Mark Dittmer-Odell Email & Phone Number

Germany

Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Posted for four years to Munich to lead the work of the Consulate and represent the UK Government across Southern Germany, covering Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

Uk / Germany

9 months' German language training ahead of my next posting starting in April 2024.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Country Director posted to Addis Ababa, leading the Embassy's economic diplomacy on trade and investment.

London, United Kingdom

• Seconded into the DIT Africa Network for 12 months to lead the creation of new functionality and capability to support Outward Direct Investment (ODI) from UK Missions across the continent.• Established an evidence-based, strategic approach to ODI, capable of maximising benefit to African and UK prosperity, delivering a roadmap capable of ensuring the UK is able to meet its commitment to be the largest G7 investor by 2022.• Developed, refined and tested DIT’s ‘offer’ to UK investors, identifying market failures that lead to underinvestment and risks that lead to dis-investment.• Upscaled and upskilled teams on the ground, recruiting for a new cadre of ODI and market access specialists, working with Country Directors to develop in-market capability and rolling out training across the network.• Established and embedded clear metrics and incentives for reporting to drive the right behaviours among teams engaged in ODI on the ground.• Raised the profile of the ODI agenda, the importance of private sector investment in Africa and the UK’s ambition as a speaker at conferences, with Ministers, with African partners and investment promotion agencies and with key stakeholders.

London, United Kingdom

• Head of DIT’s Europe Team, responsible for development of strategy to set direction for the Department’s 300 overseas staff as well as leading on long-term bilateral strategy in Europe to safeguard our relationship with our largest trading partners.• Led development of a 3-year European Trade Plan to adapt the network to the duel challenges of leaving the EU while setting direction on new competencies in trade policy and bilateral relations.• Acted as x-Whitehall Prosperity Strand lead for the January 2018 inward visit of French President, Emmanuel Macron and the UK Prime Minister’s August 2018 Africa visit.• Management of a team of eight UK-based staff coordinating DIT activity covering 40 markets in Europe covering both EU and non-EU countries.• Departmental Whitehall lead on European bilateral relations, including State and Guest of Government visits, as well as ministerial visits strategy and delivery across the Europe region. • Responsible for development of a communication strategy to support embassy staff across the globe in providing advice to international firms as we leave the EU.

London, United Kingdom

• Head of Sector Development with responsibility for creating three new sector teams at the CBI, supporting culture-change, upskilling staff and embedding new ways of working.• Delivered evidence-based business development strategies in the creative industries, manufacturing and construction sectors worth £4.5m over three years.• Led a team of five on the implementation phase of business development strategies, including creating a new CEO-level Manufacturing Council to support CBI decision-making, developing policy products for creative industries members centred around Intellectual Property and revamping the CBI's Construction Council.• Headed up the CBI's cross-sectoral network of 150 trade association members - a core part of the organisation's policy-making process.• Led the CBI’s relationship with government on sectoral issues, most recently with BEIS on industrial strategy and with DExEU on the implications of Brexit.

London, United Kingdom

• Leader of a team of four advisors responsible for campaign development and lobbying on infrastructure issues, covering rail, digital, construction, aviation, water and waste sectors and dealing with planning, financing, regulatory affairs and government consultations.• Senior client management responsibility, holding the relationship with board-level contacts at major infrastructure companies in the sector.• Campaigns included airport expansion in the South-East and the state of UK infrastructure, gaining national broadcast and print coverage.• Relationship holder with junior government ministers, select committee MPs and civil servants, while facilitating and supporting senior level engagement with Cabinet.• Media experience, providing a national voice for the CBI on issues including road funding and airport expansion, as well as thought-leadership pieces. Speaker at industry conferences.

London, United Kingdom

• 18 months as policy advisor responsible for innovation and exports policy, before promotion to senior policy advisor covering infrastructure for two years.• Author of CBI reports and research projects in partnership with clients. Client work includes the UK’s export challenge (with E&Y), industrial strategy (Tata), the importance of airport expansion in the south-east (Steer Davies Gleave) and the state of UK Infrastructure (KPMG).• Responsibilities included advising senior staff and clients on policy developments, relationship management with government stakeholders, development of pitches for new clients, drafting of press releases and working with clients to formulate consultation responses.

London, United Kingdom

Consultant working with a team of senior academics providing bespoke research services to government clients on a contractual basis.Working as part of a team of three consultants for the Federal Chancellery of Austria (equivalent to the UK’s Cabinet Office), commissioned to produce a report on British government interdepartmental coordination as part of a review exercise of their own practice. Final report based on extensive discussions with senior civil servants at Number 10, Cabinet Office, the FCO, Home Office, DEFRA, DECC and BIS.Research report subsequently utilised by Austrian Federal Chancellery and by UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

Brussels Area, Belgium

Consultant working with a team of senior academics providing bespoke research services to government clients on a contractual basis.In conjunction with the Commission's Secretariat-General and with the endorsement of Jose Manuel Barroso, the ESRC-funded project remit included a holistic review of the functioning of the Commission, contributing to their internal reform agenda. Core research carried out through in-depth interviews with Commissioners, Director-Generals and other senior management in Brussels, gaining access to over 150 senior officials.

London, United Kingdom

• Course convenor and lecturer on undergraduate and postgraduate modules, lecturing classes and seminars of 40+ students.• Taught qualitative and quantitative research methods to students from a cross-disciplinary background. Subjects included arguing using statistics using techniques like regression and time-series analysis, as well as interview technique and focus-group development. Spent time mentoring post-graduate students with their own research projects.• Taught political theory and British politics to undergraduates. Responsible for creating course material, engaging lecture plans and assessment.• Supported and monitored student development, as well as acting as a personal tutor.

Phd, European Union Public Policy

Successfully researched, wrote and defended a 100,000 word thesis in the field of EU public policy, supported by a full ESRC scholarship..

Visiting Fellow, Eu Politics

Involvement in the ULB's département de Science politique seminar programme, including dissemination of fieldwork findings and critical.

Masters, European Politics (Awarded With Merit)

Supported by a competitive ESRC post-graduate scholarship, undertook a Master of Research degree with a specific focus on research methods.

Bsc, Politics (Awarded 1St Class)

Achieved 1st Class honours, gaining knowledge in a wide range of subject areas revolving around British and EU politics. Completed.