MPs have said that Anna Walker’s lack of experience in the industry could prove a strength in her proposed role chairing the Office of Rail Regulation.
 
The Commons Transport Select Committee questioned Mrs Walker in a pre-appointment hearing, after she was chosen to succeed Chris Bolt on July 5.
 
It has now said: “Following the hearing, the Committee is satisfied that Mrs Walker has the professional competence and personal independence required for the post.
 
“The Committee encourages the Secretary of State for Transport to make the appointment.”
 
Mrs Walker was previously chief executive of the Healthcare Commission, and she acknowledged her lack of experience in transport during the hearing, and noted the importance of having other Board members with rail expertise.
 
The Committee concludes: “Provided the Board as a whole has such experience, the Committee has concluded it could be a strength that Mrs Walker is not an industry insider.
 
“The Committee was persuaded that Mrs Walker’s wide-ranging experience of regulation across other industries could bring significant added value and a fresh perspective to the rail sector.
 
“The Committee wishes Mrs Walker every success in her new post.”
 
Mrs Walker told the Committee during the hearing that she had initially thought her lack of experience in the sector would rule her out.
 
She revealed headhunters had approached her over the ORR job: “I had seen the advertisement and thought because I did not have specific rail or transport experience that wouldn’t be a relevant job for me.
 
“But they said they believed that what the Department for Transport was looking for was someone primarily with regulatory experience and I have a great deal of that.”
 
Asked if she felt it was a weakness, she replied: “If I was to do the job there would definitely be a learning curve to go up in relation to the rail industry, but I wouldn’t be sitting here if I thought it was a weakness.”
 
She said she had extensive experience of regulation in sectors which she came to cold: “This job is about chairing the ORR, and some of the wider regulatory experience I have would be a positive help in doing that job.”