Elisa Lakhan-Hector

Establishment of a mandated compliance service that provides an oversight of all technology and digital spend, ensuring it meets the highest standards of compliance, value for money, and strategic alignment. I am responsible for making sure all investments adhere to industry frameworks, including the Technology Code of Practice (TCoP) and deliver against both organisational priorities and public value expectations. Working in close partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the Government Digital Service (GDS), and other central assurance bodies, I help drive ministerial objectives by embedding robust governance, mitigating risk, and enabling the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of digital services at scale.

As NHSE recently underwent a merger, my role was pivotal in shaping the integration of architecture in the new NHSE landscape. I championed the understanding that Enterprise Architecture is a blend of both business and technology functions, ensuring that NHSE's IT infrastructure remained aligned, scalable, secure, and conducive to supporting its growth and innovation endeavours.

I was responsible for creating and overseeing NHSE’s overall enterprise architecture, ensuring that it aligned with business objectives and supported the organisation's strategic goals. I also led a team that provided practical technical expertise to frontline services within Trusts and hospitals. My role required a combination of technical expertise, business acumen, and leadership skills. My responsibilities included:

IT Strategy Alignment with Business Goals: Collaborated closely with senior executives, business leaders, and stakeholders to translate business aspirations into digital initiatives. These strategies ensured that technology initiatives and investments harmonised seamlessly with NHSE's overarching business strategy.

Leadership in Governance: I established and enforced digital assurance processes and standards, ensuring that implemented solutions adhered rigorously to industry best practices, compliance requirements, and security protocols. Oversaw that over £950m worth of digital spend complied with industry and government standards.

Driving Innovation and Transformation: Identified prospects for technological innovation and digital transformation. This involved assessing emerging technologies, recommending solutions, and spearheading modernisation efforts to bolster efficiency and competitiveness within NHSE and the wider health system.

Effective Collaboration and Communication: Operated closely with diverse departments, IT teams, and stakeholders, adeptly deciphering their needs, challenges, and requirements. I excelled in articulating complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, fostering collaboration among distinct business units to achieve shared objectives.

Strategic Risk Management: Spearheaded risk assessments and mitigation strategies for technology implementations, collaborating closely with the CIO. I evaluated potential disruptions, ensuring adherence to best practices and value delivery by liaising with the Department of Health & Social Care and Cabinet Office.

• Represent Digital and Technology at Board Level
• Support and influence the digital/technology journey of the charity
• Ensure digital purchases are compliant and follow necessary governance structures
• Oversee the development of the digital architecture and vision for the Charity
• Promote decision making centred around user needs
• Ensure strategies are in place that fully support members in their digital journeys
• Ensure that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy especially with regard to digital and technology
• Ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing document (ie its trust deed, constitution or memorandum and articles of association), charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations

• Streamlined Enterprise Architecture Service creation, driving adoption of Design Principles while managing Digital Risk, Assurance, and Governance for the Executive Team. Achieved £500K+ in cashable savings within 3 months through robust digital governance processes. Collaborated with NHSx, NHSE/I, and Cabinet Office to establish NHS-wide digital assurance complying with HM Treasury's Spend Controls
• Led Enterprise Discovery Service to enforce Government Design Standards (GDS) in digital investments. Spearheaded the creation of a strategic pipeline process engaging business units for a comprehensive organizational view. Co-led 'Digital First' program transforming HEE operations for Healthcare Workforce, driving Customer Engagement and Marketing efforts alongside the CDIO.
• Crafted HEE's vision, Target Operating Model, and robust Business architecture in collaboration with business leads and the Executive Team. Orchestrated digital governance forums ensuring enterprise architecture agreement and maintenance.
• Co-created target architectures and roadmaps with the COO to optimize technology, information systems, digital services, and data for desired business outcomes across HEE. Ensured adherence to industry standards like ISO 27001 & GDPR as Design Authority, providing high-quality assurance for all architecture activities.
• Managed technical debt reduction across HEE by centralizing digital assets and lifecycle management. Developed a streamlined staff portal for approved applications, minimizing IT-related emails. Aligned HEE's strategic objectives with user needs, engaging senior stakeholders and representing HEE at digital governance events within the wider NHS system.

Established, spearheaded, and preside over the Enterprise Architecture Community within the Public Sector, functioning as a dynamic Community of Practice. Our monthly gatherings serve as a hub for idea exchange and collaborative sharing of ongoing initiatives, fostering synergistic opportunities. What commenced with a modest trio has expanded into a coalition of 60 members within a mere 12 months, spanning professionals from the NHS, Local Government, and Central Government domains.
The group's impact has garnered attention, culminating in a collaborative work alongside GDS to scrutinize DDaT roles and the Department of Health and Social Care to contribute to the sustainability and open source agendas.

Established the Enterprise Architecture and Solution Architecture practice by defining architectural principles and crafting and executing cutting-edge business solutions that drive corporate objectives forward.

• Presenting comprehensive roadmaps and technology infrastructures to the business that included interoperability architectures, cloud platform architectures, security measures, and integration capabilities.
• Collaborating closely with Project & Product Managers, Content & Brand, Digital Team, Business Analysts, and Operation teams to deliver problem-solving solutions.
• Architecting digital services and system integrations, selecting platforms and technologies that meet project requisites and user demands.
• Providing oversight and chairing Technical Design Authority meetings for both Digital and Technical projects within Age UK, serving as a primary contact for external suppliers.
• Providing mentorship to the broader team on software development best practices and enhancing DevOps tools and processes.
• Pioneering the creation and guardianship of Design Principles, ensuring strict adherence to these principles both internally and by external third parties.
• Developing solution designs that leverage existing IT investments while propelling the technology ecosystem forward.
• Serving as the Technical Lead on a diverse array of projects, ranging from the implementation of Microsoft Teams, O365, and chatbots to reconfiguring MPLS circuits, optimising Azure, and overhauling the CRM ecosystem and Intranet.
• Devising enterprise-wide solutions to standardise the technology landscape, resulting in cost savings and a simplified support model by reducing legacy applications.
• Developing application and architecture frameworks, streamlining procedures, and optimising delivery processes to enhance efficiency and reduce wastage.

• Translated business goals, Corporate IT concepts and strategies into prioritised product requirements and use cases that meet customer requirements
• Gathered detailed business requirements through regular departmental meetings and business senior management board sessions and translate them into technical specifications and designs that adhere to Corporate standards.
• Coordinated and managed stakeholders including the Senior Sponsors, Senior Users, Third Party Suppliers and Customers to ensure constant communication and engagement.
• Provided technical validation of specifications received by the Council's third parties and IT partner such as Microsoft and Virgin Media to assure value for money
• Chair of the Service Improvement Programme Board that included technical architects, network engineers, solution architects and security consultants.
• Handled the overall architecture of corporate solutions, reducing duplication and wastage resulting 20% decrease in support charges.

• Directed activities that promoted growth in mental, emotional and educational areas for Year 9 students who were identified as needing extra assistance
• Created and delivered training materials for new facilitators
• Mentored new facilitators
• Worked directly with the school, the youth service and education department to provide support to the Year 9s to help them fulfil their potential
• Educated families and young people to improve their outcomes
• Conducted workshops and programmes that provided the young people with tools, mechanisms and advice on challenges that may need addressing

• Facilitated decision making by building consensus and developing multi-agency solutions including a Children's Safeguarding system
• Provided recommendations to the National IMG Board on group's effectiveness, actions and future plans.
• Oversaw budgetary and financial activities and implemented strategies to utilise budgets effectively
• Advised the Chair of the National Board on possible implementation paths on National and Regional agendas and recommended choices
• Represented the Social Care Departments (Adults and Children's) for the 33 London Councils, the Police Service, the NHS and other 3rd Parties at National Government event and ministerial consultation events.
• Acted as the delivery arm of the National IMG Board and for other National agendas
• Collaborated with high-achieving staff to formulate combined service delivery plans to improve cross agency working

• Managed the Department's multi-million pound IT budget
• Created the Department's 3-5 year ICT Strategic Plan
• Create, submit and co-ordinate bids to the annual Medium Term Financial Process to secure funding for future programmes/projects for the department.
• Effective coordination of department IT projects and their inter-dependencies.
• Work with internal teams and 3rd party agencies eg The NHS and the Police, to create and agree information sharing agreements.
• Deputised for the Director of Children's Services
• Manage large, complex IT projects, with a high profile, for the Council.
• Provide IT technical consultancy for requests generated within the department or affecting the department.
• Authorising all IT work within Children's Services

• Responsible for the creation, development and implementation of the Customer Access strategy for the Council.
• Responsible for the creation, development and implementation of the Council's IT Application strategy.
• Responsible for the creation, development and implementation of the Enterprise service oriented architecture (SOA) strategy.
• Responsible for the creation, development and implementation of the Information Management Strategy for the Council.
• Development and implementation of a 'Golden Record' utilising a middleware solution
• Embedded Corporate IT strategies throughout the Council
• Worked closely with the business analysts to improve and streamline Corporate governance processes
• Analyse market trends and emerging technologies to understand opportunities and potential value to the Council.
• Deputise for the Head of Corporate IT at executive board meetings.

• Managed the General Electrics European account that involved overseeing the development of all their e-commerce projects in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and France.
• Managed the highest volume and highest profile account for the organisation.
• Led cross-functional teams to create impactful messaging, demand-generation projects and upselling opportunities.
• Negotiated prices, terms of sales and service agreements.
• Presented innovative digital media marketing presentations to executive decision makers.
• Evaluated current service needs and product satisfaction levels with established customers.
• Enhanced GE's marketing exposure through effective website and content management development.
• Successful created and delivered improved ICT solutions, enabling more effective, efficient business operations.

• Translated technical specifications into detailed product requirements.
• Drove market research and built early-feature prototypes using wireframes, mock-up tools and story boards
• Collaborated with the sales, marketing and support teams to launch personalisation products on time and within budget.
• Gathered detailed use cases and requirements through regular on-site visits, virtual meetings and customer advisory board sessions
• Partnered with the marketing and sales team to translate product features into customer value propositions to be used by the sales force

• Translated technical specifications into detailed product requirements and technical designs.
• Led communication with stakeholders regarding product goals and progress made.
• Recommended process and systems improvements for clients such as Ministry of Defence and Department of Health.
• Led a bid management team that tendered for new business from large multinational corporations.
• Translated business goals, feature concepts and customer needs into prioritised product requirements and use cases.
• Database and systems administrator for ExxonMobile's web platform

Tasks included:

• User requirements gathering
• Capacity planning and installation
• Configuration and database design
• Migration, performance monitoring, optimisation
• Security, troubleshooting, backup and data recovery.