The RailStaff Awards 2024

Paul Hooper

Atkins, part of the SNC Lavalin Group

Previous Next Nominate

Nominations for Rail Engineer of the Year

Chris Hendy

Said the following about Paul Hooper:

“Paul Hooper, Technical Director, Atkins

Paul Hooper is well known as a railway electrification engineer, working for Atkins across all regions in rail. 2019 has been an exemplary year for Paul and his wider career is impressive. His energy and dedication to projects, colleagues and clients is unwavering. He’s an excellent candidate for this award.

Paul sits on several national industry committees including: UK Mirror Committee for ‘fixed installations – electrical supply and earthing systems for public transport equipment and ancillary apparatus,’ and the Future Electrification Group, Vehicle/Traction Energy Systems Interface Committee. In addition to this, Paul was formally the industry supplier representative on the RSSB Energy Standards Committee. In feedback following his promotion to Technical Director, Paul was noted as being able to lead the group away from challenging views to more pragmatic solutions, which mitigated risks without significant industry costs.

Paul has several prestigious industry strategic appointments including:

• Project Manager and Lead Engineer for the RSSB Study on further electrification of the UK railway network

• Technical Consultant for developing a blueprint for Network Rail for Electricity at Work Regulations

• Independent Review of Scottish electrification projects

• Technical Lead for rolling stock/infrastructure electrical incompatibility at HS1

As Atkins’ Professional Head of Discipline, Paul coordinates the technical approach of electrification, working closely with the relevant technical authorities as well as related professional heads of discipline. In a recent 360 survey, the following feedback was provided: ‘Paul is a genuine technical expert in his field and recognised both within and outside the organisation as being so. He is excellent at communicating technical issues to senior stakeholders in an easy to understand way. He continues to keep his technical knowledge current,’ and ‘he is particularly good at being a technical focus for his discipline showing a good knowledge of technical specifics and client intelligence and through his organisational ability sharing this with others and taking direct action where necessary.’

Paul is a trusted point of contact for all technical issues and provides technical leadership in bids and projects. He provides technical support across electrification projects and is project technical reviewer on a number of these too. A sample of projects include being on the project board for the Great Western Electrification Project and providing guidance for a highways project for the new A9 for Transport Scotland.

Paul remains at the forefront in the electrification discipline, being aware of all technical developments. He was a member of the Future Electrification Group (FEG) which considered application of new technology and is a member of the Vehicle/Train Energy system interface committee (which has now taken on the responsibilities of the FEG). Paul was a member of the Energy Standards Committee when a significant new standard was drafted and has been leading the introduction of the standard in UK rail. He has also worked closely with the development of new electrification systems for the UK having reviewed the suitability of both the overhead line and traction power supply systems for Great Western (for Network Rail) and influenced the development of Network Rail’s new ‘UK Master System’ for overhead line equipment.

From an internal perspective at Atkins, Paul is recognised via his subject-matter expert role within the SNC-Lavalin electrical knowledge network. Paul provides regular briefings to all electrification practitioners across the UK, GDC, Scandinavia and the USA to ensure best practice and standards updates are clearly communicated. He has prepared a list of standards relevant to the electrification discipline which he updates and circulates on a quarterly basis. He led a UK and Scandinavia integration webinar and presented on electrification. He is a member of the technical leadership group and prepares a monthly report to share assessment of technical and quality issues. He has also influenced the development of a competence management system and the development of a work delivery tool and the implementation of a checking report tool.

Amidst this technical expertise, Paul is personable, passionate and a guiding-hand to colleagues. Within the electrification business there are approximately 80 technical staff ranging from institution Fellows to apprentices, mostly with electrical or mechanical qualifications. Paul is active in supporting and providing formal and informal mentorship across the full range of grades. Paul has been a mentor to several graduates, providing guidance to engineers early on in their careers. Training elements are also present throughout technical briefings to all electrification staff. Feedback in the 360-survey stated: ‘Paul is also excellent at explaining complex design issues in laymen's terms to the non-electrification disciplines.’

Across several high-profile projects Paul has adopted and driven new standards, particularly in relation to electrical safety and clearances – developing a standard approach to provide technical leadership on electrification projects, supporting the project team in resolving technical difficulties and working in partnership with the client. Paul has also promoted innovation on projects, leading several RSSB research studies and being on the steering group for TADPOLE (an overhead line design tool) and Multi-train simulator software projects. He has also influenced the development of the overhead line technical specialist for award winning use of composites for the overhead line equipment development project (working with Atkins’ Aerospace team for Innovate UK funded research).

Paul has written many articles for technical journals, including for The Railway Engineer, and presented papers at conferences including the IMechE Delivering Rail Electrification and IET Railway Traction Systems (RTS) conferences. Awards include Modern Railways Innovation award in the environment category for the UK Tram Composite overhead line systems project. Paul is highly visible in the industry and his expertise in electrification makes him a trusted colleague and partner to clients. He is modest despite his impressive contribution to the rail industry. We’re delighted to recommend him for this RailStaff Award.“

Jagdeep Singh

Said the following about Paul Hooper:

“Paul is one of leading experts in the railway infrastructure industry; with wide range of experience. In simple words, Paul is living bible of OLE industry.“

Siva Murugesan

Said the following about Paul Hooper:

“He is the professional head of rail electrification division for Atkins, The reason for the nomination of Paul is that for his technical excellence in electrification and contribution to the company and the industry making a policy and providing a technical inputs to the Network Rail/British and European standards committee.“