About me

I have worked at senior level in organisations across health, transport, local government and consultancy working with a wide variety of stakeholders including local councillors, senior managers, doctors and academics.

The key feature in these roles has been helping organisations to run themselves better by getting a deeper understanding of the issues, developing solutions and overseeing their implementation by putting them in clear concise writing.

I have worked with senior decision-makers in organisations - whether chief executives, non-executives or senior managers - and been trusted by them to deliver.

EXPERIENCE

Please read on for my corporate experience, or click to view and/or download my full CV.

2014 - 2022

VERITA CONSULTACY LTD

Working for a specialist management consultancy, Verita, I helped organisations to understand problems and implement solutions across the NHS, charities and business. I led a range of in-depth investigations - gathering evidence and writing reports. I led an investigation into governance issues at a Clinical Commissioning Group which led to a report which went all the way to the chief executive of the NHS. I led another investigation for Imperial College NHS Trust into the circumstances leading to the tragic death of one of their nurses.

My specialist areas included governance and employment issues. I also led Verita’s work on complaints management, including running training for complaints managers. Clients included NHS England, some of the country’s largest NHS trusts, charities, the British Council, Arts Council, Sport England and Heritage Lottery Fund.

2009 - 2014

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE

As a senior governance manager in the NHS, I worked across a number of complex organisations to bring stability in a time of change. My roles ranged from policy development, risk management and legal issues. My work demonstrates my ability to support complex organisations who are working in an uncertain environment. I oversaw the setting up of the governance structures for new commissioning organisations, developing their ability to make effective decisions, including running training sessions on decision-making for Board members. I drafted organisational policies on areas such as risk, governance and conflicts of interest. I oversaw the legal budget and the complaints response function.

2000 - 2009

TRANSPORT CONSULTANCY

At the UK’s leading independent transport consultancy, Steer, between 2000 and 2009. I was both a senior consultant (associate) and the Company Secretary. As the Company Secretary I lead on governance and risk working with the Chief Executive and providing training and guidance to staff on legal and contracting issues. I oversaw the share market of the company, which was employee owned. I made a major contribution to the development of policy for the Employee Ownership Association as a member of the Board and working groups. As a consultant I managed projects with public and private sector clients including GlaxoSmithKline and Sky, numerous local authorities and governmental bodies.

1996 - 2000

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

I was a local government officer in two London Boroughs, Hounslow and Wandsworth. At Hounslow I was the Public Transport Officer and developed transport policies and strategies. I worked with Councillors and senior officers to implement schemes to improve transport for local residents. I was the Client Manager for the £5m Feltham Gateway Interchange project, the construction of a new station in partnership with train operators and London Transport. I negotiated with developers to secure hundreds of thousands of pounds of funding for public transport schemes to improve services for residents.

1989 - 1996

LONDON TRANSPORT

In my seven years as a Corporate Planning and /Policy Analyst for London Transport (now Transport for London) I carried out strategic business planning to ensure the commitment of funding organisations and stakeholders to the organisation’s plans. I was the client manager of capital projects, including developing the business case for the implementation of the £30m ‘Countdown’ passenger information system. I led work on congestion charging and acted as Secretary to Chartered Institute of Transport Working Party on Road Pricing working with many of the UK’s leading transport academics to produce a landmark report.

1986 - 1989

HOUSE OF COMMONS

As a researcher in the Liberal Democrats Whips Office, I drafted and tabled Parliamentary Questions, carried out research and wrote speeches. I worked on legislation including drafting of amendments, briefing notes and speeches, notably on the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

QUALIFICATIONS

Called to the Bar in 2003, Lincoln’s Inn (I do not practice law)
Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law, London, Very Competent, 2003
Diploma in Laws, University of Wolverhampton, Pass with Commendation, 2000
MSc Transport Planning & Management, University of Westminster, Pass with Distinction, 1992
BSc (Hons) Economics, The City University, London, Class: 2:1, 1986