Joe’s career started in audit and accountancy, where he developed his interest in corporate governance. He trained at a big four accountancy firm and later worked as an internal audit manager in the NHS. For nine years he was head of assurance for a major teaching hospital trust. His responsibilities spanned regulatory compliance, risk and clinical governance. He also oversaw the trust’s legal services and clinical audit functions.
Joe has a passionate interest in organisational culture, inclusive leadership and staff engagement. These are the ingredients without which no governance system can be truly effective. While in the NHS, he was seconded to work in people and organisational development, where he built the foundations of a workforce planning process, and during the pandemic he managed employee wellbeing services.
Joe has a master’s degree in business administration from Liverpool John Moores University and a bachelor’s degree in government from the LSE. He is also a qualified accountant and a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
At GGI, Joe's work has been wide-ranging. He has led governance reviews in different sectors. He has participated in well-led reviews and corporate investigations, and delivered risk management training. Joe recently managed a governance turnaround programme for an NHS trust that included service redesign of the clinical governance teams, reform of committee structures, a gap analysis against the CQC’s quality standards, and drafting new policies.
Joe’s approach to consultancy is practical and partnership-based. He works with the client and their staff to develop solutions together, building wherever possible on the organisation’s strengths. His approach to governance is founded in common sense—making the right thing to do the obvious and straightforward thing to do, rather than tying up busy people in bureaucracy and jargon.
Outside work, Joe is a trustee of a local mental health charity. He was formerly a local government councillor and chaired the council’s audit committee. He also served as a school governor. He is also an enthusiastic, although not particularly green-fingered, gardener. And he enjoys cooking and experimenting with interesting recipes. He is a seasoned traveller who is trying to see more of the Balkans and Eastern Europe.
