Employment
2009- Freelance Consultant, Writer, and Artist
Please see the information about my website development and other consultancy services, written publications, and arts practice.
2000-09 Met Office
My final role in the Met Office was Climate Business Manager. I was jointly responsible for managing accounts with Defra, DECC and the MoD for the £19m pa climate research programme, and related government contracts; and I project managed delivery of the UK Climate Projections 2009.
My first role was Local Forecasting Scientist, investigating the use of ensemble techniques to improve the prediction of low cloud in the site-specific forecasting model. I won a Met Office Innovation Award for this work.
I then moved to the Health Forecasting project, funded by the Treasury Invest to Save Budget. As Developer, Services to Health, I coordinated the development, and contributed to the design, of a trial web-based service for the NHS. I also took on an extra role as Team Leader, Civil Sector Applications, responsible for the task and performance management of a team of six.
On completion of this project, I became a founder member of the Business Analyst team, working with customers to define their requirements for products and services, and with development staff to ensure delivery of solutions to meet those requirements. I often worked concurrently on several projects of varying scales.
When the opportunity arose, I moved back to Health as Manager, Health Research. I set up and directed the team delivering research into the impact of weather, climate and air quality on human health, and the clinical benefits of the Met Office Health Forecasting services. I managed relationships with senior government officials, world leaders in clinical respiratory research, and research budget holders in pharmaceutical companies and NGOs. I have published eight papers and 22 abstracts.
I was then brought in to build a new Business and Science Integration team, to improve working between different areas of the Met Office. I ensured that corporate planning was based on outputs and customer requirements; science capability was pulled-through into new services; capability building was consistent with strategies and was prioritised; and internal processes were streamlined and any problems solved.
1997-99 Cambridge Econometrics
As Manager, UK Energy-Environment-Economy Service, I managed and marketed consultancy services used by government and energy multinationals in formulating policy and strategy.
1995-97 Community of St Mary the Virgin, Wantage
I spent 20 months testing a vocation to the religious life.
1992-95 Cambridge Econometrics
As Energy-Environment Analyst, I undertook consultancy work for clients, primarily analysing prospects for energy demand and carbon emissions, but also prospects for industries, regions and the housing market.
1987-88 Environmental Sciences Division, AERE Harwell
For a year between school and university, I was a Student Assistant, contributing to computer modelling and experimental research in ozone chemistry.
Professional Memberships
2009- Honorary University Fellow, University of Exeter, Department of Theology
2016-21 Resident, Kaleider studio, Exeter
2005-11 Fellow, Royal Meteorological Society
2007 Member, Peninsula Environment and Human Health Forum
2006-07 Member, British Thoracic Society
2007 Steering Group, Heat Wave Plan evaluation project, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
2006-07 Steering Group, Heartstart project, University of Glasgow
Awards
2007 Innovative Service Award for ‘Health Forecasting’, Health and Social Care Awards 2006, Department of Health and NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
2005 Saint Luke’s College Foundation Prize for Certificate in Theology, University of Exeter
2003 Innovation Award for ‘Forecasting the Nation’s Health’, Met Office
2002 Innovation Award for ‘Low Cloud Prediction’, Met Office
1991 Gertrude Mather Jackson Prize for Mathematics, Girton College, University of Cambridge
Education and Training
Goethe Institut
Goethe-Zertifikat B2, professional working proficiency in German
2005-08 Ashridge Business School, Met Office, University of Exeter
Leadership and Management Development
2003-05 University of Exeter
Distinction, Certificate in Theology
2000-09 Met Office
Grade A, Foundation Meteorology
PRINCE2 Project Management, Project Board
ITIL v2 Service Management Foundation
1991-92 Imperial College London
Distinction, MSc in Environmental Technology
Diploma of Imperial College
1988-91 University of Cambridge
First Class Honours, BA and MA in Mathematics
1980-87 School of St Helen and St Katharine, Abingdon
2 Sixth Term Examination Papers (STEP) in Further Mathematics
4 A Levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics and Geography
11 ‘O’ Levels including French and German
Skills
Analysis and Research
Understanding ideas quickly, synthesising data, thinking laterally and logically, problem solving.
Setting business strategy, planning, managing and delivering consultancy.
Business analysis, initiating and managing change, facilitating joint working.
Communicating and Influencing
Clear and concise written communication through business cases, management briefings, business analysis reports, scientific consultancy, academic papers, comment pieces, blogging.
Confident and persuasive oral communication with customers, senior management, technical and non-technical colleagues and collaborators, and other stakeholders.
Technology and IT
Web design using e.g. WordPress, PHP, MySQL, JS, Python, HTML, CSS, Google Maps.
Social media and mailings using e.g. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Mailchimp; and integration with website production.
PRINCE2 as a Project Manager or Project Board member in the IT area; Rational Unified Process as a Business Analyst; ITIL Service Management.
Interests
Doing God
I maintain a rhythm of prayer, study and retreat.
I am a member of the Exeter Cathedral community and act as a Eucharistic minister at the Sunday Eucharist. I lead a Lectio Divina prayer group and a Slow Reading book group, and write regularly on prayer for the monthly magazine. In the past I have: formed a group aiming to put the environment and social justice on the Cathedral’s agenda, and reduce its carbon footprint; started a group for members in their 20s-40s; served for three years on the Community Committee and as representative for Christians Together in Central Exeter; and led intercessions regularly.
Environment and Sustainability
I enjoy walking, and recently completed the South West Coast Path. I did Couch to 5K in 2022, and discovered I was one of the few who was running 5K in 30 minutes by the end of the course. When I get the chance, I might be seen fair-weather swimming in rivers and seas and having a go at various water sports.
I do not have the world’s most encyclopaedic knowledge of flora and fauna, but I do spend time trying to be attentive to nature in my local area. In particular, I enjoy harvesting the bounty of hedgerows including blackberries, hazels, and cherries, and processing and eating the results!
I was a member of the wonderful TEDxExeter organising team from 2012-17, responsible for the website, blog and mailings.
From 2015-16 I served on the Board of the Exeter Pound CIC, a spin-off from Transition Exeter. In the past, I have been a member of the Transition Exeter Energy sub-group, investigating the potential for hydro-power on the Exe, and the Communications sub-group, working on the website and mailings.
The Arts
In 2014 I accidentally became an artist in the medium of knitted chemistry, and I have continued to develop my practice in this and other media.
I regularly have comment pieces and book reviews published in newspapers and magazines, reflecting on my various interests, and may one day write one of the books within me.
I enjoy reading a wide range of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, and discussing it in English… and in German with my Tandempartnerinnen.
Sadly, I don’t sing as much choral music as I used to (groups, duet or solo alto), but enjoy the occasional visiting choir stint in cathedrals.
