Joëlle OToole
Birmingham,west Midlands
Summary
Strategic leader in governance, risk analysis, policy management, and budget forecasting. Expertise in stakeholder engagement, HR compliance, and GDPR leadership. Experienced in strategic planning, executive decision support, and digital content management. Strengths include visual communication design, corporate event planning, and team training, with a focus on enhancing organisational effectiveness through executive scheduling and public speaking.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work history
Governance Facilities and Admin Manager
British Dietetic Association
Birmingham
2024.03 - 2026.08
- Oversaw financial budget management, forecasting expenditure, and establishing supplier contracts for landlords, facilities, and staff.
- Steering the Senior Leadership team to align in-house governance and overseeing risk, compliance and health and safety in-house.
- Coordinated governance and legal paperwork for Board of Directors, ensuring compliance and timely documentation.
- Working closely with the Chair of the Board and C-suite team to align papers with the strategy and ensure Board function links to office workplans.
- Devising workplan and Governance schedule, far in advance; mapping out strategic priorities, dates and targets for Board and all 11 subsidiary Boards and Committees
- Managed and trained small team, overseeing subsidiary boards and committees, addressing membership queries, and providing in-house support.
- Demonstrated strong negotiation skills while resolving complex issues with stakeholders.
- Managing complex itineraries and overseeing travel, including creation of a new Travel and Expenses policy for consistency and cost savings.
- Managed all organisational documents to ensure proper filing and easy access, having created a suite of templates, processes, and a new sharepoint intranet
Executive Assistant
St Martin’s Group & Association of Apprentices
London
2023.04 - 2024.02
- Supported the Executive Committee with scheduling, documentation and meeting coordination.
- Organised high level events for MPs and CEOs in London venues with bespoke, designed invitations.
- Delivered media updates on Government policy while liaising with prominent political figures.
- Developed new stakeholder relationships to enhance collaboration and business opportunities. and business partnerships to further the business profile and market reach.
- Facilitated group activities promoting apprenticeships and partnerships.
PA to Director of Procurement and Insurance
University of Birmingham
Birmingham
2019.11 - 2023.04
- Provided executive PA support to Director and procurement team, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Coordinated global travel logistics for Finance team, ensuring smooth travel experiences. schedules for the Finance team
- Management of all content for the University Finance intranet; revamping authorising and site management.
- Advised executives on content and implementation strategies as part of Communications and Engagement workstream.
- Supporting development of new branding, templates and text for Strategy 2030.
- Creation of a suite of training videos as a resource for staff using the purchasing database and other business functions, available to all University staff.
- Delivered expert IT guidance to support in-house database management and troubleshooting. for in-house database
- Overseeing the integration of the International University site in Dubai
HR Coordinator
Ark Boulton Academy
Small Heath, Birmingham
2019.01 - 2019.10
- Managed absence, sickness, and personnel data; minuted welfare and grievance meetings while analysing data for actionable insights.
- Managed company absence and refined data for enhanced reporting and analysis.
- Advised Operations Manager on employee grievance procedures, documenting HR meetings for clarity and compliance.
- Organised in-house photography sessions and managed website articles and social media content to address staffing gaps.
- Created a 16-page school magazine, completing all phases within 3 days.
Executive PA to Managing Director
bira direct
Edgbaston, Birmingham
2013.06 - 2018.12
- Coordinated Board meetings, prepared papers, and managed executive relationships.
- Developed a streamlined in-house system, to improve data reporting and increase productivity financially and administratively.
- Conducted finance and data analysis, extracting database figures into excel pivot tables for review.
- Created and managed website content, supporting marketing initiatives through campaigns and press releases.
- Attended trade fair to set up new retail partnerships which increased business revenue.
- Production, editing and design of UK Suppliers Guide for 190 supplier partners to reach 20K retail members.
PA to Head Teacher
Ark Kings Academy
Kings Norton, Birmingham
2011.12 - 2013.05
- Coordinated diary management for Head, ensuring smooth operation of school activities.
- Facilitated effective governance by managing correspondence and documentation for the Governing Body. of the school providing high level Governance support.
- Acted as HR representative, taking confidential minutes at Union meetings while designing, writing and photographing content for the quarterly school magazine, including original articles.
Operations Coordinator
ACIS
Stirchley, Birmingham
2009.03 - 2011.11
- Managed health and safety protocols to ensure compliance and promote a safe workplace.
- Reviewed business functions to identify operational improvements and enhance customer service at Centro.
- Handled customer queries promptly, enhancing customer satisfaction levels.
- Ensured compliance to safety standards, contributing to a safer work environment.
- Facilitated cross-functional meetings, fostering better teamwork and collaboration.
Executive Assistant / Office Manager
pcm Limited
Birmingham Centre, Birmingham
2007.11 - 2008.12
- Oversaw facilities operations at Birmingham office, ensuring smooth daily functioning.
- Working closely with London office and regular strategic meetings with other EAs
- Developed and executed large-scale events, coordinating travel accommodation and corporate clothing within budget constraints.
- Managed pre-qualification questionnaires and tenders for Quantity Surveying business, streamlining submission process.
- Designed and implemented branding templates for the branch.
Education
GCSEs - English Language, English Literature, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Art and RE
Archbishop Ilsley School
BirminghamSkills
- Governance and risk analysis
- Policy management
- Budget management and forecasting
- Cross-functional stakeholder management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Recruitment oversight
- HR compliance lead
- GDPR compliance lead
- HR policy formulation
- Personnel compliance oversight
- Document management and branding
- Strategic planning
- Strategy development with C-suite
- Executive decision support
- Corporate event planning
- Advanced excel usage
- Database management
- Microsoft Office Suite proficiency
- AI and Power BI
- Digital content management
- Visual communication design
- Team training initiatives
- Management and team building
- Presentation delivery
- Public speaking
- Executive scheduling
- Presentation delivery
- Public speaking
Training
Mental Health training level 1 & 2
Customer Service Training
Strategic Management Skills
Leadership and Management Training
Equality Impact Assessment Training
Compliance and GDPR
HR and Employment Law
Neurodivergence and Learning approaches
Interests
I love swimming, walking, yoga and the gym.
I enjoy taking photographs of birds, frogs and trees. I also enjoy cooking, song writing, playing guitar, singing and writing about astrology and spiritual matters.
I recently did my first professional talk about astrology and the current influences and have published numerous articles.
Timeline
Governance Facilities and Admin Manager
British Dietetic Association
2024.03 - 2026.08
Executive Assistant
St Martin’s Group & Association of Apprentices
2023.04 - 2024.02
PA to Director of Procurement and Insurance
University of Birmingham
2019.11 - 2023.04
HR Coordinator
Ark Boulton Academy
2019.01 - 2019.10
Executive PA to Managing Director
bira direct
2013.06 - 2018.12
PA to Head Teacher
Ark Kings Academy
2011.12 - 2013.05
Operations Coordinator
ACIS
2009.03 - 2011.11
Executive Assistant / Office Manager
pcm Limited
2007.11 - 2008.12
GCSEs - English Language, English Literature, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Art and RE
Archbishop Ilsley School