Mark Stratton Email & Phone Number

Cirencester, Gb

London, England, United Kingdom

I provide clear, authoritative and impartial advice on governance procedures to the Board and senior management team. Currently working on a number of discrete projects including reviewing the governance structure of the organisation and the management of committees, working groups and branches.

Swindon, United Kingdom

I was a Compliance and Business Manager for Optima Defence and Security Group where I was responsible for ensuring that all corporate policies were up-to-date and enforceable leading the policy review panel. I was also challenged with the creation and integration of new policies including GDPR. I actively oversaw the organisations transition to ISO9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems) and accreditation to ISO45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems) and ensured continued compliance with the international standards. An enjoyable part of the role was my responsibility for managing the company’s insurance portfolio ensuring suitable coverage and value for money, first ensuring suitable coverage and then reducing insurance costs significantly by 40% through effective management and establishing strong insurance broker relationships. I was also appointed IT Installation Officer and oversaw Cyber Essentials accreditation, ensuring thorough and continuous security management of the organisation’s IT installations and networks. During my time at Optima I reported and provided instrumental support to General Counsel and Company Secretary supporting them with varied company secretarial, legal and contractual matters including the incorporation and ongoing maintenance of overseas subsidiaries and representative offices, including Singapore, Pakistan, Kenya and Iraq, as well as the notarisation of corporate documents.This role was key for me in cementing my ambition to become a corporate governance professional and led to me self-funding an online, part-time LLM in Corporate Governance at the University of Law. Graduation late 2021.

London, United Kingdom

I provided key leadership and direction enabling diverse teams to fulfil strategic and business objectives identified in the corporate and strategic business plans. I led quality improvement initiatives to ensure all business processes, activities and outputs were efficient and appropriately measured for performance. I established and managed the Operational Board leading to more informed and evidence-based decision making together with producing six-monthly reviews, position papers, options appraisals and other documentation. I also managed and delivered a number of discrete projects utilising a range of project management principles and methodologies including PRINCE2. During my time here, I was a Senior User of the Document Management System Project Board, representing the General Council of the Bar, identifying and specifying system user needs, representing the interests of the organisation and ensured high-quality project deliverables. I successfully redesigned the ethical enquiries service, successfully establishing an improved and efficient helpline to provide real-time advice for Barristers. Through my work a revised structure of committees was established with a strong focus on communication and reporting and adopted a centralised approach whilst also setting up the Executive Programme board to meet monthly and review performance. In order to meet organisational objectives, I introduced Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to support an Operational Board, focusing KPIs on understanding performance in the context of the key strategic challenges of the organisation. I also spearheaded the digitalisation of the fee’s collections process, which had a backlog of 6,000 cases (annual throughput was 800 cases) and an average completion cycle of 1½ years. As part of my role, I reduced the backlog to 600 cases and a 3-month lifecycle within a year through comprehensive business analysis, the use of information technology and change management.

London, United Kingdom

Using my skills as a Policy Adviser, I conducted an in-depth structure review of the Remuneration Committee and made recommendations to improve accountability, embedding corporate objectives into committee business plans. I acted as an Executive to the Bar Council’s Civil (Private) Panel and Taxation Panel, providing members with accurate, high-quality and timely information to make sound, evidence-based decisions. I developed annual work plans for the Remuneration Committee, Civil (Private) Panel, Taxation Panel and Road Traffic Accident Portal Working Group, to support the principles and direction of the organisation. I drafted policy papers, project plans, reports and recommended workable solutions for forward planning on a number of issues, drawing on the knowledge of internal and external experts. I successfully planned and delivered policy projects as part of the annual business planning process, including revising the structure and reporting lines of key sub-committees to ensure maximum delivery. During my role, I managed and drafted consultation responses for the Bar Council, responding consistently with previous policy output and effectively communicating the views of the Bar; including leading on the response to Jackson LJs Review of Civil Litigation Costs. I was tasked with overseeing the design and implement a consultation protocol and database to manage organisational input into Government consultations, successfully improving transparency, performance and quality. I also created a number of protocols to support common tasks and activities leading to improved efficiency, retention of knowledge, consistency in approach and certainty for the service user.

London, United Kingdom

Whilst working within the Electoral Commission, I observed Local, National and European Elections, writing reports, evaluations, advising and managing queries related to the Electoral Commissions view on electoral law and making recommendations. I demonstrated extensive electoral legal knowledge and commented extensively on electoral legislation leading to a number of changes being enshrined in electoral law. I actively prepared and presented detailed policy positions to expert audiences and highlighted in excess of 100 drafting errors, inconsistencies and policy issues for the statutory response to the (Draft) Principal Area Rules 2006 with only two not being accepted by the Government and many policy issues reconsidered, improving the quality of the legislation and setting a benchmark for future responses. I also significantly contributed to the Electoral Administration Act 2006, briefing MPs and peers on the organisation’s views on the content of the Bill and suggesting amendments to the legislation during the Bills parliamentary passage. I also established and managed a three-year framework agreement (under OJEU procurement rules) to call off technical contractors for evaluating electoral pilots, as well as being lead evaluator for three electoral counting pilot schemes in 2007.

Westminster, London

I really enjoyed this, my first role, where I successfully managed correspondence and enquiries from constituents to Louise Ellman MP. I conducted detailed and comprehensive research and created written briefs for the MP on issues affecting the wider British Public, in particular PFI, Private Prisons, Iraq and Higher Education. I researched information and prepared the MPs speech given at the Oxford Union against the motion ‘that this House believes the biggest threat to International peace is American Foreign Policy’. I was also required to diligently monitor Bills, subordinate legislation, Early Day Motions, Hansard and, the then, Transport, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee.

Llm Corporate Governance Grad Icsa, Corporate Governance

Ba, Politics

Activities and Societies: Staff-Student Committee