Kate Jennings

Policy Director, Railway Industry Association

Kate has had an extensive career in the civil service, which began in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, including a posting to Beijing working on the handover of Hong Kong. She has subsequently worked in the Cabinet Office on the Better Regulation agenda, leading the secretariat for a PM-chaired committee which challenged Government to ensure regulation minimised costs on business.

Before joining RIA, Kate had been the DfT’s Head of Rail Strategy Projects Division from October 2016 to November 2019, supporting rail strategy development, including the Transport Secretary’s ‘Strategic Vision for Rail’, and the launch of the Williams Rail Review. Her responsibilities included rail policy, including devolution, investment, workforce, freight, and engagement with industry clients like Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group. From December 2019 to February 2020, Kate worked on the development of transport policy for EU exit.