Graham Bell

Personal values

I was first introduced to this value set over 20 years ago, and it resonates with me as much today as it did then:

Passion and pride - consistently demonstrating how much success means to you and the organisation
High velocity - moving and learning with pace in order to deliver the best possible solutions
Special delivery - taking responsibility for ensuring that needs and expectations are always met
Real people - saying what you mean and meaning what you say - building relationships based on honesty, trust and respect
Radical outlook - encouraging an open, radical and innovative approach to new ideas and new technologies

Attributes

Highly productive with the ability to manage significant volume and complexity of work.

A natural curiosity coupled with the willingness to speak out and challenge accepted practices or norms.

Insightful, dedicated and analytical with a strong desire to do the right thing and share learning.

A clear risk philosophy which defines my approach, shapes my priorities, and informs my engagement with others.

overview

Risk and assurance professional with over 30 years' international experience in management, training and consultancy across a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, telecoms, transport and energy. This includes work assignments in the US and Middle East, a track record of successful project delivery, and leadership roles with a FTSE top 25 company. Currently working in financial services for one of the UK's largest retirement businesses.

Independent Member and Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee at Transport for the North (TfN), an oversight committee of TfN’s board.

Previous membership of technical and oversight committees at British Standards Institution (BSI) and Fellowship of the Institute for Strategy, Resilience & Security (ISRS) at University College London (UCL).

Author of a full length management handbook, published by Kogan Page (2020). Journal articles published by Emerald and the University of Manchester.

Experienced trainer, having designed and delivered institute-approved learning programmes and a unique Ofqual-regulated qualification course.

Broad experience including project and programme management, preparedness, performance improvement, operational safety, security and crisis management.

key achievements

Making a lasting contribution to the body of knowledge in the risk domain, sharing that with others and bringing it to life in a variety of organisational settings.

Improving the processes and mechanisms which management rely upon to obtain independent information, and helping them to make better-informed strategic and operational decisions.

Successfully delivering complex projects for a range of clients and organisations, enabling regulatory deadlines and commercial targets to be met.

applied skills

As a leading risk practitioner, I have the ability and willingness to challenge conventional thinking, offer effective solutions and deliver real value to boards and senior management.

Professional Experience

2021 - current

Independent Member and Chair of the Audit & Governance Committee

Transport for the North (TfN)

2021current

Risk Strategy role

Financial Services

Researching, recommending and implementing best practice on managing the Group's emerging risks, strategic risks and risk culture.

20182022

Director

Management Consultancy

Specialising in resilience, risk management and assurance. Delivering unique learning programmes and the only qualification course on organisational resilience recognised by Ofqual. Clients have included Virgin Group and HM Forces.

20022018

Specialist and Leadership roles

FTSE 25 Utility Company

Assurance, risk, project management and safety roles during a 15 year career, which culminated in a senior leadership, Group-level role.

20002002

Project Manager

Technology Company

Process redesign and performance improvement projects, including the design of a new Finance Shared Services organisation covering 2300 staff and implementation of European single currency (Euro) across multiple finance operations.

Pre-2000

Management consultancy, following from customer and quality roles within manufacturing