Kate Burns Email & Phone Number

Information Services Division

I lead a staff of around 120 across three locations, hold a budget of £10m and am responsible for information policy and MOJ’s excellent performance against the requirements of freedom of information, data protection and public records legislation. Assigned by the Executive Committee, I have established and developed a robust organisational information strategy that delivers efficiencies and improves cultural awareness of good information management and reduces risk of information loss. Representing the MOJ, I sit on a cross-government strategic group that leads a cohesive approach to future proof and advance best practice in knowledge and information management. I have been instrumental in influencing this group to articulate a coherent approach to information management pertinent to the forthcoming COVID19 public inquiry and tackling inconsistencies in legislation and proposing solutions.I have managed serious issues generated by the COVID19 pandemic; assessing fast developing and critical information, intelligence and guidance to ensure a resilient reaction that was supportive of my teams and customers. Through effective leadership and innovative thinking, the division has remained continuously operational, achieving progression and sustained delivery of excellent service during this challenging time. Understanding the benefits of motivated teams, I have proactively built and sustained morale, providing clarity of purpose and desired outcomes in an environment of mutual respect.

Information Governance And Data Protection Compliance

Leading a staff of 50 people across two teams, I was responsible for strategic information assurance and data protection compliance throughout the Ministry. I established a resilient network of assurance specialists enabling robust exploitation and secure management of assets. I served as the single point of contact for the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in relation to data incidents and data protection compliance. I held a large portfolio, with responsibility for the Information Risk Board’s secretariat, management of board level strategic risks on information incidents, GDPR and MOJ’s data protection compliance programme. I implemented effective structures to introduce new privacy laws which included establishing the first cross government group to further safeguard compliance and leading on the progression of governmental policy position on complex requests for personal data and to protect judicial independence.I led the delivery of a significant upturn in a service that was failing to meet the required productivity. Developing a robust recovery plan, I improved processes and removing inefficiencies. My activity resulted in enhanced performance quality and significantly increased staff engagement.I was the MOJ’s single point of contact for all significant data incidents and led the successful supervision and recovery of several reputationally significant incidents. I designed and implemented various processes and reviews throughout the MOJ, substantially improving policy development and project and programme governance. I delivered bespoke training programmes to enhance risk management, security and communications plans, securing a reduction in information incidents and increased awareness.

Compliance

I held responsibility for the delivery, maintenance and improvement of data protection governance across a staff of 70,000. I ensured compliance with all regulatory requirements governing access, retention and disposal of data. Driving the enhancement and delivery of information services within the Ministry, I facilitated improved data sharing and privacy impact assessment analysis, research and policy development. My continuous improvement approach secured an improvement in efficiency of 20%.

Government It Profession

Tasked to develop and deliver the Government’s IT Academy, I led the design and delivery of a curriculum of training programmes to support IT professional career paths. Working closely with partners from Oxford University, Saïd Business School, Ashridge Business School and the National School for Government, I developed an effective and relevant programme to further organisational priorities. My activity successfully delivered the UK’s IT industry standard skills framework across government and a bespoke IT Profession’s fast stream programme.

Department Of Works And Pensions

Moving through a range of experience, training and development, I delivered exceptional results in a range of roles, extending my expertise to support progression to senior management and leadership. I led the successful implementation of an HR IT system for 94,000 staff and developed and delivered a rollout and training strategy, liaising extensively with senior and technical staff and suppliers.I directed the testing of new IT systems and the associated training and policy. This included management of security, HR policies, recruitment and budget management. As a case officer and manager, I led the prosecution of complex organised fraud cases and instructed counsel and liaised between all concerned parties.

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Business Studies

Post Graduate Diplom, Business Administration

Education record

Crossing Thresholds Programme - Grade 7 Data Protection Practitioner Youth Justice Board Foundation Training and Panel Matters PRINCE2.