Mike Venables

After a 27 year high profile career in central government, focused on strategy development, planning and budgeting, and project management Mike moved to the charity sector in early 2012. Since then he has successfully translated his skills in leadership, performance and risk management and government finance and PFIs to the related challenges in the charity world. In 2013 he set up his own consulting business, providing consultancy advice and support to charities, social enterprises and defence suppliers. He is also a Trustee of a well-established Hampshire Youth Charity. Mike has in depth experience of leading and mentoring teams to develop vision and strategy and turning them into effective business plans. He is well versed in developing and leading change initiatives and establishing outcome measures for not-for-profit work. He has successfully applied these skills to board development and assessment, impact assessment, social value, efficiency and governance issues, voluntary fund raising, Payment by Results and social investment and enterprise models. As a Senior Civil Servant in the Ministry of Defence Mike held a wide range of Director appointments in the policy, procurement, legal, and management spheres. He served in Kosovo and Afghanistan, in both cases negotiating the initial entry of NATO forces, and held a range of finance, personnel and project management roles. His specific responsibilities included the management of MOD’s £32Bn annual budget, acting as Secretary to the Defence Management Board and the Defence Audit Committee, project managing a £5Bn procurement competition and handling Judicial Reviews relating to Iraq and inquests into service deaths. Mike was appointed OBE in 2000 and made a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers in 2008. He has been a Parish Councillor since 2003.