Chartered Manager of the Year 2023

Dr Victoria Carr is mum to two teenagers and school dog; a primary school Headteacher; a Reserve Officer in the British Army Intelligence Corps; a Chartered Manager and member of the CMI; a CollectivEd Senior Fellow, Leeds Beckett University; a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching; a Senior Research Fellow, the Centre for Army Leadership; an author and TEDx speaker who focuses on leadership, the power of language and how we all have the power to change lives. Vic advocates that there is a social imperative for those in leadership positions to actively create opportunities for transformational interactions with others. She has been a keynote speaker at a range of military and educational leadership events, most recently speaking at the World Education Summit, and also the Defence Women’s Network annual conference. She has lectured part time at Master’s degree level. She has 3 MAs: in Equality and Diversity, Leadership, and Modern War Studies/ Contemporary Military History. Her doctorate is in Leadership and Politics. She published her first book, Leading with Love, with Routledge last year and is already working on 2 more: one of which is in school improvement (Routledge) and one in Army officer recruitment since 1660 (Helion).

WI am an accomplished innovation leader with a decade of experience in developing robust corporate innovation strategies and driving transformative business changes through collaborative partnerships. My expertise spans diverse sectors, including water, energy, defence, marine, nuclear, aviation, rail, and emergency services. I excel in navigating complex environments, fostering open communication and cross-functional collaboration to deliver groundbreaking solutions. My visionary thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to identify emerging trends drive sustainable growth and operational efficiency. With a passion for reshaping industries through innovation, I inspire teams to embrace change and challenges. I am dedicated to transforming organizations and shaping the future of industries for positive and impactful change.

WTom has been based in the Middle East since 2008. In Qatar he worked on the design of the Doha Metro, before transitioning to a leadership role with the organisers of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Recently he moved to Saudi Arabia to lead rail mobility planning for Riyadh’s Qiddiya Programme. He lives with his wife Anna and seven year old son Adrian. He is passionate about travelling and photography, and takes every opportunity to go cycling. Tom has been a Chartered Civil Engineer since 2007, and through his desire to develop his leadership skills, became a Chartered Manager in 2022. Tom is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Member of the British Tunnelling Society. Tom has over 20 years’ experience in delivering complex tunnel and metro programmes, and most recently led the planning and readiness for all tournament rail operations on behalf of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy for the successful FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. This was a particular challenge as Qatar had limited experience of organising sporting events of this scale, and until 2019 had no operational rail lines in the country. On the busiest day of the Tournament, 827,000 passengers travelled to and from stadiums and other destinations via metro, with 17 million passenger journeys overall. Tom mentors young engineers through continuous career development encouraging them to expand their knowledge and inspire them to develop in their careers.

Fiona Apio-Matanda, Head of Employment Programmes at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, with over 15 years senior management experience. Fiona recently graduated with an MBA in Leadership & Management from York St. John University and received the ‘Professor Steve Watson’ student prize award for outstanding achievement. She is also a certified Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. Through her career, Fiona has effectively developed services and led multi-disciplinary teams to deliver commercial contracts and corporate programmes, through an outcome focused approach that delivers measurable impact for service users and the organisation. Fiona has strong interpersonal skills and professional integrity and considers these to be qualities that foster meaningful relationships with teams as well as diverse stakeholder groups. She is enthusiastic about developing individuals to achieve professional growth through continuous learning that also promotes organisational resilience. Having come to the UK as a refugee at the age of 10 and a mother of three amazing young adults, she is driven by her own supported journey into work and considers it a privilege to be able to positively impact others, so they can also realise their full potential.

My Leadership now: In 2020 proudly appointed to our innovative and unique Through Age Wellbeing Corporate Management Team transforming services, just 2 weeks before we entered the pandemic. I learnt powerful lessons, we were more resilient than we knew, resourceful, innovative, leading and building relationships in a remote world. I am strategically responsible for a range of Team Ceredigion services: Targeted Care & Enablement Service: award-winning, working with people to regain independence or bridging to long term care services. Direct Payments Support Service: supporting individuals to employ Personal Assistants to enable them to live their lives independently. The Centre for Independent Living: providing community equipment to enable individuals to be supported safely in their own homes. Technology Enabled Care and Sensory Services: developing digital technology solutions for a proactive and preventative approach. My Management Journey: Junior Management Trainee, retail company in London’s West End, after 3 years of promotions, becoming the youngest Company Manager at age 21, and Quality Assessor for the Buying Dept. Changing careers after my son was born, a Client Liaison Officer for a technology business, then moving into Youth Training, a Retail and Communications Skills Tutor and Workplace Assessor for 16–18-year-olds. After my mother’s failing health, retraining as a Care Manager for Social Services, 70 staff, supporting 700 individuals receiving care at home, mentored by an inspirational woman who influenced my thought leadership. Relocation to Wales, and with a baby daughter and growing son, I joined a Third Sector organisation, developing Respite, Saturday Club and Emergency Support services, for informal Carers caring for family members coping with dementia. For these services I was awarded the Cabinet Office “Charter Mark Award”, the first for a Third Sector organisation in Wales. Founding the Ceredigion Carers Alliance organisation, chairing for 15 years, in 2002 I joined Ceredigion County Council as Carers Development Officer, building strategic partnerships across health, social care, voluntary and business sectors, to support Adult and Young Carers. I created the Carers Magazine and co-designed the Investors in Carers Quality Standards, both still operational today. I founded and chaired for 4 years the All-Wales Carers Learning and Improvement Network, engaging with Welsh Government on legislation and policy development. During this time, I was also seconded to provide interim leadership for in-house Residential Homes and Day Centre Services for Older People and Service Users with a Learning Disability.

I have over twenty years’ experience in tackling serious crime, across different sectors. In 2001, aged 18, I started my career investigating benefit fraud. Developing a passion for public protection I became a Customs Officer (UKBF) in 2004, spending my time protecting the UK Border and public from prohibited and restricted goods. Striving to develop my investigation skills, I joined the National Crime Agency in 2012 – gaining qualifications and wide experience in serious and organised crime and management. I was delighted to receive several commendations for investigative management. In early 2020, I took a role specialising in Modern Slavery. As the Head Southeast SIO, I run a team of dedicated and experienced criminal investigators, tackling complex MSHT crime. During my time in this role, I have developed further extensive management skills and strived to be an excellent manager. I am enthusiastic about continuous development – for myself and others, and have studied level 4 and 6 in Operational Management and delivery with the CMI – and I am currently studying Level 7. My passion for learning spills into a passion for teaching, and I am proud to have represented the UK Government internationally to provide specialist modern slavery training. Raising awareness of exploitation and slavery makes a real difference and saves lives. Across my roles, I am proud to have consistently saved lives, protected society and made a real difference in safeguarding people. Along the way, I have learnt, through good and bad experiences, how to be a manager that inspires, motivates, and creates a team culture of support, value and achievement whilst learning where we can improve. Whatever my role, I strive to be the best I can be, regardless of the challenges I have faced and will face. I am a proud MS Warrior, diagnosed in 2019 – I won’t let a critical illness beat me or take away from my ambition to have made a positive difference to society during my career, and to set a good example for my son.

Dr Godwin Simon finished his undergraduate training completing MBBS and postgraduate training qualifying with MD General Internal Medicine. He completed specialist registrar training in Wessex Deanery and was awarded Certificate of Completion of Training in Diabetes, Endocrinology and General Internal Medicine by the Joint Committee for Higher Medical Training UK. He was awarded Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and Royal College of Physicians London. He also holds postgraduate qualifications in business and management having completed Executive MBA recently, with distinction and subsequently being awarded Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute UK. He is a faculty for medicine at various universities and is a Honorary Professor for Medicine at New Vision University Georgia. Dr Simon has interests in post graduate education in particular simulation training and quality Improvement. He is an Editorial Board member for journals and has worked as principal investigator for clinical studies. He has worked as course director for several courses, and is an educational supervisor and assessor for undergraduate and postgraduate trainees. He is an examiner for undergraduates for several universities and for MRCP PACES clinical exam conducted by the Royal College of Physicians. He has held various leadership roles, Trust Guardian for Safe Working, Divisional Lead for Governance, Divisional Lead Appraiser, Clinical Director for Acute and Emergency Medicine, Trust Lead for Learning from deaths, Trust Lead for Medical Examiner Service and Trust Liaison Officer for COVID. Currently he works as Divisional Medical Director for Unplanned and Integrated Care at Medway NHS Trust managing four care groups - Acute and emergency care, Specialist medicine, Radiology and Therapy for older people. He has interests in Equality Diversity and Inclusion and works in voluntary role as Vice Chair of British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Kent Surrey Sussex Division. He was recently appointed as Clinical Lead for Invited Service Reviews by Royal College of Physicians, UK. He was instrumental in developing SMART electronic tool for learning from deaths, which combines ‘Structured Judgement Review’ developed by the Royal College of Physicians and ‘Immediate scrutiny’ recommended by the Royal College of Pathologists at Essex hospitals. He is a national and internationally recognised speaker on Patient safety and Quality improvement. He has supported various hospital teams to improve quality of care, reducing avoidable cardiac arrests and improving patient flow. He was successful in improving engagement of workforce, changing culture, introducing transformational change. He has introduced Medical Examiner system at Essex hospitals and improved ‘patient flow’ which were recognised as “outstanding practice” by Care quality Commission. He worked with his team, leading Acute and Emergency services from ‘Inadequate’ to ‘Good’ rating at Medway NHS Trust. His work around simulation training for postgraduate trainees was awarded third prize nationally by British Association for Physicians of Indian Origin. His work in reducing mortality for patients with fracture neck of femur was awarded first prize by Hospital Services Journal. His team was also national winner for Good Diabetes Care in pregnancy awarded by British Medical Journal. He has clinical expertise in Diabetes-new therapies, Management of Diabetes in pregnancy, Obesity, thyroid, pituitary and adrenal disorders. His other areas of interest are Patient safety, Quality Improvement, Transformational change, Leadership and management, Patient flow in acute hospitals, Same Day Emergency Care and Virtual wards.