Ingrid Norman

Being multi-cultural and actively promoting diversity in the workplace, I am an authentic leader who is known for my effective way of engaging with the supply chain and putting customers in the heart of everything I do.

I am the Head of Category Management of Eastern Region in Network Rail. My role is pivotal to lead the supply chain strategies and to connect people in our businesses to make Network Rail easier to do business with.

I have also been appointed as the Regional SME lead (small and medium enterprises) for Eastern region. I’m passionate about this responsibility as I have the firm belief that through listening to the external parties, we will gradually make a difference to the railway supply chain.

My core value is being fair, credible and doing the right thing, which has been rooted in my career in the last 16 years. My first procurement role was at Nissan Europe and from very early on, I was determined to grow my career in procurement and commercial. I have gained broad industry experiences at McLaren Automotive, Nissan, Safran, Coventry Building Society, Sainsbury’s Argos and Network Rail; these experiences allow me to apply best practices of stakeholder engagement from the private sector to Network Rail, where public procurement regulations must be followed.

Having studied for a Master’s Degree in France and now living in the UK, I speak fluent French, English and Chinese, with a notion to German and Spanish. I’ve been growing leadership skills by working together with a multitude of different people, coaching team members and always having a positive attitude while leading people through uncertain situations. I have recently completed the Rail Industry Leaders programme.

Thanks to my multi-cultural and multi-national background, I have been promoting diversity across Network Rail and championing gender equality. In my previous leadership role as Contracts & Procurement Manager at Network Rail Anglia route, I led a team of 25 people and recruited talent with diversified cultures and ethnic backgrounds. I am incredibly proud of the fact that there were 23 different languages spoken in the team.