Experience

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  The National Archives, UK

  • Kew, Surrey

  • Chief Executive Officer and Keeper

    • Jul 2014 - Present
    • Kew, Surrey

    Responsible for providing visible and inspirational strategic leadership to circa 500 staffSuccessfully led the strategic development and operational delivery of a prestigious national organisation with an international reputation for excellence culminating in a new 4-year strategy Driving forward the delivery of high quality innovative public services to 100,000 onsite visitors and 20 million online visitorsAs Accounting Officer responsible for the day-to-day running of a non ministerial government department with a budget of circa £50m, including £14m of earned incomeAs the Keeper of Public Records, responsible for overseeing the integrity of the public records system of the United Kingdom and for England and Wales, including public records held locally in circa 200 'Places of Deposit', in accordance with primary legislationAs Historical Manuscripts Commissioner provide leadership, expert advice and oversight of circa 2,000 archives across the countryAs the Archive Sector Leadership organisation provide inspiration, advocacy and support for all archive services in England. Oversaw the development and co-creation of an ambitious vision for the archive sector 'Archives Unlocked'Responsible for the publication of all UK legislation, via legislation.gov.ukKing’s Printer of Acts of Parliament, King’s Printer for Scotland and Controller of His Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO), Government Printer for Northern IrelandPresident of the ICA Forum of National Archivists (2017-2023)

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  Chartered Institute of Housing

  • Coventry, United Kingdom

  • Deputy CEO

    • Jun 2013 - Jul 2014
    • Coventry, United Kingdom

    Leadership and development of the CIH’s key central functions; including Finance, HR, IT and GovernanceLeading the development and implementation of CIH’s strategic corporate plan and associated operational plansResponsible for establishing the long term financial strategy for both the Charity and wider GroupResponsible for developing and improving an organisation that is effective, efficient and cost-consciousStriving for operational excellence; ensuring that CIH’s operational platforms are appropriate for the challenges facing a UK wide organisation with over 150 staff working across offices in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, with an annual turnover of around £12mLeading the development and delivery of an effective approach to quality assuranceOverseeing all change programmes to ensure they are optimally designed and that business benefits are realisedAttracting, retaining and developing talent in the organisation

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  The National Archives, UK

  • Kew, Surrey

  • Director of Operations and Services

    • Jul 2007 - Jun 2013
    • Kew, Surrey

    Originally appointed as Head of Advice and Records Knowledge before being promoted to Director of Public Services and subsequently Director of Operations and ServicesLeadership, strategic development and operational delivery of high quality innovative public services to 100,000 onsite visitors and 20million online visitorsProviding visible leadership, advice, support and guidance to half of The National Archives’ staff (approx 255 FTE) and over half the budget (circa £20m)A very broad portfolio of responsibilities, including onsite, online and remote Public Services; Estates (including FM, Catering & Cleaning); Security; Business Continuity; Health & Safety; Complaints, Surveying & User Engagement; Sustainability; Collection Care and EducationLead Director for devising and implementing organisational wide change including delivering, on schedule and under budget, a corporate change programme that reduced operating costs by 10% (£4.2m) successfully positioning the organisation strategically, culturally and financially for the next 4-year spending periodEnsuring service excellence (94% customer satisfaction) and staff engagement (Civil Service high performing organisation - 8th out of 97), whilst reducing costs during a period of significant changeSince 2009/10 overseen the successful delivery of a £16m capital Estates programme, focussing on significantly reducing carbon emissions and associated costs and resulting in TNA being one of the first public sector organisations to be accredited by the Carbon TrustRelocated a business unit from central London and successfully integrated it with existing services at Kew, saving £1m p.a.

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  The British Library

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Change Manager/Head of Remote Operations/Head of Operations (South)

    • Dec 2004 - Jul 2007
    • London, United Kingdom

    Originally appointed as Change Manager (Operations) leading the British Library's Document Supply service in Boston Spa eventually becoming Head of Remote Operations and subsequently Head of Operations (South).Led the vision, strategy, change management, service development and day-to-day management of over 500 frontline staff across 5 sites in Yorkshire & LondonEnsured the cost effectiveness and service excellence of several customer focussed commercial services generating income in excess of £17mDevised and successfully implemented a major operational business change programme, returning a loss making £15m commercial service back to cost recovery, by reviewing business processes, introducing new technology and re-organising teamsRestructured a £1m+ reprographic service, separating the public service arm from the commercial arm, enabling the former to focus on the end user experience and the latter to generate a profit for the first time. Introduced new technology and flexible ways of working, maximising operational efficiency and delivering simpler product offerings representing greater value to both the organisation and customersDelivered better and more cost effective services to the public by restructuring 5 front of house teams into one agile and customer focussed team with fewer resourcesOversaw voluntary redundancy exercises, consulting with staff and trade unions, enabling up to 100 staff to leave the organisation with dignity, whilst achieving the required return on investment

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  Swift Research Ltd

  • Wetherby, West Yorkshire

  • Operations Manager

    • Oct 2003 - Nov 2004
    • Wetherby, West Yorkshire

    Led the effective day-to-day management of all operational processes and devised and effected the management of planned change, increasing operational efficiency and productivityWorked closely with the Board on devising and implementing strategyLed, motivated and developed 6 department managers and 40+ staff

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  University of Leeds

  • Leeds, United Kingdom

  • IT Technical Officer/Service Group Leader (Network Group)

    • Mar 1998 - Oct 2003
    • Leeds, United Kingdom

    Originally appointed as an IT Technical Officer before being promoted to Service Group Leader (Networks and Telecomms) and YHMAN Technical Operations Manager.Led a £2m income generating operation responsible for supplying University departments, staff and students with a variety of IT related products and services. Within 18-months transformed this failing IT business unit with a very poor internal reputation. The operational efficiency of the unit was unrecognisable, with staff energised to deliver an improved service and a better customer experience, despite reduced profit marginsResponsible for the day-to-day operation and development of the University’s campus network & telephony systems; supporting over 30,000 users at multiple sites throughout the region and the day-to-day operation, support and development of the Yorkshire & Humberside Metropolitan Area Network (YHMAN), connecting 8 universities and over 40 colleges to the Internet, via the Joint Academic Network (JANET)

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  Royal Navy

  • UK

  • Chief Petty Officer

    • Sep 1984 - Sep 1998
    • UK

    Joined as an Artificer Apprentice before specialising as a Weapons Engineering Artificer on Polaris and Trident submarines.For over 10 years, led multi-disciplined teams of technicians, in a variety of high-pressure environments on nuclear submarines.