About OPM: our people

Hilary's areas of expertise include: strategy and commissioning; children’s services, local government and education; change processes; and working with leaders and managers on organisational development and performance improvement.  Hilary’s recent activities have included: supporting implementation of integrated children’s services; working with top managers and elected members in local government; carrying out reviews and evaluations; and coaching for top managers in several sectors. 

Before her appointment to OPM in 1998, Hilary was acting Deputy Director of Education and Assistant Director, Resources, at Hampshire County Council.  Previous experience includes employment as a senior consultant with the public sector group within KPMG Management Consulting. Hilary began her career in the fast stream civil service, working in policy and planning. She has a masters degree in business administration and a doctorate in theoretical physics.

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Peter Dixon has been Chairman of the Housing Corporation since October 2003. Prior to that he had been a voluntary board member of housing associations since 1974, most recently Anglia Housing Group and London & Quadrant Housing Trust. He has also been a local government councillor.

Peter Dixon is also currently chair of University College London Hospitals NHS Trust and a council member and trustee of the NHS Confederation. He chaired Enfield and Haringey Health Authority between 1998 and 2001 and is also a lay member of the Information Tribunal.

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Kai acts as an advisor, facilitator and consultant on the relationship between organisations and their stakeholders. His areas of expertise include customer segmentation and insight, community engagement, evaluation, and strategic futures thinking. Working with local partnerships and services, regional bodies, and key government departments and sector bodies, Kai has recently completed projects on future approaches to innovation in local government, the future of community empowerment, evaluations of major health service initiatives, and local engagement projects with diverse customer and community groups.

Prior to joining OPM, Kai was Director of Social Research at MORI where he was responsible for major evaluations and national studies for government departments. Previous positions include five years of international research with the BBC World Service, dealing with development issues in Latin America and Africa, and with political change in Eastern Europe.  He has also worked as a youth and community worker in an inner-city area of Birmingham.

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Lesley is a highly experienced consultant who directs, designs and delivers many of OPM’s longer leadership and management development programmes. Her current portfolio includes one-day workshops on specific leadership dilemmas, bespoke development programmes and complex, open accredited programmes. Lesley's current work includes the highly acclaimed Leaders in Local Governance programme. She is director of the Future Leadership programme which is designed and delivered jointly with Ashridge Business School and was commissioned as the 'gold standard' management development programme for local government. She has been at the forefront of designing and delivering effective learning events for senior women managers in public services. Lesley is an experienced action learning set adviser and an accredited executive coach, and tutors on the ILM Diploma in Executive Coaching and Mentoring.

Prior to joining OPM nine years ago, Lesley worked as a senior manager for ten years in a London borough. Her previous experience is as a teacher and university lecturer, an educational adviser and a school inspector.

Recent relevant experience

• Co-director of the OPM’s Leaders in Local Governance, an established programme of learning and personal leadership for the most senior managers in local government, the police and related organisations
• Co-director of Future Leadership, an ODPM (now DCLG) and IDeA commissioned ‘gold standard’ programme for local government managers, in partnership with Ashridge Business School
• Director of Breakthrough, OPM’s management development programme for women in middle management positions in local government
• Director of modular leadership programmes for managers at governing governor grade in the Prison Service
• Director of leadership programmes for senior academics and managers at Imperial College, University College London, University of East London, Anglia Ruskin University
• Director of Certificate/Diploma in the Management of Public Service Partnerships, sponsored by the Youth Justice Board
• Executive coach to prison governors, local government directors, NHS directors, chief probation officers, university lecturers
• Tutor on the ILM Certificate/Diploma in Executive Coaching and Leadership Mentoring programme.

Lesley's qualifications include: MSc health education, King's College London; PGCE science education, University of London; BSc biochemistry, Sussex University; Diploma in executive coaching and leadership mentoring

Lesley is a member of the Institute of Health Education, and a member of the British Psychological Society. She is licensed to use a range of psychometric tests and personality inventories.

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Paul leads OPM's work with local, regional and national government. He has worked as at OPM since 1996. His main areas of interest are: large-scale organisational change, particularly organisation design, performance management and culture change; partnership working; leadership development for both politicians and officers; senior team development; executive coaching; and policy evaluation and implementation. Before joining OPM, Paul held posts in large private companies as head of human resources and as training and development manager. Earlier in his career, he was both a lecturer and a manager in further education and worked for BTEC, where he led the evaluation and redesign of the national curriculum in business and management.

Paul holds an MSc in organisational behaviour from Birkbeck College, a PGCE, and a BSc in economics from Hull University.

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Ewan is Director of the Analytical Studies Unit in OPM, where he has worked as a social researcher and policy analyst since 1998. The ASU currently comprises 23 social researchers and policy analysts with expertise in evaluations, qualitative and quantitative research, and stakeholder engagement. Ewan has experience of conducting both qualitative and quantitative research, but specialises in depth interviews, focus groups, case studies and interactive workshops. Over the last four years, Ewan has specialised in evaluation research, managing a number of large-scale multi-method evaluations for central government departments, non departmental public bodies, and local authorities. He works with clients from across central government and public services, but is particularly interested in further and higher education and children’s services. Prior to joining OPM, Ewan was a researcher for Tessa Jowell MP.  

Ewan holds a BA in Politics and Sociology from Warwick University and an MSc in Political Sociology from LSE.

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Helen has substantial experience of personal, management and organisational development across the public and voluntary sectors. Since she joined OPM in 1991, her work has focused on developing leadership effectiveness with senior managers, building organisational capacity for change, and strategy formation. She is an experienced executive coach and directs OPM's suite of national leadership programmes. She has a particular interest in diversity and equality. Currently, she is working with a number of health service organisations, local authorities, the Prison Service and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Helen's early career was spent in community education and development and higher education. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of the British Psychological Society.

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Sue has wide experience of working with local, regional and central government, specialising in leadership, governance and strategy development; over the years Sue has worked with scores of local authorities, Government Offices of the Regions and government departments. She is a member of the evaluation team studying the introduction of Local Area Agreements, Local Public Service Agreements, and Local Strategic Partnerships.

Recent work has included developing new thinking on leadership and the governance arrangements needed in complex partnerships. She teaches on the Leadership Academy for executive councillors, and has worked in several authorities on top team development and on leadership skills for councillors. She has also worked for the (then) ODPM offering challenge and support for poor and weak authorities. Sue has written widely on issues of organisational change, citizen engagement, governance, partnership working, and effective management performance. She has led a number of major research and evaluation studies of public policy.

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David works on consultancy and leadership and management development projects with a range of organisations across the public sector. He has worked extensively in the post-16 sector, for example with LSCs on strategic area reviews and with universities on human resources matters. David has also assisted LEAs in their transformations to meet the requirements of modern education services. David manages leadership and management development programmes with government departments, local authorities, the NHS and children's services. He is also a trained and experienced executive coach.

David's work enables managers to develop their learning and skills by focusing on the challenges they face in the real world. He worked as a senior manager for many years and has an in-depth understanding of these challenges, which informs his approach.

In all his work David is particularly interested in how stakeholders (both inside and outside the organisation) can be included in decision-making, how services can be organised to make a real impact on people's lives, and how a focus on equality, diversity and social inclusion can generate improved provision.

Before joining OPM, David worked in further education, holding both academic and student support senior management positions. His last role involved strategic responsibility for the community-based provision of a large college serving diverse communities, developing partnerships with statutory, voluntary and community organisations to deliver responsive learning programmes. He was instrumental in helping to establish the Milestones NVQ Centre with the Preschool Learning Alliance to expand childcare training programmes, and the West London Disability Partnership. Previously, David was a consultant working on communication and equality issues with private, public and voluntary sector organisations, and a community development worker.

David is a qualified primary teacher with a B.Ed from the Polytechnic of North London and an MBA from the Open University. He is also a licensed user of psychometric questionnaires.

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Deborah is a highly experienced public and private sector consultant with extensive experience working with organisations experiencing significant change. She specialises in identifying the behavioural change required for new ways of working and helping organisations achieve positive results through change.

Before joining OPM, Deborah was an independent consultant and founder member of the Realisation Group — working with individuals and teams to help improve effectiveness and realise leadership potential. Prior to this she worked at Accenture, where she led several major organisational change programmes. Deborah has also worked as a market researcher, a sales director and an international strategy manager. 

Recent experience includes:

• Designing, delivering and evaluating leadership, teamwork and communications programmes
• Facilitating senior team away days
• Leading major organisational change projects
• Developing and implementing tailored operating models that enable organisations to improve their effectiveness
• Facilitating LAA workshops for council officers
• Working with council officers to develop greater citizen engagement
• Working closely with Healthy Scrutiny Committee members
• Facilitating workshops for health professionals
• Individual coaching with senior managers
• Non executive director for an acute trust — including chairing governance committees
• Working with school governors to develop new policies
• Chairing a PCT patients forum for two years.

Deborah is licensed to use a range of psychometric tests and personality inventories.

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Clive specialises in supporting the development of inter-agency management focused on achieving improved outcomes for both service users and local communities. He has developed a new paradigm for management effectiveness that is based on the fact that it is service users and local communities supported by services, not services themselves, that co-produce outcomes. Much of his work continues to be focused on health and social care integration and the wider children's services integration agenda. The new insights and management frameworks he has developed with other colleagues in these areas are reported in a series of OPM publications: Co-production in Children's Services, Integrating health and social care, Integrating children's services and Children's trust arrangements.

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Deborah has extensive board-level experience working for healthcare charities, grant-making foundations and the public sector — in both director and non-executive director roles. Her expertise includes: using communications for strategy development and organisational change; health policy analysis, research and evaluation; public affairs campaigning and issues management; stakeholder relations; marketing and business development; and corporate governance.

Prior to joining OPM, Deborah held director roles at the Health Foundation and the Royal College of Nursing. Earlier in her career, she worked as a civil servant for state and federal healthcare agencies in the US. Deborah is currently a trustee of Breast Cancer Care.

Specific experience:

• Designing, delivering and evaluating strategic communications programmes and campaigns
• Leading and facilitating change management projects
• Developing teams for improved performance
• Training leaders in political and influencing skills
• Conducting feasibility studies and marketing research for new services
• Managing corporate reputation, including risk audits, benchmarking studies, perceptions research and brand development
• Building coalitions and partnerships around healthcare issues
• Stakeholder engagement and consultation, using a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Improving corporate governance for charities, including governance reviews, trustee training and recruitment, and skills audits 

Deborah holds an MSc in Public Health from the University of California at Los Angeles and an AB Magna cum laude in European History from Harvard University.

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Chih Hoong has extensive experience of working in research, policy and practice environments within the public, voluntary and private sectors, and he has been a commissioner as well as a provider of services to public sector clients. He has worked with local, regional and national governments to improve the effectiveness of policy, planning and delivery, and has engaged with a range of other sectors concerning issues of health and social care, substance misuse, criminal justice, urban regeneration and renewal, education, transport, asylum and immigration. Chih Hoong is particularly interested in equality and diversity issues, with expertise in race/ethnicity, older people, children and young people, and disability.

Prior to joining OPM Chih Hoong was Head of Information and Research at the Disability Rights Commission, where he was responsible for the Commission’s portfolio of research and its Library and Information Services. As Departmental Head, he was closely involved in policy making, legislative developments, media and campaign work, practice development, strategic enforcement, and contributed to the production of statutory codes of practice and guidance.

Chih Hoong is also experienced in designing and managing complex, multi-method, national evaluations of policy interventions, having conducted a number of high profile evaluations for the Home Office, the Department of Health, the former Office for the Deputy Prime Minister. This work is informed by his skills in both formative and summative evaluation techniques, using a range of qualitative and quantitative methods.

Chih Hoong is also heavily involved in the evidence-based policy and practice movement within Britain and internationally, being an Associate of the UK’s Evidence Network and a member of the International Campbell Collaboration. He is also a member of the British Sociological Association, the Social Research Association, and the UK Evaluation Society. He has published widely on a diverse range of topics including policy/practice issues, evaluation, research methodology, equality and diversity and other work in academic, peer-reviewed journals, and professional and policy publications.

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Judith is a highly experienced consultant in leadership and management development. Her areas of expertise include: leadership, strategy and planning, governance, effective partnerships, integrated commissioning, developing inter-agency teams, change management, performance management, board development and community involvement. She is currently engaged in work with strategic partnerships and the change for children agenda. She also designs and delivers management learning programmes in-house and across the country.

Judith joined OPM after eight years as an independent consultant and facilitator, working with local and regional government, housing associations and the NHS on strategy, consultation, neighbourhood regeneration, leadership development and change management. She is an NRU-approved Neighbourhood Regeneration Advisor. In the past Judith has been chair of a successful health authority. She studied contracting and procurement in the USA and was Director of a large housing association and a town planner.

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Catherine leads the OPM Organisational Development and Policy Team. Her main areas of interest are: supporting Local Strategic Partnerships; Local Area Agreements; performance management; supporting organisations through change; integration of organisation and services and; efficiency. Catherine joined OPM in 2005, from the Audit Commission, where she was Head of User Focus and Deputy Head of Policy, in charge of delivering a major change programme to focus the commission’s work on the needs and views of users of public services. Catherine was a key contributor to the development of Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) and has practical experience as a CPA Inspection Team Leader. Catherine has also worked for the Legal Aid Board (now the Legal Services Commission), Bradford Community Health NHS Trust and North Humberside MIND. She began her career as a lawyer and later spent five years in teaching. Catherine was a member of the board of Rampton Hospital Authority from 1999 to 2001 and vice chair of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust from 2001 to 2004.

• Recent relevant experience includes:
• Leading the OPM contribution to the national evaluation of Local Area Agreements and Local Strategic Partnerships for DCLG
• Studies on efficiency in local authorities for ODPM and Regional Centres of Excellence
• Working with LSPs on strategic planning and performance management
• Development of community strategies, including stakeholder and public engagement
• Organisational development, including re-structuring of services and organisations
• Member development programmes on community leadership and community engagement
• Customer and community engagement improvement programmes
• CPA/JAR preparation support to a number of councils
• Team development with senior managers and partnerships Qualifications MBA, Leeds University, 1997 LLB, London School of Economics, 1976

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Sophie is an experienced policy analyst and consultant specialising in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Her work encompasses policy and strategy development, capacity building and change management, and reviews and evaluations. Sophie has a particular interest in equality and diversity and public sector accountability. She has conducted research on global governance and accountability issues for the London School of Economics.

Sophie has a background in academic publishing. In her last role as senior editor of Polity Press, she was responsible for strengthening Polity's presence in social policy, politics and international relations. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University Center in Italy, and a BA in Social and Political Sciences from Cambridge University.

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Beth undertakes a wide range of qualitative and quantitative research at OPM, for both public and private sector clients. She is experienced in employing a variety of methodologies, writing reports for national audiences, and managing complex multi-faceted projects. She has particular interest and experience in health sector work. Recent work has included: co facilitating whole-systems events; supporting organisations in understanding the implications of, and developing responses to, key policy agendas; and, reviewing aspects of organisational structure and performance.

Beth is currently undertaking an MSc in Health Policy, Planning & Financing at the London School of Economics, and has a BSc Psychology from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne.

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Bob specialises in personal, team and organisational development, particularly within health and social care. He has a strong understanding of the context in which development takes place, especially health policy and practice and inter-agency settings.

Bob's recent activities have included: facilitating senior team events in PCTs; working with directors across a whole strategic health authority; running an assessment centre for director-level posts; coaching in Transport for London; team development in a foundation trust; and development centres for senior managers in health and the wider public sector. He is studying for a Doctorate in Business Administration at Keele University Centre for Health Planning and Management, examining the robust evaluation of outcomes from partnerships and alternative models for delivery.

Before joining OPM, Bob worked for Salomons, part of Canterbury Christ Church University , as head of personal and professional development. He also worked for South East Thames Regional Health Authority as a development manager with responsibility for graduate training schemes, and for British Gas as management development manager for the corporate and global gas parts of the company.

Recent experience includes:

• Leading three major development programmes known as Emerging Leaders
• Leader for modules on a masters-level academic programme
• Research and recommendations for organisational change in a primary care trust
• Managing development centres for senior managers in an NHS foundation trust
• Devising a programme to support the introduction of community matrons within an SHA area
• Personal Effectiveness workshop and coaching for senior managers
• Coaching managers within Transport for London Assessment Centre
• Presentation to the Board for recruitment of three senior posts in an NHS trust.

Bob is currently studying for a Doctorate in Business Administration at Keele University. He holds an MBA, Open University, a Diploma in Training Management, Thames Valley Polytechnic, and a Diploma in Management Studies, Croydon College of Further Education.

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Diane has expertise in qualitative research, including deliberative methodologies, futures work and collaborative techniques that bring together members of the public, practitioners and policy and decision-makers to address complex issues. She has recently managed projects on behalf of the Foresight Directorate at the Office of Science and Technology, the Office for Public Services Reform and the Department for Education and Skills. Diane has extensive experience of consultation with a range of audiences, including children and young people, 'hard-to-involve' communities and individuals, general publics, employees and opinion leaders in politics, business, science and the arts.

Diane joined OPM from Opinion Leader Research, where she was a senior research executive. While completing her PhD, Diane was a tutor for the Workers' Educational Association. Before that, she worked as a producer in the broadcast production department of Grey Advertising in Toronto, Canada.

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Stefan’s passion is to stimulate individual, organisational and system-wide success through effective and innovative approaches to development. His consulting, coaching and leadership practice is grounded in helping leaders and professionals in the public sector appreciate what works best in their lives and using this knowledge to create their desired futures. Stefan encourages people to re-discover the transformational power of heart-to-heart conversation to change ways of working, build motivation and co-create better outcomes with service users. His skills in crafting Appreciative Inquiry processes and hosting World Café, Open Space and Circle Conversations have helped clients radically improve cultures and implement new business and leadership strategies.

Recent assignments have focused on building organisational and leadership capability in a number of NHS primary care trusts, designing and delivering a range of leadership development programmes for a major public funding body, and planning a range of culture change interventions across the public sector.

Stefan also has extensive experience coaching senior managers, and recent coaching relationships have focused on: personal performance improvement strategies; managing inter-personal conflicts; understanding organisational change and responding effectively; becoming a new style leader in a health and social care system; supporting role and job transitions; working effectively in a team context; and building a new business.

Having been an NHS chief executive, as well as holding a number of senior strategic and operational posts in health and social care during a 20+ year career, Stefan also brings to his work an in-depth, practical and pragmatic understanding of the challenges faced by leaders.  

Stefan holds an MSc in People and Organisational Development from the University of Salford, an MBA from the Open University and a Diploma in Executive Coaching and Mentoring.

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Robin's areas of expertise include designing, delivering and analysing qualitative forms of public involvement, particularly new deliberative methods. He also focuses on developing and evaluating strategic approaches to public involvement. Robin has worked with most parts of the public sector, including central government departments and agencies, local government and health bodies. He also has considerable experience of working with community, voluntary and private sector organisations.

Before joining OPM, Robin established his own public policy and involvement consultancy, Citizenscape, which focused on small-scale public involvement and public policy research projects for a range of public sector bodies and NGOs. He has also worked as an adviser in the Prime Minister's Office of Public Services Reform (OPSR), developing the principles behind the Government's current public service reform agenda and writing briefing papers and speeches for ministers. Prior to that he was a senior research fellow in the Democracy Team at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).

Robin holds a BA Politics in Newcastle University and a masters in Public Administration from the University of London.

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Gina is an experienced consultant who has worked across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Her particular area of interest is improving the impact of policy and organisational practice through effective design and implementation of reviews and evaluations; she has managed a number of complex reviews and evaluations for government departments and other organisations. The principles of change management underpin all of Gina's work. Prior to joining OPM, Gina worked at Compass Partnership, delivering and managing a range of consultancy projects for statutory and voluntary organisations. She has also been executive director of Radio Lollipop, where she instigated and led a major programme of change.

Gina has a background in the commercial sector, having worked as a consultant for Arthur Andersen, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Dixons Stores Group. She trained and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor.

Gina has an MBA from Ashridge Management College and a BSc in Estate Management from the University of Reading. She holds Associate Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

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Gillian has a strong track record of delivering strategic initiatives and of managing operations across matrix structure organisations. She has expertise in corporate governance and scrutiny, performance management and human rights. Throughout her career she has worked with a full range of local authorities and health bodies to help develop their arrangements in these areas.

Before joining OPM she was a Senior Policy Advisor at the Audit Commission and previously held the positions of Deputy Head of Finance and Value for Money in the House of Commons Scrutiny Unit, and Development Manager with the Audit Commission. She began her career in local government and private practice where she qualified as a professional accountant.

Gillian has co-authored an international publication Ethics management in Public Services in the UK: a practitioners view and is author of Human rights improving public services (October 2003) and The Human Rights Act: A bulletin for Public Authorities (2002).

Gillian holds an MBA from the Open University and is a fellow of the Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA)

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Richard is committed to helping officers, members and trustees of public service organisations develop their capacity to lead and manage services, organisations and relationships.

Prior to joining OPM Richard was director of a learning consultancy specialising in management and leadership development in the public and voluntary sector. Past experience includes working as a local authority accountant and as a University Programme Director for a Post Graduate Certificate, Diploma and Negotiated Masters in Management.

Richard has two main interests; the first of which is helping leaders develop their capacity to work effectively with colleagues from within and outside their organisation, in connection with which he uses a range of psychometric instruments such as OPQ, PMC and MBTI. His second interest centres on helping organisational leaders develop effective approaches to planning and budget management, particularly in social care. In 1997 Richard co-authored 'Business Planning for Special Schools' based on his experience of working with SCOPE. In 2007 Richard authored 'Managing with Plans and Budgets in Health and Social Care'.

Richard is an experienced management team facilitator and a qualified executive coach.

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Gillian has extensive experience as a management consultant, ranging from policy analysis to organisational consultancy and the management of large scale change. She specialises in strategy formulation, option appraisal, policy evaluation and performance management.

Most of her consultancy work has been for central government and the European Commission; she has also worked for clients in the health and social housing sectors, in local government and for international funding agencies.

Gillian joined OPM after 12 years with an international management consultancy; she has also worked in local government and on secondment to the Cabinet Office. She has an MSc in economics.

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Anita works with senior and middle managers to help them review where they are and what they want next. She is particularly interested in coaching to increase emotional intelligence as well as technical skills so leaders feel more able to tackle their ever increasing responsibilities. Anita has over 20 years of senior management experience working across voluntary, local government and NHS sectors.

Anita has led and been involved with implementing regeneration projects, reconfiguring health services, building business reputations and developing service strategies. She has been a communications director of a London PCT and has worked on significant health reconfigurations in North London.

Anita is a qualified coach and an experienced team facilitator. She has designed and delivered many staff and public engagement programmes on different strategic themes within and across organisations. Anita is also a licensed practitioner of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator – used for individual and team assessment and development.

Anita is particularly interested in:

• Exploring different organisation and management models to help tackle problems at work
• Improving working relationships and creating networks to get better results
• Sustaining leaders through difficult and complex change.

Relevant recent experience includes:

• Assisting managers through complex change management programmes
• Coaching teams for better performance
• Coaching managers facing new and ever increasing responsibilities
• Coaching clinicians new to leadership
• Coaching on the NHS Breaking Through Programme aimed at offering members of minority groups the opportunity of career development.

Anita's qualifications include: Master of Science Degree in Health Management
CIPD Advanced Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring
Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma and Associate Fellow
Diploma in Management Studies

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Sharon specialises in managing change, strategy and policy development, providing advice and support in commissioning, project management, and community and stakeholder engagement. She is also an experienced research and development consultant, having worked with local authorities and the voluntary sector.

Before joining OPM Sharon undertook some key interim management roles in local government, youth and children's services – supporting transitions within the change for children agenda. Previously she worked in a strategic and operational management role, supporting the prevention of homelessness, regeneration and crime reduction. Earlier in her career Sharon worked for the National Union of Students as a regional officer and as an elected sabbatical officer at local level. 

Sharon has an MBA.

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Hywel works with a wide range of clients nationally, regionally and locally. His work covers policy creation, practice and process improvement, and organisational development and change. He is particularly experienced and interested in the ideas and practice behind sustainable communities’ policy, public funding processes and the place of collaboration and co-operation in service delivery, to bring about sustainable and inclusive universal services.

His experience includes work with many local strategic partnerships to support their engagement practice, performance and learning and partnership working. This has included a number of reviews and development projects to look at sustainability as a key responsibility and priority, e.g. with the Devon Strategic Partnership. Specific policy and process development projects include current work to develop the concept of the ‘Budget-holding Lead Professional’, with pilot sites in the South West (for DfES). He has led our work on major reviews such as that of the Greater London Authority, the education service in Southwark and the prospective implementation of the Tomlinson 14-19 proposals.

Hywel is an experienced facilitator of community based events, large group sessions (150+), and mixed and senior audience events including those involving ministers. He delivers a number of leadership and management development programmes for members and managers, including part of the IDeA Leadership Academy, and has led capacity building work in a number of authorities, e.g. with Thanet District Council.

Hywel's previous experience includes developing policy and practice in relation to funding, both with the emergent LSC and for European Structural Funds, much of which carried with it organisational change and development issues. He has held senior management positions in a number of organisations including the regional London TEC Council, a London TEC and two charities working to provide opportunities and services to people with disability.

He is chair of SERA, an environmental campaigning organisation, a Fellow of the RSA where he has been involved in the Sustainable Action Group Exchange (SAGE), and was previously chair of a south London primary school.

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Paul is a specialist in organisational communication and organisation development. He helps clients to improve performance and deliver customer-focused services by engaging staff, service users, partners and other stakeholders. He has experience in designing and implementing initiatives to develop personal skills and competencies, as well as strengthen organisational capacity to achieve these ends. He has worked on a wide variety of assignments in all parts of public services, focused on involving managers and staff in decision making, promoting partnership working and engaging communities to help them contribute to service improvement..

Before joining OPM, Paul was a director of a management consultancy specialising in communication and the management of change. Prior to that he worked in local government as a communication manager and he has also held posts at a number of university business schools and management centres, where he undertook research into communication and employee relations issues.

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Ann specialises in education and issues relating to young people, and works with schools, universities, colleges and education managers. She supports the planning and implementation of new projects, develops strategy and resolves the operational implications of change, delivers learning and development programmes, and evaluates major initiatives.

Before joining OPM Ann worked in the civil service for thirteen years, in a wide range of posts – mainly developing policy (in the areas of employment and benefits and implementing the standards agenda for schools), but also front-line operations and financial management. Ann also spent two years as an internal consultant in the Department for Education and Skills.

Ann has developed considerable expertise in the use of targets and performance measures to embed change and drive service improvements, in engaging stakeholders and getting their ideas heard, and in making policy collaboratively. She has designed planning systems, human resources strategies and funding systems at both strategic and local levels. Currently, Ann is Chair of a curriculum committee in a London primary school.

Ann holds a BA in Byzantine Studies and Politics from Queen’s University, Belfast and is currently studying for an MBA with Henley Management College.

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Simon is an experienced researcher, policy analyst and consultant specialising in local and central government. His work includes strategy development, policy formation and cultural change. He has particular interests in developing capacity for collaboration and innovation within local authorities.

Before joining OPM, Simon was head of public services at the think tank Demos, where he led a wide range of international research and consultancy projects and published widely on public policy and management issues. He has also worked on local government policy for the CBI and as a public services correspondent for The Guardian newspaper and LGC.

Recent relevant experience:

• DCLG and IDeA: led a major research and action learning project with four local authorities – to explore ways of improving trust in local government
• Victorian State Government, Melbourne: led a research and organisational development project exploring ways to make public administration more agile
• New Zealand Public Services Association: leading a research project on the future of the country’s government
• Leadership Centre for Local Government: delivered a series of development events for leading young councillors
• Work with leadership teams in a number of local authorities – delivering consultation events and strategy development workshops
• Experienced futures practitioner, with international experience of using scenario planning techniques for strategy and organisational development
• Regular speaker and commentator on local government and wider public service reform issues.

Simon holds a BA in English and American literature from the University of Kent, and an
MA in Journalism from the University of London.

Recent publications include:

• Parker, S and O’Leary, D. Re-imagining Government – putting people at the heart of New Zealand’s Public Sector, Demos (2006)
• Parker, S and Bartlett, J. Agile Government: a provocation paper, State Services Authority Victoria (2007)
• Parker, S, Spires, P. et al, Building Trust in Local Government, Demos (forthcoming)

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David's background is in criminal justice. He was previously an assistant chief probation officer with responsibility for policy and delivery of probation services, firstly for the six London prisons and then for a London borough. Later, he took responsibility for the probation service's quality and standards audit. He has also held pan-London responsibilities for risk of harm policy and implementation, rehabilitation and partnerships.

David moved from there to the Social Exclusion Unit as the 'justice' and 'diversity' policy advisor and worked across a number of the Unit's main areas, including truancy, teenage pregnancy, neighbourhood renewal, extended schools, young people and re-offending. He went on to head the, then new, trilateral Criminal Justice System Race Unit, accountable to secretaries of state for the Crown Prosecution Service, Home Office and the courts, through the National Criminal Justice Board. The Unit worked on national and local policies and strategies to reduce any race disproportion in criminal justice outcomes.

A skilled facilitator, David has led many workshops and conferences such as assessment centres and the senior command course for the police, and conflict resolution for the Probation Service. He has a particular interest in stakeholder analysis, engagement and management, and in policy development following such engagement.

He holds a first degree in psychology and postgraduate qualifications as a social worker and probation officer. He is on the boards of several voluntary organisations in the criminal justice and housing fields.

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Shannon specialises in leadership and management development within public sector organisations. Shannon's consulting work has focused on developing practical, applied learning programmes that engage adult learners and help them to build the practical skills they need for professional growth and service improvement.

Shannon has particular experience in the criminal justice sector in the UK and the USA. Prior to joining OPM in September 2007, Shannon worked for Victim Support's national office, where she led the organisation's work on sexual violence, domestic violence and services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. She was also heavily involved with improving services to people bereaved after murder and manslaughter.

Previously, Shannon held key roles on national leadership and management development projects for the US Department of Justice (the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention) and the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Shannon also planned, implemented, and managed innovative programmes for women and children at two of the leading HIV/Aids service organisations in the United States.

Shannon is particularly interested in helping public sector organisations to tackle the challenges associated with partnership working, reaching people from marginalised communities and designing learning programmes that get measurable results. She uses a consultative, strengths-based approach to build partnerships with clients and essential stakeholders.

Recent experience includes:

• Managed a network of over 50 leading youth justice organisations that developed comprehensive service models related to issues such as restorative justice, drug courts and youth courts (project for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, US Department of Justice).
• Developed management standards and requirements, implemented across England and Wales, for Victim Support's work on sexual violence, domestic violence, services to young people and outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. Provided guidance and support to help managers to meet the standards.
• Designed and delivered learning programmes and guidance to help Victim Support managers to respond rapidly and effectively to high-profile government initiatives, such as the introduction of victims' advocates in murder and manslaughter cases, and the development and expansion of specialist domestic violence courts.
• Developed a workshop on 'user-friendly' evaluation for managers of small, community-based organisations. Led a team to examine the essential concepts to be included and avoid the use of jargon, producing a workshop that provided clear, practical information about complex concepts.

Shannon has a BA in Communication/Women's Studies, and an MA in Sociology: International Training and Education, both from the American University.

email Shannon Shuemake

Munira has worked with a wide range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations. She has a strong background in policy development, implementation and review, especially concerning issues of equality and diversity, governance, community involvement and community safety. Her key skills include: organisational assessment and change management; operational management of corporate functions and social care services; performance management; leadership and delivery of strategic priorities; partnership development; and service reviews.

Prior to joining OPM, Munira worked as a senior manager and then as an independent consultant to the public, private and not-for-profit sectors whilst also studying for the Masters degree in Public Administration (MPA) at Warwick University. Her career in local government together with her consultancy assignments has strengthened her interests in equalities and diversity, leadership in public services and governance processes to support organisational change and development. In her research work she has explored key leadership dimensions for equality and transformational change in public service organisations. Munira has also recently developed expertise in OpenStrategy, a new strategy development tool, to assist partnerships focus on delivery.

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Carol is a highly qualified healthcare professional with over 30 years experience. She has a demonstrable record of achievement, leading major organisational change and development programmes on behalf of large NHS trusts, health authorities and their strategic partners. Carol combines exceptional strategic policy skills with a proven ability to implement sustainable solutions and optimise resources.

Before joining OPM, Carol managed her own public sector management consultancy for 10 years. Previous experience includes employment as a director of nursing (elderly care) and various organisational development roles, including quality management, professional development and research.

Carol has developed health authority-wide Agenda for Change implementation strategies, engaged multiple stakeholders across a health economy and developed mental health NSF strategies. She undertook large-scale quantitative and qualitative field work, prior to developing county-wide knowledge management strategies. Her work with clinical teams to map patient processes, and develop strategies and guidelines to address the issues raised, resulted in reductions in length of patient stay and associated financial benefits.

Carol has also undertaken an evaluation of post-registration expenditure within a workforce confederation, redesigned HR systems, including performance management and skill mix reviews, and designed and established a two-year, multi-disciplinary, leadership/management programme, validated at diploma level.

Carol's qualifications include a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), University of Warwick, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies and a Diploma in Nursing (University of London)She is currently studying for a Masters in Public Health (MPH), at the University of Warwick.

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Tim is a very experienced facilitator and consultant who has worked with many public sector bodies as well as voluntary, arts and community organisations. He has a particular interest in developing leadership in partnerships who are integrating services, co-created by providers and local communities, across housing, education, social care and health care.

He runs programmes such as Future Leaders (for the Housing Corporation) and Future Leadership (the DCLG / LGA sponsored ‘gold standard’ programme) as well as community leadership and stakeholder and community engagement programmes for many local authorities, DfES New Schools and the Healthcare Commission. He also directs projects such as the Disability Equality Duty support and challenge programme in local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland for the Disability Rights Commission.

Previous experience includes: running a national education charity; work on regeneration and arts projects; reviewing the role of local equality organisations and the effective implementation of the Public and General Race Duties for the Commission for Racial Equality; and the evaluation of the national Right Fit project, a £3M partnership between GlaxoSmithKline, Barnardo’s and 130,000 young people to promote peer-led health projects.

He is a part-qualified accountant (ACCA Pt.4) and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Continuing Education and Training (City University, 2000) and Certificate in Public Participation (International Association for Public Participation, 2005). He is currently studying for the MBTI qualification and the Diploma in Executive Coaching and Leadership Mentoring

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Since joining OPM in 2003, Phil has worked with a wide variety of organisations from across the public services, on issues ranging from new models of service user involvement in healthcare to the challenges posed by future trends in energy management and the built environment. He is currently working on an ambitious programme of research and capacity-building with public service leaders across London, as part of OPM’s work for the capital’s regional improvement and efficiency partnership – the London Collaborative. He has particular expertise in strategic futures work, including scenario development and horizon scanning, as well as impact-focused evaluation, and equality and diversity practice and policy.

Phil has extensive experience of managing research, evaluation and policy development projects that draw upon the full range of quantitative and qualitative methods, including large-scale postal and web-based surveys; workshops and major stakeholder events; literature reviews; interviews and focus groups. Before joining OPM Phil held research placements at the National Trust and the RSPB. He also completed an internship with a leading public relations firm. Phil has a Research Training MA in Politics, University of Warwick and a BA (Hons) Politics, Philosophy and Economics (First Class), University of Oxford.

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Leigh is an experienced and skilled social researcher with particular expertise in quantitative research and stakeholder engagement. She has managed and worked on a wide range of both qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation projects, for clients in central and local government, health, education and the voluntary sector.

Leigh has a specific interest in children and young people's services and has been involved in a number of projects looking at the provision and reconfiguration of children's services at a local level, and how to involve children in these processes.

email Leigh

Rachel joined OPM from Opinion Leader Research, where she was involved in all stages of research and consultation projects, including project management, analysis, policy development, presentations and report writing (including conference papers and documents for the public domain). She has in-depth experience of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and has also been involved in developing innovative techniques, such as parallel workshops, public engagement forums, reputation audit, permanent campaigning and the protagonists' network. Rachel also has strong moderating skills, developed through facilitating discussion groups and workshops and conducting in-depth interviews.

Rachel has a BA Modern History and English from Mansfield College, Oxford University.

email Rachel

Abigail is an experienced social researcher, specialising in evidence-based research and consultancy for public services. Abigail has delivered projects for a variety of lead policy-makers and commissioners from across the public and voluntary sectors on issues ranging from criminal and civil justice to social policy and health. She has extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including postal and face-to-face surveys, interviews, focus groups, workshops and literature reviews. Her particular expertise is in survey methodology, question and questionnaire design, development, testing and evaluation. Abigail has also taught Survey Methods for the University of Southampton's MSc in Official Statistics and was an editor for the ONS Social Survey Methodology Bulletin.

Abigail's recent experience includes:

• Managing a project commissioned by the Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC) to explore the concept of community cohesion and related skills, so that core professionals and community leaders gain a better understanding of the key issues surrounding cohesion and their role in promoting cohesive communities.
• Characteristics and experiences of Muslim students in Higher and Further Education in London: working as part of a team on this research project commissioned by the Greater London Authority (GLA), undertaking qualitative and quantitative data collection and analyses, including focus group facilitation, interviews with students and survey analysis of a large scale web-based questionnaire.
• Consultation, on behalf of the Commission for Rural Communities, in response to the interim report NHS Next Stage Review, involving exploration of how issues arising from the report affect the general public.
• Project management of the quantitative strand of work commissioned by Lambeth Council to support the Brixton Town Centre master planning process.
• Conducting a local evaluation of budget holding lead professionals (BHLP) for children's services in Coventry City Council. The evaluation involves in-depth interviews with practitioners, families and young people in order to build case studies of BHLP interventions, as well as a survey of BHLP practitioners in Coventry.
• Undertaking qualitative and quantitative data collection and analyses on a research project commissioned by the Greater London Authority (GLA), including focus group facilitation, interviews with students and survey analysis of a large scale web-based questionnaire.
• Project manager, responsible for providing advice to the Home Office National Offender Management Service (NOMS) on data collection, surveys and complaints procedures.

Abigail has an MA in Population Studies and a BSc (Hons) in Geography, both from the University of Liverpool.

email Abigail Dewar

Annie is an experienced researcher with a particular interest in stakeholder engagement, equality and diversity, and the voluntary sector and has worked on a wide range of projects for a variety of clients. She has in-depth experience of qualitative research methodologies and strong moderating skills, developed through facilitating discussion groups and workshops and conducting in-depth interviews.

Annie joined OPM from Victim Support Sussex, where she researched and subsequently set up a new county-wide service providing support to vulnerable witnesses required to give evidence in court. She has also worked for Oxfam, providing organisational support, including running events around the country to bring together volunteers and campaigners, and been a volunteer visitor for the Gatwick Detainee Welfare Group.

Annie holds an MSc in Voluntary Sector Organisation and Social Policy from the London School of Economics and a BA in Politics from the University of Sussex.

email Annie

Ayesha has a strong background in policy analysis across the health and social care sectors, with extensive experience of project management, including stakeholder liaison, policy development, report writing and presentations. She has particular expertise in supporting vulnerable groups, having delivered projects for the Government on the Mental Capacity Act and the mental health needs of people with a learning disability. Ayesha has also facilitated a range of service user focus groups and consultation events, and has developed and implemented a user involvement strategy for a large charity.

Previous to joining OPM Ayesha was a senior policy advisor at a social care organisation – covering learning disability, substance misuse and the criminal justice system. She has significant knowledge of the role of the third sector, having worked at the Charity Commission, and in public services delivery, having lead projects for a range of commissioners and decision makers.

Ayesha is also a trustee of a national charity supporting people with a learning disability. She has a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford.

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Nina has experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods. She joined OPM after undertaking an internship researching international trade and development for a non-governmental organisation. Her research included a focus on the impact of voluntary trade regulations on trade between East Africa and the European Union. Nina has also critiqued the negotiating procedures and the potential outcome of the Economic Partnership Agreements between African, Caribbean, Pacific countries and the European Union. While working as a legal researcher for a London borough, she researched points of law including employment law - particularly TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) Regulations - and contract law.

Nina has a BSc in Economics from Queen Mary, University of London, and an LLB from University College, London

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Colin researches a range of policy areas for OPM but has a special interest in health services and the education and skills sector. Most recently Colin has worked on projects looking at improving customer service in public services and in widening access to the professions. He is well versed in managing projects involving both quantitative and qualitative research techniques.

Prior to joining OPM Colin worked for a consultancy conducting ad-hoc research projects for large healthcare companies. His role involved research into the pricing and marketing of pharmaceuticals as well as consumer issues in healthcare. He has also held posts with the Department of Health and the National Care Standards Commission.

Colin holds an honours degree in Business Studies from the University of Edinburgh. He has also completed an internship with Help the Hospices' policy and public affairs team and is currently working towards the diploma of the Market Research Society.

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Rebecca joined OPM in October 2007. Prior to this, she worked for consultancy firms in Leeds specialising in regeneration, equality and diversity, social exclusion, and governance.  Rebecca has successfully overseen a variety of research, consultancy, and service delivery projects for clients including the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Children’s Workforce Development Council, Yorkshire Forward, and the National Employment Panel.  She has considerable experience in project development and management, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, facilitation, toolkit development, stakeholder engagement, partnership working, and report writing.  

Since joining OPM Rebecca has managed a range of projects including:

• the evaluation of a pilot site running a Budget Holding Lead Professional project to identify its impact on practitioners and children, young people and families in the locality, in order to inform future funding priorities
• developing a toolkit and good practice case studies to support the development and improvement of Local Safeguarding Children Boards to help make them more effective and to inform future policy. 
• the national evaluation of the Healthcare Commission’s investigations function. 

Projects that Rebecca is currently working on include a review of community engagement activity in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and a year long study for the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education into what constitutes an effective governing body in the higher education sector.

As well as her BA (hons), Development Studies with Politics, University of Leeds, Rebecca has a postgraduate diploma in public policy and management and is currently working towards her MA.

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Ellie’s interests are in sustainability, community cohesion, housing, governance and the children and young people’s agenda. She has experience in applying a range of qualitative and quantitative research techniques, including interviews, report writing, literature reviews, survey design and analysis, and statistical analysis (using SPSS). She has recently been involved in facilitation for the Equalities Review, mapping voluntary sector funding for Haringey Council and Lambeth Council’s budget consultation.

Prior to joining OPM, Ellie worked in the Children and Learners Policy Team at the Government Office for the East Midlands, where she supported three children’s services advisers. She has worked in several housing associations, including NACRO and Framework Housing Association – where she ensured that projects fulfilled the requirements of the Supporting People’s Quality Assessment Framework (QAF), and conducted surveys and focus groups with service users.

Ellie has an MA Research Methods and Politics (ESRC-sponsored) from Sheffield University and a BA in Politics (1st Class honours) also from Sheffield University.

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Rob has worked in research since 2003 and at OPM since April 2006, having had experience of project work at all stages, from literature reviews and questionnaire design to depth interviewing and group facilitation, analysis and report writing. Rob has worked in a number of stakeholder engagement projects with a range of public and professional participants, including programmes of research into local regeneration initiatives in South East London. In December 2007, Rob completed a six month part-time secondment at the Audit Commission where he worked on a study into local government efficiency, which comprised site visits to 20 local authorities.

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Experienced in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, Max has undertaken several large-scale literature reviews, facilitated workshops, constructed and analysed surveys, and conducted interviews with a wide variety of professional and public stakeholders. His recent projects include developing an impact model for the London Development Agency's health team, facilitating focus groups aimed at developing a competency framework for the Academy for Sustainable Communities, and undertaking a large-scale literature review and telephone interviews for the General Teaching Council and the Innovation Unit. He has also contributed to several reports including a think piece for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on governance in the social housing sector and reports on the interrelation between health and sustainable economic development for the London Development Agency and the network of Regional Development Agencies.

Max has particular personal interests in issues of sustainability, social capital and citizen engagement and empowerment through co-production.

Max holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford

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Hannah is an experienced quantitative and qualitative researcher with a particular interest in review and evaluation work. She is currently working on an evaluation of preventive services for older people in the London Borough of Camden and recently evaluated the Healthcare Commission’s pilot projects exploring new approaches to patient and public engagement. Hannah recently completed a six-month secondment in the Audit Commission’s Policy, Research and Studies Directorate, where she contributed to a national study on strategic service delivery partnerships between local authorities and the private sector. Hannah has a BA in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford. Before joining OPM, she worked for Brighton & Hove City Council in the Directorate of Children, Families and Schools.

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Kate has a particular interest in education policy, current developments within the teaching profession and the wider integration of service delivery for children and young people. She has a great deal of experience in running focus groups, using innovative methods such as model design and consensus workshops.

Kate has recently researched and written an extensive review for the General Teaching Council of current policy and literature debating the future professionalism of teachers within this country. She has also conducted research on behalf of the Innovation Unit, exploring the factors surrounding innovation in teaching, both within with the classroom and at a wider school level. As the lead writer working on the local ev