Key responsibilities: Leading Ofqual (the exams regulator) in the wake of the summer 2020 results crisis, pending recruitment to the permanent role.
Key achievements: Stabilising the organisation, retaining and motivating key staff, restoring good governance and critical external relationships, leading work on the shape and detail of summer 2021.
Providing advice to the Ministry of Justice on significant changes to probation delivery.
Key responsibilities: Providing challenge in a complex, large-scale change programme.
Key achievements: Expert advice on a range of issues. Providing assurance to ministers.
The Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation investigates and advises government on how we maximise the benefits of data-enabled technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Key responsibilities: The usual board member responsibilities.
Key achievements: Advice on governance. Leading a ground-breaking report on targeting.
The Authority is the oversight body for the ten health and social care professions’ regulators.
Key responsibilities: Leadership of the Authority and board. Key external relationships Figurehead. Support and constructive challenge to CEO and wider executive.
Key achievements: Uniting and galvanising the board. Initiating a strategic review of the organisation’s position in relation to health-related occupations (e.g. chiropractors).
HMI Probation is an independent inspectorate, reporting on standards and delivery.
Key responsibilities: Leadership, influence, advising government, strategy, stakeholder relationships, figurehead (public speaking and media work).
Key achievements: Implementing new inspection methodologies, quality standards and ratings. Developing power of voice. Maintaining influential relationships with ministers while producing incontrovertible evidence that the government’s model for probation was failing.
At the behest of government, conducting a review, reporting and making recommendations to transform the way farming in England is regulated. The report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/farm-inspection-and-regulation-review. It was well received by farmers and government alike. Government accepts the thrust of the report.
Ofqual is the independent regulator of qualifications and examinations.
Key responsibilities: Leadership, influence, advising government. Strategy, performance, key regulatory decisions, standard-setting, the reform of qualifications, figurehead.
Key achievements: Establishing and developing a new regulator. Establishing and maintaining examination and assessment standards. Leading effective tripartite relationships with government and industry to deliver qualifications reform at an unprecedented pace.
SfE regulated standards and ethics in local government.
Key responsibilities: Leadership, strategy, performance, managing closure.
Key achievements: Halving the time taken to complete complex misconduct investigations.
Animal Health (now APHA) implements and enforces legislation and regulations relating to animal health/welfare and public health and the control of animal diseases. In emergencies it implements control and eradication strategies on the ground.
Key responsibilities: Leadership, strategy, performance, contingency planning, national operational command in emergencies, stakeholder relationships.
Key achievements: Restoring pride in its people and trust in the organisation following the nadir of Foot and Mouth Disease 2001. Leading the effort to contain and eradicate ten outbreaks of exotic disease successfully. Maintaining the confidence of prime ministers.
Greater Manchester Magistrates’ Courts Committee delivered summary justice in ten courthouses across Greater Manchester, with some 800,000 cases annually.
Key responsibilities: Strategy, performance, delivery. Maintaining the quality of local justice. Managing and accounting for fines collection. Member of the Local Criminal Justice Board.
The Commission is responsible for the investigation of suspected miscarriages of justice.
Key responsibilities: Establishing a new organisation from scratch. Strategy, performance, ways of working, relationship management, influencing, and representing the organisation.
Area Manager, northern region, Legal Aid Board, March 1990 – December 1996
Senior Solicitor, Law Society/Legal Aid Board, July 1988 – February 1990
Solicitor, Law Society, June 1980 – June 1988
Articled Clerk/Solicitor, Snow & Bispham solicitors, February 1978–May 1980
2018: Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Assessment (with merit), University of Warwick
2000: MBA (The Open University)
1980: Admitted as a Solicitor
1978: Law Society Part II (two distinctions)
1977: BA (Hons) Law, University of Kent at Canterbury, 2.2
Published: 18 December 2020 Site information Accessibility statement