About me

Career

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Head of Digital Identity Governance, Policy and Delivery

July 2022 to present

I lead policy that supports the development of the digital identity market in the UK.

In my role, I currently lead teams that are working to establish a new governing body – the Office for Digital Identities and Attributes. The governing body will provide a coordinating and oversight role for the digital identity market.

I am also the service owner leading a digital delivery team developing the ‘Digital Verification Services register’; a new service that will make it easy and safe to find and use trusted digital identity and attribute providers in the UK. I also lead policy and delivery to establish the ‘information gateway’, enabling private sector access to public authority data for the purpose of identity verification and eligibility checking.

Previously, I led the development of the beta version of the UK digital identity and attributes trust framework. The trust framework aims to make it easier and more secure for people to use services that enable them to prove who they are or information about themselves. It is a set of rules for organisations to follow if they want to provide secure and trustworthy digital identity and/or attribute solutions.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Bill Manager – Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021

January 2021 to December 2021

In this role I led the passage of the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 through Parliament. I worked across a mutli-functional team of policy and legal colleagues, and across Whitehall, to ensure the government’s interests in the Act were well represented and protected. I worked closely with ministers, helping them to develop narratives and strategies to ensure the Act achieved Royal Assent.

Private Secretary

July 2019 to January 2021

In this role I led a private office for a government minister. I led the private offices for the Minister for Digital and Broadband and then Minister for Digital Infrastructure.

Government Equalities Office

Head of Design and Delivery

January 2022 to June 2022

In this role I worked across a multi-departmental team leading the digital product management, creative production and operational delivery of the UK Government’s first ever international LGBT+ rights conference, Safe To Be Me.

The conference was unfortunately cancelled in April 2022, leading me to look for new opportunities. Before it’s cancellation, Safe To Be Me was intended bring together governments, business and civil society leaders from across the world to advance the fundamental rights and freedoms of LGBT+ people globally.

Head of LGBT Safety Policy and Sector Sustainability

October 2018 to July 2019

In this role I led a team delivering the government’s LGBT Action Plan. I led on policy areas focusing on ending conversion therapy, hate crime and domestic violence, and supporting LGBT sector development. I also led the programme management function for the overall programme.

Head of Sexual Orientation Policy

January 2017 to October 2018

In this role I led a team responsible for improving outcomes for people who were lesbian, gay, bisexual or who had another minority sexual orientation. As part of this role, I led strategy and policy development relating to sexual orientation issues, and was the lead policy official for civil partnerships and same-sex marriage.

Government Digital Service

Senior Digital Adviser

April 2014 to September 2015

In this role I provided policy and operational advice to GDS’s Director of Digital. I worked closely with senior officials and ministers to shape policy relating to digital service delivery in government.

Digital Adviser

April 2014 to September 2015

In this role I provided operational support and advice to GDS’s Chief Operating Officer. I worked closely with his senior team to run the core support functions for the organisation across finance, HR and IT. I also led special projects on behalf of the COO.

Education

London School of Economics and Political Science

Bachelor of Science in Government

September 2010 to July 2013

With First Class Honours.

Volunteering

Just Like Us

LGBT+ mentor

October 2020 to present

Civil Service LGBT+ Network

Chair

October 2021 to present

In this role I lead a team of 30 volunteers and a staff network of around 2,500 members. The network delivers national projects and programmes aimed at improving safety, belonging and career development opportunities for LGBT+ civil servants.

Vice-chair

October 2017 to October 2021

In this role, I worked alongside the Chair to delivery projects and programmes aimed at improving the workplace experiences of LGBT+ civil servants.

Board member and Communications Lead

October 2013 to October 2017

In this role, I worked alongside the Chair to delivery projects and programmes aimed at improving the workplace experiences of LGBT+ civil servants.

National Union of Students

National Executive Councillor

July 2009 to June 2011