Acting Second Permanent Secretary, Home Office. Key advisor to the Home Secretary and Ministerial team in setting the overall strategy and policy for immigration to develop and deliver the Government’s priorities. Acted as deputy for the Permanent Secretary, with direct responsibility for leading the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship (BICS) system, overseeing four Director General commands, with 23k people doing some of the most complex and sensitive work anywhere in the public or private sectors. Immigration is one of the Government’s top priorities, and is central to EU Exit and beyond for a prosperous and secure country. It is a system that touches the lives of tens of millions of people a year, and is critical in delivering the Government’s goals for protecting the vulnerable, for public safety, and for economic growth.

Director General UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) UKVI is responsible for making millions of decisions every year about who has the right to visit or stay in the country, with a firm emphasis on national security and a culture of customer excellence for people who come here legally. This includes considering applications for British citizenship from overseas nationals who wish to settle here permanently; running the UK’s asylum service offering protection to those eligible under the 1951 Geneva Convention; deciding on applications from employers and educational establishments who want to join the register of sponsors; and managing appeals from unsuccessful applicantsThe Director General is responsible for leading a workforce of 7,500 people based in locations around the UK and overseas who manage around 3 million visa applications a year from overseas nationals who wish to come to the UK to visit, study or work. Director General Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO) HMPO is responsible for issuing UK passports. The Director General is responsible for leading this nationwide operation, with a team of over 4000 people, building a culture of excellent customer service and a focus on high quality decision making. The Director General also acts as the Registrar General, appointed by The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, overseeing the system of civil registration of births, deaths and marriages in England and Wales.Each year this high volume business includes issuing circa 7 million passports and 1 million birth, death and marriage certificates. It also receives approx.1.5m birth, death and marriage registrations from partners in the Local Registration Service.

Non Executive Director on behalf of HM Government at SSCL, a JV between the Cabinet Office and Sopra Steria to transform and modernise back office systems and provide a range of other corporate services to the public sector.

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) is the leading accountancy body for public services and operates on a global stage. i

HMPO is responsible for issuing UK passports. The Director General also acts as the Registrar General overseeing the system of civil registration of births, deaths and marriages in England and Wales. The Director General is responsible for leading this nationwide operation, with a team of over 4000 people, building a culture of excellent customer service and a focus on high quality decision making. Each year this high volume business includes issuing circa 7 million passports and 1 million birth, death and marriage certificates. It also receives approx.1.5m birth, death and marriage registrations from partners in the Local Registration Service.

A strategically important business unit given its significant profitability and worldwide dimension, I developed a new strategy to restructure the import/export operation and tackle a lack of commercial development. This included expanding our partnerships abroad to improve service, lower costs and introduce a broader product range for customers. I led a team of 2400 in this role

Sustaining service during the Olympics was a huge reputational risk for RM and the Post Office. It also presented significant commercial opportunities. I led this highly successful programme, orchestrating the operational, commercial, communication and HR aspects as a special role for the CEO. This covered our licensing agreements with LOCOG, consultation with OFCOM and customers, deployment of the Gold Medal stamps and Gold Post Boxes initiative.

Running RM's media ownership, direct mail, transactional mail, product management, channels and sales specialists. Position on Royal Mail Letters Executive Committee.

RM had recently lost its monopoly position and was faced with lots of new competitors. The focus, performance and efficiency of the sales force and our contact centres needed a total overhaul. This was a huge step up for me, successfully running a team of 2900 with a revenue accountability of £4.4bn and operating budget of £100m.

non-exec director

Commercial Lead for Post Office & Royal Mail separation in preparation for privatisation. Led negotiation of arms-length commercial contracts for both a 10 year Mails Distribution Agreement (covering POL’s retail role for RM’s customers) and 5 year Master Services Agreement for provision of finance, IT, property and operations services to POL. These were complex, contentious and politically charged, and involved negotiating on difficult legal points and functional details.

non-executive director

"alternate" shareholder representative on Camelot Board

non executive director. Optecon is a hybrid mail business.

Managing Director Digital Innovation - I took over a business in trouble. Overspending and with no clarity of purpose. Leading development of a strategy to exploit and embrace the digital world, I overcame major internal politics and brand conflict to establish a corporate e-strategy and web portal. This included closing and selling off loss-making subsidiaries for £5m.

Managing Director Stamps & Collectibles - This was a newly formed business unit and my first MD role. I needed to set a vision and strategy to grow new revenue streams, attract new customers whilst maintaining the existing ageing customer base. Through some highly innovative new product development and exploitation of Intellectual Property assets, I re-established RM’s leadership and credibility in this highly profitable market segment.