• Swindon & Wiltshire News
• Thursday July 17 2014

First female rail industry boss to talk at railway museum

Jackie Chappell, the first female CEO in the UK’s rail industry, has been confirmed as keynote speaker at The South West Expo at STEAM this autumn.

Jackie started her 25-year career in the rail industry selling tickets, before rising through the ranks to become chief executive of the industry’s Training and Competence Company, making her the first ever woman CEO in the rail industry.

In 2004 she left to launch The Ironing Lady Ltd and The Cleaning Ladies Ltd, providing laundry, ironing and dry cleaning services to residential and commercial customers in the Reading area. She was named Sue Ryder Business Woman of the Year in 2013.

The theme of the Expo is Pink Power, and delegates will hear from a panel of Swindon’s top businesswomen who have smashed through the glass ceiling.

The Expo, which will be held on Thursday, September 18 and is free to attend, will also be addressed by Apprentice finalist Neil Clough, 4Networking founder Brad Burton, and James Phipps, CEO of Swindon-based Excalibur Communications.

Networking and free workshops are also a feature of the event. For more information log on to www.southwestexpo.co.uk