Speaker profile: Ian Stevens

Ian has worked in the rail industry since leaving university in 1986 with a BA Hons degree in geography and Masters degree in computer programming. He is a seasoned frontline operator with experience in station and train crew management, health and safety and construction management. In September 2012 he became the lead for the rail industry’s suicide prevention programme. At a strategic level he is responsible for managing the industry’s award winning partnership with Samaritans, its relationship with the British Transport Police’s specialist Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Unit and its interaction with government and local authorities. On a day to day basis he brings stakeholders together to address the challenges that suicide present to the railway and the communities it is part of. Through his innovation and leadership railway administrations around the world now hold up the GB rail industry’s suicide prevention programme as an international benchmark. Ian has lectured extensively abroad promoting the work he leads and supporting others in its application, contributed to and co-authored publications and provided evidence to Government Select Committees on suicide prevention and post event support.