Conor O'Brien

Provide strategic leadership for enterprise-wide assurance, governance and organisational oversight across a complex and highly regulated organisation, ensuring effective evaluation of regulatory obligations, operational performance, resilience and governance arrangements.

• Lead an independent assurance function responsible for evaluating organisational effectiveness and delivering evidence-based insight to Executive and Board stakeholders.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of enterprise-wide assurance, governance, and evaluation frameworks.
• Design and deliver risk-based review programmes aligned to organisational priorities, strategic risks, and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of governance arrangements, operational controls, and organisational performance frameworks.
• Conduct thematic reviews identifying systemic risks, recurring issues, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic assurance and organisational insight to Executive Committees, Boards, and senior governance forums.
• Assess organisational readiness against external regulatory obligations, standards, and accreditation requirements.
• Lead horizon-scanning activities to identify emerging risks, regulatory developments, and future assurance requirements.
• Partner with Internal Audit, Risk, Data Protection, Cyber Security, Legal and operational leaders to deliver integrated assurance activity.
• Monitor organisational improvement plans and evaluate the effectiveness of corrective actions.
• Function as senior escalation point for significant assurance findings, governance concerns, and organisational risks.
• Technology Transformation & Assurance Innovation
• Executive Sponsor for the transformation of second-line assurance capabilities across the organisation.
• Lead assurance technology transformation programmes supporting modernisation of organisational oversight.
• Sponsor the evaluation, selection and implementation of new assurance and governance technologies.
• Champion data-led approaches to assurance planning, evidence gathering, and organisational evaluation.
• Drive innovation in management information, reporting and performance-monitoring capabilities.
• Work across technology and business teams to improve organisational insight and decision-making through enhanced use of data.
• Support the development of future-focused assurance methodologies aligned to organisational strategy and emerging risks.

Established and led an independent assurance function providing oversight and evaluation of governance, operational effectiveness, risk management, and regulatory compliance arrangements.

• Established consistent methodologies for organisational reviews and thematic assurance activity.
• Designed and implemented a risk-based assurance and evaluation programme.
• Delivered independent reviews assessing organisational effectiveness, governance maturity, and control environments.
• Developed methodologies for evaluating performance across critical operational and corporate functions.
• Produced strategic reporting and recommendations for senior leadership teams.
• Strengthened governance, compliance, and assurance arrangements across multiple business areas.
• Developed collaborative relationships with operational leaders to improve organisational performance and accountability.
• Selected Achievements
• Designed and implemented a comprehensive enterprise assurance framework providing significantly enhanced visibility of compliance, risk, and control effectiveness across the organisation.
• Established a mature second-line assurance function aligned to organisational governance and risk objectives.
• Strengthened Executive and Board confidence through improved assurance reporting, risk insight, and governance oversight.
• Improved alignment between first, second and third lines of assurance, reducing duplication and increasing organisational effectiveness.
• Supported successful achievement and maintenance of organisational certification standards through risk-based assurance activities.
• Enhanced engagement between operational leadership and assurance functions, increasing ownership of compliance and remediation activities.

Led operational teams through a period of significant organisational and regulatory change within a highly regulated environment.

• Led implementation of new operating models and business change initiatives.
• Managed stakeholder engagement and operational readiness activity across transformation programmes.
• Maintained compliance with Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority requirements during periods of significant change.
• Delivered governance, communication and implementation activities supporting successful programme delivery.
• Earlier Career
• Security Duty Manager – Stansted Airport (2016-2019)
• Security Team leader – Stansted Airport (2014-2016)
• Security Team Manager – Stansted Airport (2013-2014)
• Terminal Security Officer – Stansted Airport (2009-2013)
• Customer Service Team Manager – Stansted Airport (2007-2008)
• Airport Welcome Host Supervisor – Stansted Airport (2006-2007)
• Police Constable – Essex Police (2004-2006)