Tom Smith

Biography

Previously a Non-Executive Director of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority(NDA), Tom held the position of Chair of NDA from March 2017 to September 2020.

Tom began his career in the Diplomatic Service, working in London, Hong Kong and Beijing between 1979 and 1990, when he was part of the team that negotiated the 1984 treaty with China on Hong Kong.

In 1990 he joined Trafalgar House plc and held several senior positions before becoming Managing Director of Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL) in 1997, in which role he led the development and construction of the M6Toll, the UK’s first privately financed toll motorway. He subsequently joined the Go-Ahead Group plc as Managing Director Rail Development and over 10 years was instrumental in turning Go-Ahead into one of the country’s largest passenger rail operators.

He was Chairman of the Association of Train Operating Companies from 2009 to 2013. He was a non-executive director of Highways England from 2014 to 2016.

Previous roles in government

  • Chair
  • Non-executive director
  • Non-executive Director
  • Non-executive director