Tina Clapham
Summary
A seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in security and risk management, adept at crisis response and leading large teams through significant change. Demonstrates expertise in programme management, successfully directing high-profile technological and cultural transformation initiatives. Possesses a strong legal background with 25 years in operational environments, complemented by director-level roles in risk, compliance, and assurance within sensitive government sectors. Skilled in communications and engagement, effectively leveraging networks to secure buy-in for change. Committed to driving impactful change through strategic leadership and comprehensive threat assessment.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
1993
1993
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Director Trusted Data & Technology
United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
London
02.2026 - 03.2026
- Manage governance processes for chief data information officer function within group.
- Support risk and assurance activities across UKHSA through operational delivery of privacy, cyber, and compliance teams.
- Provide tech services including ITSM, networks, IDAM and infrastructure to UKHSA.
- Led agency's operational response during response to failing regulatory audit to ensure mission-critical data flows were maintained.
Director Data & Cyber Security
UKHSA
London
01.2022 - 02.2026
- Led UKHSA Data Strategy to optimise lawful and ethical data usage by UKHSA
- Stood up and led Privacy & GDPR teams to ensure lawful data use
- Established, managed and delivered two change programmes to implement modern IG service and cyber response to improve regulatory compliance and data safety.
Head of Policy, Legal and Compliance
Joint Bio Security Centre (JBC), DHSC
06.2020 - 01.2022
- Supported teams in designing and implementing strategies to meet ministerial expectations during pandemic.
- Ensured lawful data processing, addressing concerns raised by regulators including ICO and National Data Guardian.
- Contributed to establishment of legal team that aided in drafting COVID regulations and providing advice on public law issues.
Head of Compliance & Programme Director
The Ministry of Defence
08.2018 - 07.2020
- Following criticism from Regulator and Independent Review, appointed as Programme Director of ‘Compliance Improvement Programme’, with responsibility for transforming way in which the organisation managed compliance.
- Instrumental in restoring confidence of oversight body and Government Minister within a year.
- Led emergency remediations to legacy IT systems
- Established compliance teams modelled on industry best practice.
Director Policy, Compliance and Information
The Ministry of Defence
04.2018 - 08.2018
- Assisted Executive Board with policy oversight and media strategy development.
- Supported decisions regarding organisational relationships and communicated changes to staff.
- Coordinated Parliamentary Committee interactions and managed media responses to reports.
- Helped implement licence to operate programme and liaised with oversight bodies.
- Provided policy advice to board on national security casework
Programme Director for Compliance Programme
The Ministry of Defence
02.2016 - 04.2018
- Programme Director for the ‘Licence to Operate Programme’, responsible for implementation of the Investigatory Powers Act, the Compliance Recommendations proposed within Compliance Review and establishing a new compliance function and attendant culture change.
- Identified significant compliance issues that required reporting to the regulator
- Led the design and implementation of IT changes required to meet new legislative requirements.
Compliance Review
The Ministry of Defence
10.2015 - 02.2016
- Executed compliance review to validate policies, processes, and systems, addressing concerns regarding legal compliance in complex IT environments.
Deputy Director Legal Branch
The Ministry of Defence
01.1998 - 10.2015
- Assisted Legal Director in leading Legal Branch and building it from four lawyers on joining, to over 130 staff comprising lawyers and policy teams, building new evidence team and change in culture of organisation, contributing evidence leading to convictions in terrorist trials
Junior Legal Adviser
The Ministry of Defence
01.1993 - 01.1998
- Provided advice on range of national security casework, including terrorist prosecutions and sensitive deportation casework.
- Advised on appropriate collection of evidence in non-police organisation, to ensure successful prosecutions and mitigation of terrorist threat.
Education
LLM - European Management and Employment Law
Leicester University
09.1996 - 06.1997
LLB (Hons) -
University Central Lancashire
09.1985 - 06.1988
Skills
- Leadership - adept crisis response and management, including standing up and leading large teams through significant change
- Programme Management - leading large scale, high profile technological and culture change transformation programmes
- risk, compliance and assurance - 25 years legal background in an operational environment coupled with Director level policy/delivery roles in high profile sensitive areas of government
- Security - 30 years working in security and risk related roles, well versed in threat assessment and risk mitigation
- Communications & Engagement - effective use of network to ensure buy in for change, experienced public speaker and good communicator
Affiliations
- Walking in the Surrey Hills, volunteering for conservation projects (especially those involving trees!)
Timeline
Director Trusted Data & Technology
United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
02.2026 - 03.2026
Director Data & Cyber Security
UKHSA
01.2022 - 02.2026
Head of Policy, Legal and Compliance
Joint Bio Security Centre (JBC), DHSC
06.2020 - 01.2022
Head of Compliance & Programme Director
The Ministry of Defence
08.2018 - 07.2020
Director Policy, Compliance and Information
The Ministry of Defence
04.2018 - 08.2018
Programme Director for Compliance Programme
The Ministry of Defence
02.2016 - 04.2018
Compliance Review
The Ministry of Defence
10.2015 - 02.2016
Deputy Director Legal Branch
The Ministry of Defence
01.1998 - 10.2015
LLM - European Management and Employment Law
Leicester University
09.1996 - 06.1997
Junior Legal Adviser
The Ministry of Defence
01.1993 - 01.1998
LLB (Hons) -
University Central Lancashire
09.1985 - 06.1988