Mark K Smitham Email and Phone Number

I want everyone to benefit from innovation. I originate, shape, and transact large and complex sales opportunities, aligning Access Partnership capabilities to the strategic ambitions of our clients. I own, develop, and manage relationships with key buyers and decision makers at new clients. I effectively engage with executives across our clients to maintain their continued support for the value that Access Partnership delivers. I create and execute on winning sales strategies to ensure competitive advantage is built and maintained. I engage with senior delivery personnel within Access Partnership, applying industry knowledge, to assess our client’s biggest business priorities, and construct origination and campaign plans to address their biggest challenges. I make innovative technology work for your world.

I developed and executed strategies to engage European policymakers and shape their thinking. I produced high-impact communications that gained followers for policy solutions that I developed. I led client interactions with EU Institutions and with national governments. I understand commercial priorities and policy making processes and developments.

I developed and delivered global go-to-market sales support and present applicable solutions based on my expertise in public sector IT modernization projects, both big and small. I supported thought leadership activities, sales enablement strategies, marketing programs through the development of digital and print sales assets and related market-facing engagement strategies and public sector content.

I focused on security and trustworthiness of open source services and technologies such as 5G, cloud, IoT, and artificial intelligence (AI). I worked with EU policymakers and technology experts on a range of privacy protection and cyber security issues. For example, security strategy and policy, risk management, information assurance, and critical infrastructure protection. I was responsible for leading Huawei’s engagements on security and privacy with EU trade associations. I worked closely with product lines to ensure EU policy agenda aligns to corporate priorities.

I was responsible for Microsoft's engagement with EU institutions, and partners from industry and civil society in the policy area of cyber security. I frequently represented Microsoft and engaged with public and private stakeholders across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) on a range of issues in the policy area of cyber security. I helped shape commercially reasonable policies, like transposition of the NIS Directive and adoption of the EU Cyber Security Act, to enable Microsoft and its customers to innovate and compete in an increasingly global, complex policy and regulatory environment.

Fixed term secondmentI worked with administrators and public sector officials at the European Commission to develop and co-ordinate policy proposals as regards the Digital Single Market strategy (DSM) whilst ensuring coherence in the implementation of the European Commission's policy in the area of cloud computing.I supported the work on developing trust and improving the overall level of security of European digital society and growth in the digital economy in Europe, such as the Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems (NIS), as well as actions to extend access and build trust as set out in the European Commission Communication on the European Cloud Initiative.I enabled digital innovation policy at the European Commission through revision of the European Interoperability Framework (EIF) and advised the European Commission on its procurement of cloud computing services for use by the EU Institutions (DIGIT Cloud1) and the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).

12 month fixed term secondment at Government Digital Service and 2 months at Home OfficeI delivered AccreditCamp and other presentations to promote public sector take-up of cloud technology & services and security awareness.For example, I gave a keynote speech on behalf of UK Government at the NATO Information Assurance Symposium 2013 for which I received very positive feedback from CESG. I negotiated between Senior Civil Servants from within GDS, Cabinet Office and CESG for their combined approval of this presentation. I adopted a Government wide perspective to ensure alignment of interests from all of these stakeholders, especially G-Cloud activity and ID Assurance policy.I influenced development of security & information risk management across the public sector, such as the new Government Security Classification policy, through representing the perspective of consumers and providers of cloud services.I managed resolution of security & information risk matters for G-Cloud services and built a strong relationship between the program and the security services for delivery of UK government policy on cloud technologies.I led supplier stakeholder management for G-Cloud accreditation and managed the pan-government accreditation process for G-Cloud services. This new process enabled SMEs to provide cloud services securely to Government by providing necessary accreditation evidence for Government accreditors. I successfully ensured that over 70 services achieved pan-government accreditation and over 20 of those were at the higher level of accreditation.Within the Home Office Solutions Architecture team I provided security advice to projects and programs, coordinated Security Working Groups in order for agile projects to achieve accreditation, and managed relationships with stakeholders to understand requirements and set out a strategy for improved security operations across the entire Home Office.

Graduate recruitment scheme in the policy areas of digital and cybersecurity, UK Civil Service Fast StreamStrategic Architect, Home Office, UK Government, April 2012 – October 2012I built strong relationships with other government departments through meetings and regular communications in order to highlight interdependencies and critical relationships of my team’s strategy work stream with other work streams. I ensured that lessons and wider implications from these meetings are understood by my team and taken forward in developing the Open Standards and Open Source work streams and the Flexible Resourcing project.Senior Project Manager, border management systems, July 2011 – March 2012I led strategic analysis of current business capabilities to drive the business case for improvements to a business critical border management system in a high-profile environment. I engaged with finance experts and followed procurement guidelines to identify 10% saving against original budget. I highlighted financial implications of risks and issues so that their severity was fully understood by my project management support team and I escalated problems with the supplier when appropriate to ensure timely ROM submissions from the supplier.Project Manager, border management systems, February 2011 – July 2011I implemented plans to deliver new workstation equipment to over 30 sites for UK border management systems. I made sure that project risks were communicated within the team in order to improve implementation throughout the roll-out of deployments.Project Manager, UK Border Agency, September 2010 – January 2011As part of the UK Border Agency Change of Address project I managed my own budget of £30k over 6 months to coordinate a team of consultants. I analysed team requirements compared to benefits and strategic aims to avoid duplicating planned improvements.

I managed a team of three staff for digital transformation improving public services. I liaised with administration, technical staff, and senior management to deliver and promote this new service.

I delivered IT service management using customer feedback to establish a fault finding and resolution guide for first-line help desk and improve customer service.

I successfully integrated and managed ICT systems to deliver efficient, front-line, digital public services. I effectively coordinated with senior management and technical experts.

I managed existing client accounts for Business-To-Business IT Sales whilst advising clients according to their IT needs. I also canvassed potential clients and established new accounts.

In this vibrant startup, I created online content and graphics for websites, optimized HTML code, and I also provided office administration. I managed client relations and successfully delivered new sales leads.

I optimized existing business processes for digital transformation of administrative procedures. HFS Group was acquired by Capital One in 2004.