Hugh Simpson

ARB was established by Parliament in 1997 to regulate the architects’ profession in the UK. We are an independent, public interest body and our work in regulating architects ensures that good standards within the profession are consistently maintained for the benefit of the public and architects alike.

Managing Director of Clever Together, an organisation which helps helps people to understand and solve truly complex issues, to co-create positive cultures, and to improve and sustain organisational performance, together. With crowdsourcing and deliberative methods at its core, and a global network of analysts, creatives, strategists and innovators, Clever Together's work helps organisations and communities to adapt and innovate, fast.

Board level executive director role at the GB regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacies. The GPhC has an annual budget of over £21 million and a staff of 260. Member of the executive board with responsibility for a budget of about £4 million a team of about 40 staff and over 100 associates including functional responsibility for organisational strategy development, regulatory policy, data and insight and education inspection and quality assurance. • Successfully designed and implemented a complete overhaul of regulatory policy in pharmacy which involved internal change management and extensive engagement and consultation with the pharmacy sector. • Successful establishment of new teams and functions involving complex organisational design, culture change, performance monitoring and policy and operational evaluation • Led the introduction of a modernisation programme in pharmacy education including new education standards, a new quality assurance methodology and overhaul of the national licencing examination for pharmacists. • Designed and led the introduction of revalidation for pharmacy professionals – one of the biggest changes in professional development in the sector’s history • Commissioned the establishment of a new data and insight function within the organisation including setting up of a cross-organisation data quality and governance group to successfully build data literacy, governance and analytics.

• Member of the GPhC executive board with functional responsibility for policy and communications. Was responsible for building the directorate from scratch and successfully implementing culture change focussed on evidence based policy and communications. • As part of the executive board had a significant leadership role in both transition arrangements for the organisation's establishment, as well as ongoing development of corporate governance and annual budget and business planning. • Built new teams and overhaul of all regulatory policies including the development and delivery of a new model for pharmacy regulation and new communications strategy

Leading strategic communications and public policy engagement for this high profile membership body which represented 95% of the trusts and organisations within the NHS. • Achieved significant policy influence with government on key initiatives including: reviews of mental health, NHS leadership development, NHS organisational design as well as financial challenges • Established and developed key relationships with ministers, senior officials and political advisers in the Department of Health and the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit • Developed close working relationship with opposition parties to ensure effective influencing in advance of the 2010 general election • Delivered regular high profile national broadcast and print media coverage • Joint leadership of the NHS Confederation annual conference leading content development

Leading the GMC’s public affairs activities in England and engagement across the UK and in Europe as well as a six month interim appointment to lead all external relations functions. • Led political engagement and negotiation with government to secure major reforms to professional regulation • Delivered overhaul of the GMCs public affairs, media and public relations functions • Convenor, Alliance of UK Health Regulators on Europe (as part of GMC role) (www.aure.org.uk). Led UK regulators’ successful lobbying of the European Commission and Parliament on key European directives affecting patients. • Acted as media spokesperson and represented the regulatory bodies in negotiations with EU Commission and European Parliament.

Senior consultant providing advice to clients across financial services, technical services and construction, transport and technology sectors.

Political adviser to Democratic Party Leader (Tony Leon MP) and Chief Whip. Provided parliamentary advice and political campaigns in the run up to, and during general election in June 1999.

Administrative and parliamentary advice to the Lib Dem parliamentary party • Supporting the Chief Whip in the organisation of the Lib Dem Parliamentary Party • Training for MPs and parliamentary research staff on parliamentary procedure, draft legislation and policy coordination.