Current Role: Independent Consultant (Silverthorn Associates Limited)

www.silverthorn.info  mark@ Silverthorn.info

I have recently started my own company, working exclusively in the Public sector, continuing to specialise in Local Government. I work very closely with Socitm, London Connects and CIPFA ITT.

I’m currently engaged on a portfolio of activities with London Connects, Socitm, The Government Office for London and CIPFA.

Within London Connects, I provide strategic support to the London Connects WARP, and am the lead officer for a stream of work covering Business Continuity Management and the Civil Contingencies Act.

I am engaged on project managing a Pan-London strategic Communications system for the Government Office for London.

Keeping abreast with Local and Central Government policy through Socitm SIAG and SOCITM Insight. Contributing to national e-Government and performance management policy, with the ODPM and the Audit Commission. Forming and facilitating forums, working groups and committees. Chairing workshops and other events.

Acting as lead officer for all Information Security, Business Continuity and related issues

Qualifications:

1983 HNC Computer Studies

1983 A-Level Computer Science

1987 City & Guilds Radio Electronics

1992 International Association of Book keepers - Intermediate

University of North London: Part Time:

• 1992-94 NVQ4 Management University of North London (UNL)
• 1994-96 NVQ5 Management (UNL)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Management (UNL)
• 2000 MRes (Masters in Research in Business and Management) (UNL)

Training:

Many and various IT courses covering programming Analysis and Networking & technical support including;

• Counselling Skills
• CRAMM Risk Management
• Investors in People implementation
• Child protection issues
• Unix – Novell – PICK – VME – NT
• X.25 Networks – Frame Relay Networks - TCP/ip Advanced
• Managing Internet Services (UUNET Course)
• e-Commerce Solutions
• Dream Weaver Web site design
• Best Value and Performance Management
• Human rights Act
• Child Protection
• School Governor training
• BS7799 Implementation
• 1999/2000/2001/2002/2003/2004 Gartner Symposium and other topical events
• Prince 2 – Practitioner
• Civil Contingencies Act
• FOI fundamentals
• Managing Successful programmes overview

Professional Qualifications:

1986 Member Emergency Planning Society (MEPS)

1987 Fellow Institute of Analysts & Programmers (FIAP)

1994 Member Chartered Institute of Management (MCIM)

1998  Member Society of Information Technology Management

2002  Member British Computer Society (MBCS)

(Chartered Information Systems Professional as of 1/5/04)

2003 Member Institution of Electrical Engineers (MIEE)

2004 Chartered Information Systems Practitioner (CIPT)

2005 Affiliate member SOCITM

Previous Employment:

Resume

During my 20 years of experience in Local Government ICT, I have worked on and managed a wide range of projects and delivered many new systems.

During the past three years with London Connects, I have;

• Established Pan-London Information Security working Group
• Worked with the Data Protection Officers group and Masons solicitors to develop a package of FoI, RIPA, Human Rights Act and Data Protection training tools.
• Established Pan-London Web Managers Forum
• Worked on the initial scoping, business case and development of the phase 1 demonstrator London Portal,

       This included the specification and commissioning of external consultants.

• Established and setup London Connects Office including the office procedures, staff establishment and recruitment.
• Opened company bank account and undertook company VAT registration.
• Carried out Data Protection Registration for London Connects Ltd.
• Established the Partnership Manager roles, negotiated the service, recruited staff.
• Established the Sub-Regional Leaders Forum
• Acted a client Project Manager for the 2002 and  2003 London Connects Conference, including working on the programme, content, logistics, client and stakeholder liaison. I have now chaired seven London Connects workshops, presenting at many conferences on behalf of London Connects talking about a wide range of e-Government topics both in the UK and Europe.
• Worked with the ADSS IMG and NHS colleagues on the initial scoping and commissioning of the pan-London NHS-NET connectivity demonstrator.
• Established project and programme management procedures for LGOL programme.
• Developed and established Financial Management regime for London Connects Ltd.
• Programme Management for the LGOL Programme (£ 910K single year Programme 2002/3)
• Managing the development of the 2003 London Connects Website enhancements.
• Working with the Met Police on codes of connection and information sharing protocols with NHS-NET.
• Commissioned and undertook research study into the use and deployment of Open Source software in London
• Worked on preparing the successful £ 400K ISB5 e-Democracy bid, subsequently speaking in Estonia with the Council of Europe about e-democracy along side the IDeA representing UK local Government.
• Successfully secured £ 250K funding 2003/4 for the WARP programme, delivering leading edge innovation in Information Security in association with ODPM ,IDeA, NISCC & CSIA
• Working with IAAC on the WARP programme quality assurance.
• Managing London Connects Project Boards and establishing executive group for London Connections.
• Preparing business cases, business plans, budgets and complex reports.
• Analysing complex and diverse information sources around e-government policy and projects.
• Specification and procurement of the LCWARP web infrastructure.
• Working With London Resilience on Pan-London emergency Co-ordination system.
• Expert advisor to the Audit Commission on Business Continuity Management.
• Working with ODPM on scoping what has become the RYOGENS National Project.
• Working with ODPM on scoping what has become the workflow and Knowledge Management Project.
• Working with OPDM on developing new productisation of the Government Gateway.
• I currently work from a home base.

I am a qualified Price 2 practitioner. The WARP and other LC projects have been implemented to Prince 2 standards, in accordance with ODPM requirements. The WARP work has involved me in representing Local government on the CIPCOG and GIPSI standards committees.

I sit on Socitm SIAG, and am the lead officer for Information Management. the Insight steering Group and manage Socitm’s Performance Management Group. I am a member of the Socitm London Executive committee and manage the London Connects provision of services to Socitm London. I have recently started working with the CIPFA ITT programme as an associate and undertake engagements for Socitm Consluting as a principal consultant.

I have worked on a number of research reports including;

Socitm E is for Efficiency April 2005

Socitm Insight Technology 2000/2001/2002/2003/2004/2005

Socitm Learning from the Best April 2002

Socitm Developing a Regional e-Strategy  June 2002

Socitm Broadband in Local Government November 2002

Socitm Rediscovering Knowledge September 2003

Socitm Charting Information November 2003

Socitm Steering a safe passage December 2003

Gartner  EXP 40 working Frameworks June 2001

Gartner EXP Linking Chains: Emerging Inter Business Processes August 2001

Gartner EXP Managing new IT Risks July 2003

Open Forum Europe: Open Source software use in London May 2003

Socitm Insight Information Management July 2004

Socitm ICT Strategy August 2004

Socitm Authentication report September 2004

Own Articles published:

• Public Service Director:  November 2002 Setting up Partnerships
• Government IT  January 2003 Information Security
• Public Service Director  January 2003Information Security
• Government IT May 2003 Open source Software
• Government IT July 2004 Information Sharing for Partnership Working
• Government IT September 2004 Business Continuity Management
• Emergency Planning society Journal Business Continuity Nov 2004

 I have wide ranging ICT management experience, including the full system life cycle for development and in the        specification, tendering, negotiation and commissioning of hardware and network systems. I’ve procured a £ 300K full OJEC Housing system for Waltham Forest and procured a £ 400k full OJEC tendered network for Waltham Forest.

I have commissioned and managed external consultants and worked on three CCT bids for Housing, Revenues and ICT whilst at Waltham Forest.

I am involved in e-government policy at the national level through London Connects, forging links with various Government Departments, the IDeA and have many local authority links both in London and nationally.

My work with the Socitm Performance Management group includes developing version 6 of the Socitm KPIs and working with Socitm Insight on developing good practice for local authority CPA assessment with the Audit Commission. Current activities revolve around the efficiency review agenda.

I have run various ICT and policy courses and have chaired and spoken at conferences and workshops in the UK and Europe.

I am currently managing a National Emergency Management Project for the ODPM through the Government Office for London. I have been involved with National Consultation around the Civil Contingencies Act with the Audit Commission.