Michael Howard
London,UK
Summary
Environmental and regulatory professional with 5+ years’ experience delivering policy, compliance, and stakeholder outcomes within UK government. Skilled in translating complex regulatory frameworks into clear, actionable guidance, with a strong focus on risk-based decision making, governance, and continuous improvement. Academic background in conservation and biodiversity, complemented by ongoing development in sustainability and ESG (London School of Economics certificate – commencing 2026). Experienced in analysing trends, improving processes, and supporting data-driven reporting, with a growing focus on environmental risk, sustainability performance, and ESG frameworks. Seeking to transition into ESG, sustainability, or environmental advisory roles across corporate, consulting, or public sector organisations.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work history
Point of Contact Lead (SPS Trade Assurance)
DEFRA – UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance
London
2021.09 - 2026.03
- Act as a primary point of contact for businesses and government stakeholders, providing clear guidance on complex environmental and trade-related regulatory requirements.
- Translate technical SPS and regulatory frameworks into practical, accessible advice, supporting compliance and reducing risk across cross-border operations.
- Coordinate multiple stakeholders to resolve time-critical regulatory issues, balancing compliance, biosecurity, and operational efficiency.
- Manage a high volume of enquiries (~1000 annually), consistently delivering high-quality, timely responses aligned with service standards.
- Identify trends in enquiries and resolution times to inform improvements in guidance, reducing repeat issues and enhancing user experience.
- Contribute to quality assurance of public-facing guidance, ensuring clarity, consistency, and regulatory accuracy.
- Support development of data-driven reporting and workflow solutions, including requirements gathering and rollout readiness.
- Build and maintain stakeholder contact datasets to improve responsiveness and coordination across teams.
- Lead and develop junior colleagues, supporting rapid capability building and independent delivery.
Animal Technician
University of Cambridge
Cambridge
2020.02 - 2021.04
- Operated within a highly regulated environment, ensuring strict compliance with animal welfare and operational standards.
- Monitored animal health and behaviour, applying sound judgement to identify risks and escalate concerns appropriately.
- Maintained accurate records and documentation to ensure compliance, traceability, and audit readiness.
- Collaborated with colleagues to ensure consistent delivery of daily operational and regulatory requirements.
Education
Certificate - Sustainability: Environment, Economy and Society
London School of Economics (LSE)
2026.09 -
MSc - Conservation and Biodiversity
University of Exeter
United Kingdom 2018.09 - 2019.08
BSc - Zoology
Anglia Ruskin University
2015.09 - 2018.08
Skills
ESG & Sustainability (Developing Expertise)
- Environmental policy and regulatory compliance (UK/EU context)
- ESG principles and frameworks awareness (TCFD, TNFD, sustainability reporting)
- Nature-related risk and biodiversity considerations
Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Risk-based decision making in regulated environments
- Quality assurance and control processes
- Maintaining auditability and data integrity
- Translating regulatory requirements into operational guidance
Stakeholder Engagement & Delivery
- Multi-stakeholder coordination across government and industry
- Communicating complex requirements clearly and effectively
- Managing competing priorities and time-critical issues
- Building trusted relationships across technical and non-technical audiences
Analysis & Insight
- Trend analysis and root cause identification
- Synthesising complex information into actionable insights
- Supporting data-driven decision making
- Performance monitoring and continuous improvement
Tools
- Excel (advanced datasets, filtering, analysis)
- Power BI (requirements gathering, testing, rollout support)
- SharePoint, Outlook, workflow systems
SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS
- Resolved priority regulatory cases within 24–48 hours, achieving a 98% resolution rate through effective stakeholder coordination
- Delivered 97% on-time response rate across ~1000 annual enquiries
- Improved guidance and processes through trend analysis, reducing repeat queries and enhancing efficiency
- Supported rollout of centralised reporting/workflow solution, contributing to improved data visibility and decision-making
- Developed junior colleagues to independent delivery within one month through structured coaching
Timeline
Certificate - Sustainability: Environment, Economy and Society
London School of Economics (LSE)
2026.09 -
Point of Contact Lead (SPS Trade Assurance)
DEFRA – UK Office for SPS Trade Assurance
2021.09 - 2026.03
Animal Technician
University of Cambridge
2020.02 - 2021.04
MSc - Conservation and Biodiversity
University of Exeter
2018.09 - 2019.08
BSc - Zoology
Anglia Ruskin University
2015.09 - 2018.08