Five south London TFL staff recognised in King’s Birthday Honours list

A total of six Transport for London workers received recognition for the contributions they have made to the transport network on this year’s list, which also marks the first King’s Honours List since HM King Charles III was coronated earlier this year.

We’ve rounded up the five TFL staff from south London who received recognition and what they did to receive it:

Lewisham-based Senior Business Strategy Manager at TFL, Winsome Hull, was recognised with a BEM for her services to diversity and inclusion.

Starting her career at TFL 15 years ago, Winsome has worked to make TFL a more inclusive place to work in.

She received recognition for her courage and determination in sharing her experiences to enable others to share their own, to facilitate greater cultural and racial understanding and empathy as part of her work on the “Inspire a Fairer Future Programme.”

Her recognition also acknowledged her contributions with TFL’s Anti-Racism Leadership Charter, and her work as a London Transport Museum trustee in shaping the museum’s Legacies exhibition, which shares the stories of Caribbean people who have played a role in London’s transport history.

Winsome Hull, Senior Business Strategy Manager at TfL, said: “I am delighted to be part of the Birthday Honours list this year.

“Now more than ever, it is important that we continue to focus on making our organisation, London and society as a whole a more inclusive and kind place for everybody.

“We need to recognise the brilliant variety of contributions that we can all make to improve London so that it’s a better place to live, work and travel in.”

Bexley-based Sharon Young has worked for TFL for 20 years and was formerly a Principal Project Engineer at TFL.

Sharon received an MBE in recognition of her services to the Elizabeth line, as one of the most “widely respected women” in the UK’s transport engineering history.

Sharon had a role in ensuring the successful completion of the Bond Street station on the Elizabeth line, which was a complex engineering challenge for the company.

Richmond-based Director of the Elizabeth line, Howard Smith, received an OBE for his services to the Elizabeth line and transport in London.

Howard has had a long career with TFL for 25 years, working on the DLR, the London Overground and during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Elizabeth line opened to customers on May 24, 2022 and has since served over 155 million customers travelling in and out of central London, with more than 600,000 journeys made each weekday.

Howard Smith, Director of the Elizabeth line, said: “I am thrilled to be receiving this honour and it has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work on and open the Elizabeth line, which has transformed the capital.

“The opening and now everyday operation of the Elizabeth line is a testament to all of the different people who worked and pulled together to make it possible – a true team effort.

“More than 155 million journeys have already taken place on the line and we look forward to even more people getting on board, as they make their way across the capital.”

Surrey-based Christian Van Der Nest, TfL’s Resilience and Partnership Lead, received an OBE for his services to the State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II and transport in London.

Christian began working for TFL 17 years ago, and last year Christian’s experience and skills were used to oversee transport during the funeral of the late Queen.

Christian worked collaboratively to build relationships internally and externally, to ensure that TFL’s transport network during the funeral was able to run smoothly.

Christian Van Der Nest, Resilience and Partnership Lead at TfL, said: “It is an honour to be recognised as part of this list and to have also been part of the team that successfully enabled the smooth-running of such a momentous and poignant event.

“While the world had its eyes on London, through collaboration and careful planning, we were able to make sure that everybody could focus on the occasion itself.”

Also from Surrey to receive recognition for her work was Monica Cooney, Head of Control Centre Operations at TFL.

Monica received an MBE for her services during the State Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II and for her contributions to transport in London.

Monica has worked for TfL for 17 years, and during the state funeral Monica oversaw TFL’s Network Management Control Centre, which was established as a core part of the London operation for the event.

She received an OBE for her leadership and efficiency, working with multiple agencies, departments, emergency services and London boroughs.

She also received recognition for her ability to maintain focus on morale and wellbeing during the challenges that came with orchestrating such a large and complex event.

Monica Cooney, Head of Control Centre Operations at TfL, said: “It is hugely touching to have received this recognition for the work undertaken to ensure that the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was able to take place successfully.

“I am incredibly proud of the team that I worked with as part of this and that together we were able to keep morale strong while dealing with an incredibly complex challenge.”

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, commended the contributions of the six TFL workers for their efforts and commitment to London’s transport network.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s transport workers have given so much to our great city so I am delighted that Howard, Sharon, Christian, Monica, Winsome and Gareth’s enormous contributions have been recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.

“In a year where the eyes of the world have once more been on London, their expertise and hard work have helped ensure the smooth running of the capital for Londoners and visitors to our city.”

Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, congratulated the newly recognised transport workers and added that their efforts come after London faced some of its largest challenges in recent years.

Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “My congratulations go to Howard, Christian, Monica, Winsome, Sharon and Gareth, who are having their hard work and dedication recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.

“Our capital has faced some of its biggest challenges and opportunities over the past few years and it is because of the efforts of colleagues such as those being recognised that we are able to make a difference to those living, working and travelling in London.”