Network Rail's most important asset isn't the signal heads or loc suites, lengths of running rail or sleepers, its greatest asset is its people. Chris Davis is one of Network Rail's greatest assets. He is a passionate environmentalist, a mentor and a friend.
There are some people in your career that leave a mark, ones that spurs you on and lift you up when you feel like giving up. Chris’s strength isn’t merely what he has contributed to the railway over the years, or to sustainability (even though both contributions are enormous). It is what he has contributed to the railway’s most important assets. It’s what he has contributed to his colleagues, his friends. His care for people’s well-being is unparalleled.
He has provided a service that was never requested of him, that wasn't part of his job description. He has gone above and beyond in his commitment to the railway, the environment, and to people his entire career.
A true sustainability professional.“
“I attended the awards last weekend and very good they were too!”
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