Skills
cyber security, strategy, education, retail, architecture, enterprise architecture, security architecture, solutions architecture, identity and access management, governance, risk, compliance, NIST, ISO27001, SABSA, ITIL, Prince2, Agile, Safe, Leadership, Mentoring, Coaching, security, cyber, presentation
About
Senior cybersecurity and technology executive with over 20 years’ experience delivering strategic, enterprise-wide security and architecture programmes across global organisations in the financial services, retail, and public sectors. Currently operating as Senior Consultant / CTO at Helmsdale Consultancy, with previous senior roles including AVP – Security & Enterprise Architecture at TJX Europe, Enterprise Architecture Director at Pax8, and Cybersecurity Senior Manager at Deloitte and PwC.
I have a proven track record of defining and executing global cybersecurity strategies aligned with risk appetite, business priorities, and regulatory mandates, including GDPR, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and NIST CSF. I have led the creation of market-specific policies under global frameworks, conducted complex risk assessments, and developed end-to-end incident response and compliance programmes.
With deep experience in the financial sector—including regulated environments—I bring both a commercial and technical lens to cybersecurity leadership. I have successfully embedded security into enterprise architectures, delivered IAM/PAM solutions using platforms like CyberArk, ForgeRock, and SailPoint, and led transformation initiatives involving Microsoft 365, RPA (Blueprism), Gen.AI (Claude, GPT-4, and other LLM’s), and cloud enablement.
Skilled at engaging stakeholders across matrixed, multi-national environments, I regularly present to Boards and Executive Committees on risk posture, maturity, and strategic outcomes. My leadership approach promotes collaboration, mentorship, and capability development, having implemented security operating models, Communities of Practice, and talent pipelines globally.
A CISSP-certified leader, with additional credentials in Prince2, ITIL, and SAFe, I bring a risk-conscious, business-enabling mindset to every engagement.