John Schell

I help Network Rail join the dots between technology, strategy and service to lead change and make a real difference. I make sure that when we bring in new tech, it's not just fancy gadgets, but actually helps things run better for everyone. I do this by linking up what the business needs with what the tech can do, always keeping the users and customers in mind. I'm a firm believer in getting everyone on board and making sure that big ideas actually get done.

I started out in tech, getting things up and running, and learned that good project management is vital to getting stuff done well. But I soon realised that projects on their own weren't the whole story – you've got to think about the customer every step of the way.

A real turning point for me was when I helped develop Network Rail Telecom's Service Lifecycle Model. The idea was to get everyone thinking less about the tech itself and more about how it helps the customer. It brought together technology, customer service, and transformation, and really showed me how important it is to have clear information and good communication if you want to make big changes across the organisation.

These days, I'm helping to shape Network Rail's digital strategy, making sure that any tech decisions are smart, customer-focused, and really change things for the better. Whether I'm working on the overall tech plan, developing new services, or leading change, I always come back to the same thing: technology should work for people, not the other way around.