SD Med observation planning & eco-innovation

Graham GARBUTT

PROFESSOR GRAHAM GARBUTT

B.Sc., B.Arch., M.A.

2009-2011: Visiting Professor of Governance and Development, University of the West of England.

UK representative and past president of the European Association of State Territorial Representatives (regional prefects, governors, queen’s commissioners, etc.).
UK representative, EUROPA universities network. Presentations and seminars on governance, constitutional and policy issues.
Work with OECD including advisor on national and regional governance to the recent Territorial Review of Chile; presentations to ministers and officials.
Work with Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) in Strasbourg including induction for new students on legislative and constitutional arrangements.
Training for Whitehall civil servants on central/local relations.
Independent chairman of Cheltenham Development Task Force in south-west England, a partnership of statutory and other bodies.
Independent chairman of Inquiry into failure of Cotswold Water Park and associated criminal activity.
Work with individual European countries, for example security issues in Norway and regional development in Finland.

2005-2009: Chief Executive, Countryside Agency and Commission for Rural Communities, London and Cheltenham.

Senior national official providing advice to government (Environment Department and others) on sustainable rural communities.
Created successful new national government agency. Negotiation and advice on new legislation and briefings to ministers and officials. Accounting officer with full audit and risk responsibilities.
Presentation and advocacy of policy change up to Cabinet level, and development of effective external communication/media strategy.
National interventions to ensure effective responses to emergencies including flooding and animal diseases.
Leading role in EU Rural Development Programme for England and development of structures for implementation and community involvement.
Chairing of, and speeches and presentations to, national and international conferences and seminars.
Personal leadership to build ‘new consensus’ on English land-use planning and sustainable development policy across national agencies.

2001-2005: Regional Director, Government Office for the West Midlands, Office of Deputy Prime Minister, Birmingham and London

Senior civil servant in charge of one of nine regional Government Offices in England, serving a population of 5.3 million with programmes across ten government departments. Annual budgets of about £1bn and European programmes of £950m. Advising, briefing and accompanying ministers, European commissioners, etc.
Leading government official in development of regional spatial strategy and regional housing strategy, based on principles of sustainable development. Close cooperation with local authorities, environmental organisations, voluntary sector, etc.
Set up and chaired the Regional Resilience Forum comprising armed forces, police and other emergency services, local government, voluntary organisations, media, etc. Management of major training exercises.
Personal interventions in specific crises to integrate government and EU support.
Managed UK’s largest European Objective 2 programme, with best national performance and major regeneration impacts.
Support to governments in Hungary and Romania on management and capacity building, including presentations, staff secondments, etc.
Successful interventions to improve local government performance; most improved region.
National lead role for Government Offices with HM Treasury and universities.

1990-2001: Chief Executive, Gloucester City Council

Executive head of successful city local authority with awards and citations across service areas.
Initiated improvements to emergency and resilience arrangements and led response to local crises, e.g. floods, industrial explosion, etc. Management of financial, media and other impacts.
Initiated urban regeneration strategy and a number of successful sustainable development projects including regeneration of historic docks and other sites.
Initiated work with universities and colleges to develop new campuses and research partnerships.
Initiated community and economic development programmes.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, 1973-1990

EDUCATION