Charlotte Revell

As Deputy Head of a large, diverse set of International Security Programmes in the FCDO, I lead on portfolio management, governance, senior stakeholder engagement, and geopolitical analysis. Key achievements include:

• Leading staff meetings to drive efficient communication and collaboration.
• Enhancing the portfolio’s visibility through a strategic communications plan, fostering cross-office innovation.
• Revising and rolling out a new Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) strategy, with clear guidance to ensure consistent adoption.
• Establishing and managing the governance process, including coordinating senior stakeholder meetings, setting agendas, preparing papers, and implementing decisions.

• Played a central role in standing up and delivering a £10m CSSF State Threats Programme, applying my knowledge in national security programming to oversee complex, high-stakes projects addressing hostile state activity.
• Shaped strategic direction and governance for the portfolio, ensuring alignment with the UK's national security priorities and embedding Integrated Review objectives into programme design and delivery.
• Led stakeholder engagement across Whitehall and the overseas network, delivering training, mentoring, and expertise on project delivery and MEL—most recently strengthening impact reporting to inform senior officials and Ministers.

• Operated in a high-tempo role within the Cabinet Office COVID-19 Taskforce Data and Analysis team, delivering strategic insight products to support senior decision-making at Ministerial level.
• Led scenario planning and risk workshops, using advanced insight tools to interrogate data, challenge assumptions, and identify uncertainties critical to future COVID-19 policy options.
• Conducted rigorous evidence synthesis across internal, academic, and open-source material to identify policy-relevant trends and inform the development of long-term COVID-19 management strategies.

• Led cross-government coordination on Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) within a small FCDO team, supporting HMG’s full-spectrum SOC Strategy.
• Engaged key national security partners (FCDO, HO, NCA, MOD) to promote strategic initiatives, share lessons, and strengthen governance for more effective policy delivery.
• Managed two flagship SOC programmes in ODA-eligible countries, overseeing budgets, designing theories of change, and implementing MEL strategies to demonstrate impact.

• Worked in a joint MOD–FCDO unit leading on key policy, strategic, and technical aspects of the UK–NATO relationship. This included supporting the 2019 UK NATO summit in 2019.
• The role required expertise in defence capability, equipment management, financial planning, and alignment with broader military strategy.
• Provided strategic advice to senior officials and the UK delegation, including for NATO Foreign Ministers meetings, engaging with international and UK counterparts to resolve complex capability issues and shape UK policy.

• In a high-profile policy support role, led on parliamentary engagement, drafted ministerial briefs and communications lines, and supported senior involvement in transnational and bilateral meetings.
• Gained early exposure to national security policy and strategy during high-pressure events, including the WannaCry cyberattacks and EU negotiations on the Galileo satellite system.
• Contributed to the successful delivery of major international events, including planning and coordination of the inaugural UK Defence Space Conference in 2018.

• Managed the Air Commodore's demanding diary and coordinated key logistics, including meetings, room bookings, and travel arrangements, with a focus on value for money.
• Maintained effective information management systems and supported wider team administration to ensure smooth day-to-day operations.
• Acted as the central point of contact for internal and external enquiries, ensuring efficient communication and issue resolution across the team.