Jade Woolley
London
Summary
Accomplished professional with extensive government experience and a strong foundation in policy analysis and development. Demonstrates proactive leadership and influential communication skills, effectively managing stakeholder relationships and negotiations. Proven track record in programme management and budget planning, driving successful outcomes in complex political environments. Committed to leveraging political awareness to advance strategic initiatives and foster impactful change.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Policy Advisor
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
London
2024.10 - 2026.07
- Set governance for £25 million pound child marriage programme ensuring adherence with risk and compliance. Directed spending oversight for public funds within programme controls.
- Analysed data to identify trends that will impact policy and provided recommendations into future approach to enhance operational delivery.
- Managed FCDO relationship strategy and acted as bridge between national governments and multilateral partners to advance FCDO priorities.
- Produced evidence-based briefings for senior leadership to support decision making at executive meetings. This included speeches and media lines.
Strategy Advisor
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
London
2022.06 - 2024.10
- Translated siloed objectives into coherent corporate strategy supported by performance metrics for 2023-24 and 2024-25. Reduced corporate objectives from over 50 objectives to 5 clear outcomes.
- Produced performance reports for executive board to review delivery and bottlenecks. Reports had 90% return rates across the department. They were used to track our people, resources and goals effectively each quarter.
- Collaborated with other government departments to boost efficiency and delivery. Chaired roundtable with seniors to problem solve delivery issues which enabled the creation of a joint department delivery unit.
Health Advisor
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
London
2020.08 - 2022.06
- Led infectious diseases policy across health programmes and UK international fora.
- Pre-emptively analysed data on first malaria vaccine and drafted submission to Ministers recommending UK support and funding. Submission was approved and the UK supported its adoption into the World Health Organisation's vaccine list.
- Contributed to Stop TB Partnership strategy through board representation and voting. Ensured UK position was evidence based and strategic. Pre-met with likeminded States to agree coherence on challenging issues, to ensure efficient use of time at Board meetings.
Strategy Advisor
Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
London
2018.07 - 2020.08
- Designed governance and reporting requirements to monitor civil society strategy delivery.
- Developed relationships with priority civil society stakeholders to deliver strategy ambitions. Increased engagement with civil society which resulted in the creation of the civil society engagement Board which was attended by Ministers.
- Chaired meetings with ministers’ private office to agree monthly key engagement moments. Increased Ministerial engagement opportunities by 15%.
Policy Advisor
Department of International Trade
London
2017.07 - 2018.07
- Coordinated briefings for the secretary of state on EU exit. Produced and submitted materials at pace within 48 hour timescales.
- Improved departmental literacy on international trade through developing the Senior Trade Panel. Attended by senior stakeholders including trade lawyers and ex-trade negotiators.
- Chaired monthly women’s network meetings to track diversity actions. Agreed with HR to publish diversity data on the intranet for transparency and agreed targets for corporate plan.
Education
MA - Peace and Reconciliation
Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University
Coventry 2015.09 - 2016.08
BA - International Relations
Coventry University
Coventry 2012.09 - 2015.08
Skills
- Government experience
- Political awareness
- Proactive leadership
- Influential communication
- Stakeholder communication
- Negotiation experience
- Policy analysis and development
- Programme management
- Budget planning
Accomplishments
- Shaped and delivered successful Commission on the Status of Women Event with the UN, governments, philanthropic and civil society partners. This event secured $115 million in financial commitments to invest in tackling child marriage.
- Drafted £5million business case to funding grassroots organisations tackling child marriage which was approved. Mobilised the first agreement between government and two new civil society organisations ensuring fiscal and programmatic compliance.
- Created the first quarterly performance dashboard for the Executive Committee to oversee departmental delivery.
- Led UK response to the World Health Organisation recommendation for the first malaria vaccine which was adopted.
- Created a leadership forum with key civil society figures to discuss and address diversity on Charity Boards. Collectively agreed tangible outcomes with Ministerial backing.
- Developed parliamentary strategy to support the delivery of the Trade Bill which was adopted in Parliament.
- Set up the Senior Trade Advisory Panel with external specialists to support delivery of trade policy.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Policy Advisor
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
2024.10 - 2026.07
Strategy Advisor
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
2022.06 - 2024.10
Health Advisor
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
2020.08 - 2022.06
Strategy Advisor
Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
2018.07 - 2020.08
Policy Advisor
Department of International Trade
2017.07 - 2018.07
MA - Peace and Reconciliation
Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University
2015.09 - 2016.08
BA - International Relations
Coventry University
2012.09 - 2015.08