Karen Forbes-Turner

Experience

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  London Borough of Wandsworth

  Sept 1995 - Sept 1997

  GIS Project Coordinator
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  Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

  Sept 1997 - Oct 2003

  GeoInformation Manager

  With responsibility for building up a well-respected Geo-Information Department at Windsor and Maidenhead RBC, I implemented systems and statutory functions, reviewed business processes, implemented change, and provided an internal consultancy service, successfully managing both service and capital budgets. Amongst other roles I was Chair of Directorate IT Group, Chair of Berkshire GIS Group, and the Borough’s Ordnance Survey Liaison Officer.

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  Transport for London

  Nov 2003 - Jan 2004

  Clearview Deployment Manager

  Responsible for the successful deployment of an OracleSpatial system to effectively co-ordinate road and street works throughout London within the Clearview Project, I was a Senior Member of the Clearview Programme and led/managed a team of five Consultants with responsibility for guiding and supporting them. I also enabled the co-ordination of all London road works and liaised with members in all TfL internal departments, London Boroughs and Utilities. I was additionally accountable for establishing sources of data to feed the central hub, geocode and supply back via the Clearview System, hardware and process. Show less

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  Ordnance Survey

  Feb 2004 - Dec 2004

  Interim GeoSpatial Development (Senior) Manager

  As a member of the Senior Management Team, I managed geospatial software development and maintenance for the Ordnance Survey. I undertook IS strategy development and business process re-engineering whilst acting as Senior Supplier, responsible for the delivery of multiple geospatial projects. I was also directly responsible for 60 members of staff, including 13 middle Managers, Project Managers and Senior Consultants, ensuring all skills were updated in line with company strategy.I also ensured development of all future skill sets through the management of resources/processes required to support all geospatial software development within IS. I owned the IS Resource Strategy and applied innovative use of resources when undertaking accountability for budgets and cost savings. Show less

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  Educational Institution

  Jan 2005 - Nov 2005

  Sabbatical: worldwide travel
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  TerraQuest

  Nov 2005 - Aug 2011

  Senior Consultant

  As a fee-earning Senior Consultant, I was responsible for managing and leading multiple projects incorporating various areas such as strategy, feasibility, business justification, requirements analysis, business process reviewing/mapping/re-engineering, risk assessment, service evaluation, contract negotiation, implementation planning, technical/quality assurance, solution testing/acceptance and risk management.For Crossrail I worked as a Senior Project Manager, responsible for the implementation of a bespoke Crossrail Property Register to manage land acquisition for the railway. My project role for Crossrail was multi-faceted and as such, I also provided guidance to members of the Property Acquisition Team when implementing and supporting the CPR, the Titles Management System and other related property systems. Other projects for Crossrail included managing and implementing an intranet mapping application, involving the production of a spatial information architecture strategy aimed at enabling corporate access to information via the mapAs E-Planning Programme Manager for Oxfordshire County Council, I was accountable for the delivery of multiple projects which incorporated the specification, bespoke development and implementation of Planning and E-Planning Systems. For Thurrock Council I prepared a strategy and then managed a programme of works associated with the implementation of a corporate Geographical Information System (GIS) capability, the building of a Local Land and Property Gazetteer to British Standards, and the implementation of a teams, resources and budgets to ensure its sustainability.Additionally, I implemented a corporate GIS suite of software, hardware, middleware and systems, and I completed a feasibility study for Hampshire County Council, looking into potential for collaborative working between the 16 Development Control Services, reviewing opportunities in data, computer systems and business processes. Show less

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  Educational Institution

  Aug 2011 - Apr 2014

  Career break: raising family
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  Blenheim High School

  Apr 2014 - Mar 2022

  Examinations Manager

  With responsibility for the management of all internal/external exams for 1400 students, I liaised with exam boards to ensure we have approval to run all certified courses, students were entered via formal timelines and systems, and all logistics are effectively planned/managed, encountering no critical issues. I had work in a great amount of uncertainty within the education system due to the Covid-19 pandemic, including ever-changing documentation and unprecedented policies/procedures, and I had been instrumental in ensuring that Year 11 and Year 13 students had received their grades. As key liaison for stakeholders, I was responsible for the identification and mitigation of risks whilst managing the exam budget and advised the school on managing in-house exams and exam hall conduct for groups of 300 students, including behavioural and medical issues. My role also involved recruiting and managing a team of 30 recourses responsible for invigilating exams in line with formal rules and regulations, a project which was responsible for underpinning the main business objective of school, namely exam results. Show less

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  FDM Group

  Jan 2022 - Oct 2024

  FDM Consultant

  I am an FDM Consultant deployed as a Project Manager / Product Owner / Business Analyst. FDM Group is a global leader in the professional services sector, specialising in technology and business careers. FDM equips returners with a passion for tech and the drive to succeed with the skills, guidance and support to launch a successful IT or business career placed with leading multi-national clients.

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  Lloyds Banking Group

  Mar 2022 - now

  Within this role, I coordinate large-scale change and the effective coordination and integration of technical components through cross cutting engagement across multiple business units, functions, and/or third parties using agile methodologies and tools. I engage as a role model for agile ways of working and drive collaboration within agile teams, and align technology elements across the phases of product/development lifecycle; prepare and analyse management reports and mitigation plans. Moreover, I nurture positive stakeholder relationships to build consensus and improve the delivery of change, outcomes, and expectations, and communicate status updates to key stakeholders, resolve high priority risks and issues affecting delivery.Notably, I implemented a new end-to-end digitisation process (front and back-end journeys) for Home Insurance and Pensions products by organising and motivating multiple agile teams to provide end-to-end oversight and coordination of dependencies and risks.In addition, I improved stakeholder management for both Home Insurance and Pension Digitisation initiatives to build consensus and commitment towards the overall end-to-end delivery, empowering senior sponsors to fully oversee and understand risk awareness and to provide the opportunity to ensure delivery and improve outcomes. I led discussions to manage conflicts in priorities affecting the overall delivery of the change by understanding the potential impact, followed by cascading key information between all key stakeholders. I also managed critical issues, risks and dependencies by leading on satisfactory resolution within agreeable timescales, highlighting impacts and ensuring consensus of the way forward across all delivery teams and senior stakeholders. Show less

  • Product Owner

    Sept 2024 - now

  • Product Owner / Project Manager

    Mar 2022 - Oct 2024