About Minerva Rail

Robert oversees business development and leadership functions for Minerva Rail. He has held senior commercial delivery, partnerships, programme management, corporate strategy, and general management roles since 2008. Rob is a chartered engineer and Director with more than 25 years of experience with qualifications in civil engineering, railway systems and corporate governance. He has strengths in strategy development, leadership, strategic planning, execution, and risk management. Robert has extensive business experience in Asia, Middle East, Australia, America, and the UK.

Alexander has 15 years of experience in the field of railway transport and public transport more broadly, working in a range of disciplines including strategy, marketing, innovation, communication, stakeholder engagement, government affairs, and public policy. Having worked in both the private sector for a global railway rolling stock and systems manufacturer, and for a global engineering consultancy) and in the public sector (for local government).  Alexander is currently leading a large team in Europe’s largest specialist railway research, education, and innovation centre at the University of Birmingham. Alexander is researching for his PhD in railway strategy and innovation.  He is a Fellow of both the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

Robert directs the Birmingham Rail Innovation Cluster (BRIC), a key component of Minerva.  He has over 15 years’ experience of managing a railway trade association and developing training and education packages to prepare new suppliers to become competitive in entering railway supply chains.  He manages the delivery of the BRIC ‘Get into Rail’ programme and its ‘Fast Track’ spinoffs as well as providing consultancy. A time-served apprentice fitter/turner and qualified teacher, Rob has held senior leadership roles since 2002 in both the military and within business.

Karminder oversees the marketing, communications, PR and events for Minerva Karminder has over 8 years’ experience in PR, Communications and Marketing across multiple Universities the breadth of her work has led and delivered campaigns for student recruitment, profiling research projects, engaging in business-to-business growth and raising the profile of railway research and the education offering at the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education, through industrial engagement activity, media relations, national and international representation and cross sector collaboration.  Karminder is current the communications lead for the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education.

Jenny has over 30 years’ experience in technology, strategy, marketing, and business development, gained from working in a range of industry sectors. She holds undergraduate and PhD degrees in Materials Technology, and professional qualifications in Marketing, Management and Leadership, and Engineering & Technology. She holds professional Membership of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (MIET) and brings a unique combination of technical and business knowledge and experience.

Jenny is currently Head of Business and Operations with the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Railway Research and Education where she leads research, education, and innovation development in one of Europe’s largest groups of its kind.

Narges looks after the industrial engagement activity both within the UK and Europe, along with Minerva’s administrative projects and communications. She has established relationships across professional services, academia, and industry particularly with SMEs both within the rail sector and those that have diversified into rail. Narges has worked with businesses to establish their profile and offering. Narges holds a PhD in applied linguistics. Narges is currently the Industrial engagement project officer at the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education.

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