ELLA RAZZELL
Portsmouth
Summary
Commercially focused Governance, Risk & Compliance leader with more than 15 years' experience leading governance, operational excellence, enterprise risk, compliance and corporate support functions. Trusted adviser to Directors and Senior Leadership, delivering governance frameworks, regulatory compliance, information security, GDPR, audit and assurance, supplier governance and organisational transformation. Experienced in embedding robust yet commercially pragmatic controls, strengthening organisational resilience and driving continuous improvement through technology, automation and collaborative leadership.
Overview
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1
Certification
Work history
Head of Compliance & Business Support
Carrington West
- Lead governance, compliance, operational risk, information security and business support functions across the organisation.
- Develop and embed governance frameworks, policies and internal controls that support regulatory compliance and commercial objectives.
- Own ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 27001 management systems, coordinating internal audits, external audits, corrective actions and continual improvement.
- Maintain the corporate risk register and oversee enterprise-wide risk assessments, escalating strategic risks to Senior Leadership.
- Provide governance, compliance and risk reporting to Directors and Senior Leadership, supporting informed business decisions.
- Act as Information Security Officer and Data Protection Lead, overseeing GDPR compliance, privacy governance and information security controls.
- Develop supplier governance processes, contractual compliance arrangements and due diligence procedures.
- Lead external client audits, accreditation programmes and regulatory assurance activities.
- Support business continuity planning and organisational resilience initiatives.
- Introduce AI-driven automation to streamline compliance processes, improve reporting accuracy and reduce manual administration.
- Lead, coach and develop a multidisciplinary team of 13, driving accountability, performance and continuous improvement.
- Partner with HR, Finance, Operations, Sales and leadership teams to embed governance across the organisation.
Compliance Manager
Carrington West
- Promoted to lead operational compliance, governance frameworks and quality management activities.
- Managed regulatory compliance, client governance requirements and contractual compliance.
- Coordinated internal audit activity and supported external audit readiness.
- Provided compliance advice to managers, consultants and clients.
- Improved governance processes, documentation and quality standards.
Compliance Coordinator
Carrington West
- Managed contractor onboarding, legislative compliance and regulatory documentation.
- Completed Right to Work, referencing and employment compliance checks.
- Supported framework compliance, audit preparation and client assurance requirements.
- Maintained accurate compliance records and collaborated with internal and external stakeholders.
Employment Advisor
Careers Development Group
- Managed employer engagement and employability programmes.
- Ensured compliance with contractual and funding requirements.
- Produced performance reporting and achieved operational KPIs.
- Built relationships with employers, stakeholders and participants.
Contracts Administrator
Advanced Resource Managers
- Administered contractor contracts, compliance processes and onboarding documentation.
- Worked closely with consultants and clients to ensure contractual compliance.
- Introduced a compliance support model that expanded into a wider operational team following its success.
Skills
- Corporate Governance
- Enterprise Risk
- Internal Audit
- Regulatory Compliance
- Information Security
- GDPR & Privacy
- Policy Development
- Supplier Governance
- Third-Party Due Diligence
- Board Reporting
- Risk Assessments
- Business Continuity
- Operational Excellence
- Business Transformation
- ISO 9001
- ISO 14001
- ISO 27001
- AI & Automation
- Stakeholder Management
- Continuous Improvement
- Influencing others
- Document control systems
Certification
- AI Security & Governance – Securiti AI (2026)
- Contract Drafting Workshop – UCL
- Introduction to Contracts – UCL
- CIPD Level 3 HR
- Internal Auditor (BAB)
- ISO 9001 Internal Auditor
- ISO 14001 Internal Auditor
- Achieving Business Success through FIR
- NVQ Level 3 Business Administration
- NVQ Level 2 Business Administration
- Mental Health Aware (MHFA England)
EXECUTIVE SNAPSHOT
- 15+ years leadership experience
- Built Compliance & Business Support from 1 to 13 employees
- Senior Leadership Team member
- Information Security Officer
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & ISO 27001 owner
- Board & Director adviser
- Enterprise Risk & Governance
- Internal Audit & Assurance
- GDPR & Data Protection lead
- AI transformation and process improvement
SELECTED LEADERSHIP
- Senior Leadership Team Member
- Information Security Officer
- Data Protection Lead
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead
- ESG & Social Value Lead
- Public speaker and workshop facilitator
- Champion for operational excellence and continuous improvement
Timeline
Contracts Administrator
Advanced Resource Managers
Employment Advisor
Careers Development Group
Compliance Coordinator
Carrington West
Compliance Manager
Carrington West
Head of Compliance & Business Support
Carrington West