Nigel Elias, Head of the Welsh Government Integrated Assurance Hub

Chris Shoukry of ALCO Consulting has been commissioned by the Welsh Government since 2012 to perform the role of Review Team leader for our OGC gateway reviews. I have had the opportunity not only to organise review teams but also to be a member on review teams that Chris has led.  I have looked back over Chris’ feedback from RTM’s and without exception every single one of them speaks of Chris in glowing terms.

The regard in which Chris’ leadership abilities are held within the Welsh gateway Hub is evidenced by the number of times we have invited Chris to lead our reviews. Chris is now in double figures for the number of reviews she has done on behalf of Welsh Government.

My own experience of working alongside Chris is extremely positive. I find Chris to be organised and professional, thorough, and well prepared, energised and inclusive. I always learn from working alongside Chris and find undertaking reviews as part of Chris’ team always stimulating.

Chris fully understands the pressures Programme and Projects face and is quick to empathise with SRO’s but doesn’t allow this empathy to cloud her judgement. Chris is quick to gain the trust of the SRO and is always client focussed. Through her evident knowledge and experience SRO’s have used Chris as a sounding board, management resource and counsellor. Chris is consistently asked back by SRO’s.

Chris runs an inclusive team with all members given the opportunity to be fully involved with interviews and report writing. Chris is particularly good at building the confidence of first time RTM’s giving the right amount of encouragement and empowerment.

Chris has been RTL on some of our more complex programmes. Chris undertakes reviews in a robust and comprehensive manner, which allows her to quickly arrive at the issues regardless of complexity, the programme or project needs to overcome. Once identified, Chris is pragmatic in her approach to recommendations understanding that the recommendations must be able to be readily adopted by the project.

I welcome future opportunities not only to utilise Chris on Welsh Government reviews but also to be part of some of those review teams myself.