Understanding ModernGov Our Trainers

Tim Williams - Parliamentary Training Consultant

Tim Williams is an experienced trainer and independent consultant focused on all aspects of Parliamentary procedures, and in particular the legislative process. He is an expert on Whitehall’s interaction with Parliament and the procedures of both the House of Commons and the House of...Read More

Huw Edwards - Parliamentary Training Consultant

Huw Edwards is an independent trainer and consultant specialising in understanding parliament, politics and public policy. He is an Associate Lecturer of the National School of Government, the former civil service college...Read More

Rob Smith - Former Director General, Department of Communities and Local Government

With more than 30 years experience in the civil service, Rob Smith is now a training consultant and mentor with specialist knowledge in the fields of local government and education. He is also a Deputy Chair of Trustees for The National Literacy Trust and a Trustee of The Place To Be ( therapeutic counselling for primary school children )...Read More

Ian Simpson - Training Consultant

Ian Simpson has over 35 years of experience working in a wide range of areas from IT operations to systems development. He has worked for a range of global companies, and has gained a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of management and development...Read More

Judy Oliver – Training Consultant

Judy is an experienced coach, facilitator and trainer whose portfolio covers all sectors but, in particular, those organisations involved in the commissioning or provision of healthcare or health-related services. Her clients include the Royal College of Physicians, Strategic Health Authorities, numerous Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and prospective or actual Foundation Trusts...Read More

Dr Nigel Forman - Parliamentary Training Consultant

Dr Forman is a freelance lecturer and trainer. He is an instructor in international economics and business studies at Wroxton College and has taught government and comparative politics at several universities, including Sussex, Essex and the UK campus of Queen's University, Ontario. He is the author of two leading textbooks: Mastering British Politics with NDJ Baldwin (5th ed, Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2007);...Read More

Roberta Woodcock - Financial Training Consultant

Roberta is a Learning and Development professional with a wealth of experience in financial management issues. Since forming her own company Roberta has undertaken consultancy work with a number of government agencies such as the Passport Agency, OGCbuyingsolutions, Commission for Racial Equality, IPCC and SERCO, delivering financial training at all levels...Read More

George Oliver MBE - Parliamentary Training Consultant

George Oliver MBE is an independent, freelance parliamentary consultant specialising on all aspects of Parliamentary procedure in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Prior to this, George worked at the former Department for Education for 23 years during which he held a number...Read More

Jon Worth - European Policy Training Consultant

Jon Worth is a freelance training consultant and website designer based in Brussels. His particular areas of interest are EU environmental, transport and energy policies, the future of the European Constitution, and workings of the European Parliament...Read More

Katherine McDonald - Senior Consultant,Strategem NI

Katherine is a Senior Consultant with Stratagem and is a founder member of the firm. She advises some of Stratagem's longest-term clients and has provided project management to a range of organisations working in complex legislative and regulatory environments. She has also led higher-profile campaigns co-coordinating policy...Read More

Gráinne Walsh - Consultant, Strategem NI

Gráinne Walsh is a consultant with Stratagem and plays a key role in all aspects ofthe business from organisation and training to marketing and planning, with a lead responsibility in the areas of external communications and Corporate Social Responsibility activities. Gráinne regularly delivers Stratagem training courses and strategic...Read More

Prof James Mitchell - Professor of Politics, University of Strathclyde

James Mitchell has been Professor of Politics at the University of Strathclyde since 2000, having previously been Professor of Politics at the University of Sheffield. His main research interests are in territorial politics, looking in particular at the politics of nationalism and regionalism, the territorial impact of public policy...Read More

Martin Murphy - Supply Chain Management Consultant

Martin is the Managing Director of SCMG, operating at programme manager and senior consultant up to executive and board level with 15 years private and public sector procurement experience. Involved in over £1 billion of tenders with buy and bid experience, Martin has provided strategic procurement advice and tactical support to public sector clients. This includes procurement strategy development and implementation from Policy to Process level and organisational design...Read More

Professor Douglas Macbeth - Professor of Purchasing and Supply Management, University of Southampton

Douglas is the Professor of Purchasing and Supply Management in the School of Management, University of Southampton and a Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Foundation Professor. He has had funded research totalling over £1 million from research councils, charities and companies...Read More

Sue Calthorpe - Media and Communications Specialist

Susan is an experienced communications professional who trains and lectures on a range of issues, including effective briefing and policy skills. She teaches a number of high-profile public and private sector organisations in effective internal and external communications strategies. Past clients include the Crown Prosecution Service, the Borders and Immigration Authority, Ministry of Defence and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs....Read More

Carl Emmerson - Deputy Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies

Carl Emmerson is deputy director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies and programme director of their work on pensions, saving and public finances. He is an editor of the annual IFS Green Budget. His recent research includes analysis of the UK public finances and public spending, and also the effect of UK pension reform on inequality, retirement behaviour...Read More

Isobel Gowan - Training Consultant

Isobel specialises in management, leadership and organisational development currently working with clients in the NHS and other public sector organisations on a group and individual basis. She coaches a variety of individuals, including doctors, to help them achieve their work and personal goals...Read More

Dr Philip Davies PhD - Training Consultant

Dr Philip Davies is Director of Oxford Evidentia, a UK-based research consultancy company that works globally to make evidence accessible to policy-makers and public service delivery agencies. Previously, Dr Davies was a Senior Research Fellow at the American Institutes for Research in Washington DC. Prior to holding these positions he was Deputy Director of the Government Social Research Unit...Read More

Hilary Samson-Barry - Training Consultant

Hilary Samson-Barry has a wide range of experience initiating and driving change to tackle inequalities in health, well-being and prosperity, and in bringing partners together across policy makers, statutory and non statutory agencies, as well in the private sector...Read More

Nic Suggit - Training Consultant

Nic is an experienced training and development professional with a rich understanding of the challenges facing public policy makers both theoretically and in practice. Nic currently works for the European Policy and Programmes Team at Communities and Local Government having previously worked at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as Head of the Non Domestic Rating Branch...Read More

Tony Travers - Journalist & Director, Greater London Group, London School of Economics

Tony Travers is director of the Greater London Group, a research centre at the London School of Economics. He is currently an advisor to the House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee. From 1992 to 1997, he was a member of the Audit Commission. He was a member of the Urban Task Force Working Group on Finance. He has published a number of books on cities and...Read More

Gemma Tetlow - Senior Research Economist, Institute of Fiscal Studies

Gemma is a Senior Research Economist in the Public Spending and Pensions sector. Her research interests include pensions, savings, asset holding and health and their interactions with later life working. Her recent work also includes analysis of the UK's public finances and public spending...Read More

Eleanor Goodison - Parliamentary Training Consultant

Eleanor Goodison has over 30 years' senior level experience in central government as well as substantial experience in voluntary, community and church activities.  With 8 years at the National School of Government, she has particular expertise in learning and development..Read More

Annette Hogarth - NHS Commissioning Expert

Annette has had considerable experience of commissioning through the range of roles undertaken in Primary Care Trusts and through the joint role with the Local Authority. This has included writing a joint commissioning strategy for the PCT and Local Authority...Read More

Professor Fergus Lyon - Associate Director (Social Enterprise), Third Sector Research Centre 

Fergus is Professor of Enterprise and Organisations, Business and Management at Middlesex University. As well as directing the social enterprise research stream at TSRC, he is Director of the social enterprise Capacity Building Cluster...Read More

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Anne Matthews - NHS Commissioning Expert

Anne has worked within the health sector for 16 years with experience in both the NHS and private sector. In 2007 Anne joined an NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust to drive the redesign agenda and raise the profile for services for older adults. Facilitating leadership programmes has enabled Anne to empower change in...Read More

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Martin Ferguson - Head of Policy, SOCITM

Martin Ferguson is Socitm's first Head of Policy. In this role, he leads the development and promotion of Socitm responses to major issues around public sector ICT, including data management and sharing; partnerships and outsourcing; self service; flexible working; and the pan-government security vision....Read More

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Dr Gesche Schmid - Local Government Association

Gesche is leading the implementation of location information policy including INSPIRE, the Public Sector Mapping Agreement and the UK location programme in the local government sector. Gesche has over 20 years experience in GIS and information management....Read More

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Mark Napier - Managing Director, Centre for Public Innovation

Mark is a leading advocate for innovation in the public and voluntary sectors, both as practitioner and as a thought leader. As Managing Director, he leads CPI’s strategic development....Read More

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Christopher Freeman - Executive Member, The Institute of Counter Fraud Specialists

Christopher has now been in local authority fraud prevention and investigation for over ten years. In 2006 he was appointed to his current role as Fraud Manager, making him one of the youngest people in the UK to ever have held such a position within local government at just 24.....Read More

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