Ifonima Essien PhD

Responsible for building and maintaining strong industry partnerships and translating WMGs’ expert knowledge and world class research into high quality, branded and engaging short courses and learning materials aligned to industry skills requirements.

• Responsible for delivering the lectures for the MSc modules focused on People, Leadership and Organisation in projects with six inextricably linked learning packages including Organisation, Team and Human Behaviour; Team Theory and Collaboration; Understanding Leadership and Systems Thinking; Communication Theory and Practice; Conflict Theory and Management; and Organisational learning. • Responsible for updating existing teaching resources and designing new materials for lecture delivery in face-to-face, virtual and hybrid formats using Moodle and Zoom platforms • Assisted the module leaders to review the learning needs of the students, conduct field trips across London and other administrative tasks as required. • Assessed and marked student’s courseworks and participated in moderation of results. • Significantly contributed to improved students’ experience and their success.

• Supported the rollout of the Leadership Decision-Making and Culture Change programme for the £4.7 billion SCS HS2 London Tunnels Integrated Project Team. • Extracted relevant principles from the Team of Teams and One Mission literature for embedding in the programme to improve team integration and cohesiveness. • Examined Area/Service Interfaces, Operating Model and the desired organisation endstate. • Developed SDI approach for briefing and comms between the various leadership cohorts. • Collated Senior Leaders' messaging for vision, purpose and case for change to cascade the ethos of decentralised decision making and collaborative ways of working. • Developed a change management strategy, 6-month rollout programme and slide decks for the various briefings, workshops and stakeholder engagement. • Participated in focus group sessions and briefings of the change agenda between the different leadership cohorts and managed the reporting of the outcomes.

Engaged in the client-side project management to deliver several projects in line with the Universitys' Estate Investment Plan. Responsible for the delivery of various construction projects with key responsibilities and objectives as follows: • Develop and manage project definition documents, scope, budget and other key performance indicators for several OBU estates projects. • Manage the refurbishment of Students Accommodation with significant capital outlay including the £4.1 million Paul Kent Hall refurbishment. • Responsible for stakeholder management, as well as benefits and risk management. • Contributed to problem-solving, programme sequencing, progress and change control. • Results include satisfactory progress and successful completion of several capital and minor projects including the Cholsey Boathouse facilities upgrade.

Provided administrative support and managed resources to ensure that Oxford Brookes University staff and students had access to dissertations, thesis and other academic resources by offering a customer-focused, organised and friendly environment. Key responsibilities of this role include: • Prompt and effective communication in response to face-to-face, email and telephone enquiries. • Issue resources to staff and students on loan, track overdue loans and send email reminders. • Work efficiently with minimal supervision. ensuring excellent standards of customer service. • Provide staff support as team leader, plan staff rota and ensure efficient task delivery. • Develop a cataloguing system for new academic materials and manage shelving protocol. • Maintain a high level of organisation, attention to detail and flexible approach to all tasks.

Summer work placement to facilitate the Main Contractors' delivery programme recovery following substantial schedule and cost overrun in the delivery of Blackbird Leys Competition Swimming Pool & Pavilion Complex, Oxford UK. The project was completed and commissioned in December 2014. Key responsibilities and objectives of this role include: • Assisted Construction Manager to schedule tasks and track the delivery programme diligently. • Participated in physical measurements of completed deliverables at critical milestones • Record construction progress on site, and monitor health and safety compliance of suppliers. • Value engineering with the Quantity Surveyors, and record defective works in the snag register.

Lead role in a building design and project delivery consultancy with specific responsibility for initiating, planning and executing a broad range of commercial and housing projects to promote business growth and client retention. Other key responsibilities and objectives of this role include: • Extensive client advisory services, stakeholder engagement and overall business development. • Managed and supported cross-functional project team and maintained optimal performance. • Programme scheduling, delivery team coordination and strategic planning of projects. • Business case development, presentation lead and client relationship management.

Lecturer and Examinations Records Administrator in the Department of Architecture. Teaching core architecture courses whilst collaboratively pursuing diverse research and design projects, as well as attaining specific students' learning outcomes. Key responsibilities and objectives of this role include: • Supervision of final year students’ research and design projects with innovative outcomes. • Examinations Records Administrator between 2005 and 2012 to vet all examination results. • Compile all vetted results and coordinate all matters relating to students’ academic records. • Preparing academic progress reports and facilitate friendly students advisory services. • Ensure timely approval of academic records by the Senate using a suite of Microsoft Office packages. • Promote timely attainment of administrative targets and positive performance appraisal.

Project manager and contract administrator for the construction of 3 General Hospital projects for the Government of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria at the cost of N2 billion. Construction commenced in April 2001 and delivery progressed till practical completion and handover in June 2005. Key responsibilities and objectives of this role include: • Improved teamwork and coordination of all contributors through good interpersonal relationship • Provided effective technical advisory support to the main contractors' and clients' representatives • Conducted risk analysis, scheduling of tasks and benchmarking deliverables in line with contract. • Proactively tracked work progress, prepare weekly reports/photographs and minutes of meetings. • Facilitated extensive stakeholder interfacing and supervised supplier’s technical compliance • Maintained and coordinated performance delivery in line with drawings and specifications. • Transmitted Architects’ instructions and coordinated all resident project meetings.