Seamus Gillen FCIS – Chairperson
Director, ValueAlpha
Seamus started his career as a Whitehall adviser and civil servant, becoming Private Secretary to John Gummer MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, and then Private Secretary to John Prescott MP, Deputy Prime Minister.
He moved into industry, as the Group Company Secretary and Director of Regulation at Anglian Water (later AWG) plc, and then Head of Public Policy and Regulation at O2 plc (now part of the Telefonica Group).
He became Policy Director at the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), where he authored a number of influential publications, including ICSA’s guidance on ‘Boardroom Behaviours’, and the UK Financial Reporting Council’s ‘Guidance on Boardroom Effectiveness’, He also created ICSA’s successful annual Awards dinner. He was responsible for the production of ICSA’s technical output, including its best practice Guidance Notes on boards and directors.
Seamus runs his own governance advisory business – Value Alpha Limited – working with boards and directors around the world. He also runs the successful Leadership Development Programme for company secretaries.
Seamus writes and speaks extensively on governance issues. He holds a Degree in Business Studies, and is an MBA and an ICSA Fellow.