Romilly Beard Email & Phone Number

Winchester, Gb

Southampton, England, United Kingdom

Lead the Policy & Strategy function within Southampton City Council’s Projects, Policy and Performance team, delivering effective strategic frameworks and policy development for the council, so that priority outcomes are consistent, clearly defined and embedded at all levels. Provide expert advice and guidance on the implications of national, regional and local policy development and enable the council to respond to new challenges and opportunities.

Historic England use a Public Value Framework methodology to identify how public funding can be used effectively to deliver outcomes and maximise the value for the taxpayer. In this role I audited the way in which PVF was used by a number of commissioned projects. I carried out data collection and analysis through a quantitative survey, qualitative interviews and a review of grant documentation. I quickly built relationships with key members of staff to collect the relevant information during a challeging time period. I produced a report and recommendations for improvements for internal use.

British Embassy Washington Dc

Advocate British interests across all modes of transport working with UK interlocutors on UK priorities. Promote UK policy, analyse and report on US transportation issues relevant to the UK. Develop and maintain high level contacts within government, industry and NGOs. Responsible for delivering visits to the US by UK Ministers and senior government officials including organizing all logistics and accompanying Secretary of State on a three day visit. Work with British consulates and across UK government departments. Proactively engage in policy discussions and represent the UK position at external meetings and events.

Washington, District Of Columbia

Based with the Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access. Researching the use of digital collections to build a new culture of philanthropic giving in the museum sector. Practively making connections within the Smithsonian, US not for profit sector and the UK. Developed a detailed research proposal including qualitative interviews, data analysis and a literature review. Identified examples of good practice to share with the museum sector. Research shared with museums that participated in the Inspiring a Culture of Philanthropy Programme including building direct development opportunities with the Smithsonian Institution.

I was responsible for the implementation and delivery of a £500,000 project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Inspiring a Culture of Philanthropy project delivered a tailored programme of training, mentoring, peer support and in-house advice to over 30 museums across Hampshire and the wider region to develop their fundraising skills and build links with potential donors. I ensured that the project kept to budget and timescales through a complex multi-year delivery. I appointed multiple consultants to deliver different parts of the project and managed these contractual relationships effectively. I worked with senior stakeholders in public and third sector organisations as well as building networks with museum donors. The project evaluation demonstrated that the project outcomes had been achieved and had led to change in the sector.

Local Government Association

Policy lead on housing finance, supporting councils through a significant change programme to self-financing. Utilised the skills of stakeholders in the private sector and an expert panel to put in place a programme of support for councils which was well received by the sector. Developed timescales and project plans. Successfully met budget and deadlines.Actively made effective contacts with key organisations. Achieved credibility with stakeholders, councillors and key advisers group. Responsible for producing responses to government consultations on housing finance. Engaged key stakeholders and members early in the process. Successfully lobbied government on policy changes.

London, United Kingdom

Managed a £1.3 million project externally funded by government. Met budget targets and successfully secured additional funding to develop a more responsive online offer to meet demand from councils. Transformed the e-Library from a static resource to develop video content, more timely content and use of new technologies, all within budget. Generated £300,000 savings on case study development which I used to develop a test bed project which informed the development of online good practice support for the local government sector. Promoted innovative approaches to service delivery and partnership working through case study development, speeches at conferences and articles in trade press. Carried out horizon scanning for latest policy issues sector needed support on and through my network of local practitioners identified good practice to promote.Provided consultant support to a London Local Strategic Partnership Executive Board to develop their partnership model and approaches to delivering performance targets.Represented the Improvement and Development Agency on partnership and efficiency issues, acting as point of contact for South East local authorities. Worked with Improvement and Efficiency South East and South East Employers on improvement projects.Trained mentor providing support to a colleague experiencing role change during organisational restructure. Helped to reflect on career and wider goals and develop plan to move forward.

Ottawa, Canada

Proactively sought employment in Ottawa during one year posting with my spouse. Self-starter, setting up as self-employed to provide research skills to a leading Canadian social policy think tank. Produced a detailed research paper as part of a bid to successfully gain a $2 million contract on economic development and youth migration with a provincial government.Carried out qualitative research on youth engagement projects. Developed questionnaires for workshop participants, collated data from workshops and developing reports for clients.Researcher at the CPRN Leadership Summit in Toronto. Worked within a small team to organise the event and facilitated workshops. Co-authored the final report which was peer reviewed. Key report feeding into CPRN Connecting with Canadians Programme.

London, United Kingdom

Responsible for policy reform, analysis and campaigning successes across a range of agendas including local government efficiency, service transformation, procurement and voluntary sector policy.Maintained powerful and productive networks and business relationships with government departments, business, the voluntary and community sector, media and academia. Led on voluntary sector policy. Successfully lobbied for local government’s role in national agenda and established self as a credible voice on the issue.Produced five publications on: powers to trade and charge, efficiency agenda and voluntary sector role in service delivery. Spoke at conferences and events on voluntary sector policy. Organised national conferences for local government on voluntary sector policy and local government finance.Appointed UK expert on local government and the voluntary sector to a Council of Europe working group in Strasbourg. Significant contributor to the group; developing Memorandum of Understanding for EU states.

Kingston Upon Thames, United Kingdom

Selected for national graduate development programme for local government. Project leader for a series of placements across Kingston Council. Placements included skills developed in project management, competently using MS Project, achieving all targets set and within budget. Projects included: review of Day Centre care; development of first Community Plan and support to Local Strategic Partnership; and leading e-government projects.Advised Kingston Council Executive on partnership working arrangements. National research conducted and presented with clear recommendations which were adopted by the Partnership Board.Demonstrated ability to move quickly between projects and deliver results within tight timeframes. Worked closely with senior managers and partners, successfully used reports and presentations to a range of audiences to influence change.Independently secured external placements at think tank New Local Government Network (NLGN) and Government Office for London as well as national skills training events.

Master Of Arts (Ma), International Political Economy

Activities and Societies: I represented my peers on the Staff Student Liaison Group, representing any academic concerns they had.

Foundation, Accredited

Postgraduate Diploma, Local Government Management

Activities and Societies: Represented peers on the student representatives group with staff from the Faculty.I completed the PGDLG as part.

Bachelor Of Science (Bsc), Economics And Politics, 2:1 Hons

Activities and Societies: 1999-2002: Staff Student Liaison Committee member for my degree course. 1999-2000: Member of the Debate Society..