Head of the Property Team

Non-Exec Director / Trustee

Operations Manager: responsibility for staff and volunteer team management and leadership, recruitment & HR, health & safety, finance, data protection, compliance, communications, buildings investment and facilities management. Responsible for day to day efficient and effective running of a large church (250 members / 500+ weekly attendees). Trustee of the 200-year-old church charity, sharing oversight and fiduciary responsibility for all activities, leading on operations, and spearheading the process of conversion to CIO status.

Assisting in the leadership of an International church near Geneva, Switzerland, during a career break.

June 2015 – July 2016 Head of Legal, Property and Planning• Leading and managing a team of property and planning lawyers and support staff through a process of change, following the merger of two functions to create an efficient and effective stream-lined team; supporting and developing team members in new roles; rationalising procedures and protocols to increase productivity and aid clarity.• Participating fully as a member of the Leadership Team of the wider Directorate and Corporate function during a time of restructuring and cost-cutting.• Conducting a full review of our external Legal panel resulting in a new and smaller panel to maximise efficiencies, improve quality assurance and achieve significantly better value for money - outsourced work totalled c. £5m yearly.August 2007 – June 2015 Principal Lawyer (Planning) and Head of Planning• Leadership on planning strategy, advising JLP and Waitrose boards and property teams on development process, detailed technical and legal advice, risk management, public affairs & local engagement, and team management.• Assisting in the leadership of the Legal Directorate through a period of change and significant growth over 8 years. Helping to steer the team from a detached group of technical specialists operating in “silos”, to an outward-facing, integrated team fully engaged in business-partnering with our clients across the Partnership. • Overseeing all aspects of Town Planning for the Partnership to achieve the planning permissions necessary for the growth and diversification of John Lewis and Waitrose across the UK. • Member of multiple internal leadership groups, including the Partnership’s Environmental Steering Group and Regeneration Working Group.• Public affairs highlights included appearances at Parliamentary Select Committee inquiries, meetings with MPs and working with civil servants and industry bodies on the detailed drafting of Government policy.

Sept 2001 – Aug 2003: trainee solicitor, completing seats in Banking Regulatory Law, Planning & Public Law, Pensions Law and Insolvency Litigation.Sept 2003 – July 2007: practicing as a Planning Solicitor, working on a range of town planning projects for landowners, developers, retailers and councils.