Nov 21, 2025

Shona Blainey

Change or project programme manager
Glasgow, UK

Contractor Business Development Consultant Executive Government Telecommunications

Personal Summary

I am a versatile professional with extensive experience in delivery, stakeholder engagement, and leadership within complex multi-stakeholder environments. I excel at developing strategies in collaboration with key stakeholders to meet organizational objectives. My expertise lies in designing and delivering innovative solutions while ensuring integrity and consistency. I am adept at driving, managing, and coordinating resources and processes to align strategy and delivery with client objectives. I ensure operational efficiency and productivity by defining and leading continuous improvement processes. As an analytical thinker, I am skilled at disseminating information and effecting behavioral change. I am a confident negotiator and networker, capable of maintaining and cultivating sustainable working relationships, and I thrive in challenging and collaborative environments.

Skills

Delivery
Stakeholder Engagement
Leadership
Strategy Development
Change Management
Communication
Project Management
Negotiation
Networking
Continuous Improvement

Licenses and certifications

APMG Change Management Practitioner
PRINCE2 7 Managing Successful Projects Practitioner
ITIL Foundation v4, Axelos, ID GR671605222SB
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Axelos
Managing Successful Programmes™, Axelos
ICP-BAF - ICAgile Business Agility Foundations
SAFe 4 Scrum Master, Scaled Agile
MOD Negotiation Fundamentals Course, DE&S Abbey Wood
CMI Level 8 Strategic Direction and Leadership Certificate, Manchester Business School
Officer Training, RAF College Cranwell, Professional Trade Training, RAF Boulmer

Awards and achievements

Winner of Women in Defence UK Awards 2017 - Most Collaborative (Iraq 2016)

Work Experience

Communications, Process and Change Lead

Jan 2024 - Present National Grid Ventures, Construction Directorate

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Delivered change programme focusing on change control and governance, performance management, financial process improvement, risk management and communication processes as part of a large-scale European-partnered interconnector construction programme.
Developed and delivered a project-wide communications campaign supporting high-trust culture and identity development.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Supported the Strategy Lead by planning and delivering a change programme across 11 major delivery partners to improve delivery efficiency, and to monitor and support improvement in delivery partner performance.
Conducted change impact assessments and developed business readiness plans.
Delivered training materials and workshops, providing regular progress updates and reports.

NS Solutions Head of Sales and International Client Manager

Apr 2023 - May 2024 Roke Manor Research

Developed UK and international sales strategies and sales management working methods for a new business unit. Exceeded first-year sales target by over 30% and developed four new international sales channels, securing international sales for the new business unit. Developed new customer relationships and secured new product development partnerships. Managed UK and international client management, pipeline development, secure software product and service offerings development, and associated financial and resourcing forecasting activity. Conducted quarterly business reviews, monthly leadership team, and business unit update meetings. Managed cross-business stakeholder management and collaboration with legal, compliance, marketing, engineering project teams (developers), and Defence and Futures business units.

Senior Consultant (Deployment Lead)

Sep 2021 - Mar 2023 Sopra Steria

Developed an implementation plan and change plan for a multi-million-pound complex IT system with supporting ITSM using Agile software delivery, supporting client strategic objectives. Led the implementation team to deploy the system to 31 geographically separate sites across three military Top-Level Budgets (TLBs). Revised outdated communication strategy, improving reach by 50% and facilitating user engagement. Engaged in weekly executive-level stakeholder engagement, daily partner and client updates, internal team briefing, and direction-setting. Conducted progress reporting, planning reviews, end-user engagement, and feedback planning. Developed and reviewed communication and change strategy.

Business Change Consultant

Jan 2020 - Sep 2021 PA Consulting

Designed and delivered an operation model for adaptive ways of working for an Agile digital transformation programme. Developed the 2020 communications strategy and delivery plan for Women in Defence UK. Coordinated a team of 158 contractors providing effective client-side support for a national satellite development programme. Delivered change management strategy for the implementation of a multi-million-pound Agile development programme. Designed operation models and coordinated with 15 sub-teams as lead Scrum Master, engaged with clients, and delivered client updates. Ensured communications responded to the national COVID situation, managed key stakeholders, and analyzed feedback. Developed, planned, and delivered a change management programme for the implementation of case working systems.

Senior Consultant

Apr 2019 - Nov 2019 PCubed

Identified opportunities for accelerating the implementation of a capability for UK defence platforms within a £300m project. Led a newly formed training cell, coordinating training for the company’s defence team.

Campaign Manager

May 2018 - Mar 2019 Innovative Communications and Strategies (InCoStrat)

Developed, analyzed, and evaluated influence campaigns for a £12m strategic communications programme. Created and implemented editorial guidelines, new HR reporting, campaign delivery, and planning procedures. Led a team of 24 local staff, providing direction for strategic communication output, influence campaign development, and coordination in addition to welfare support and performance evaluation. Engaged in regular partner and client liaison and business development. Used audience insights and analytics to inform strategy development and daily communication planning.

Project Manager | Career Stream Manager

Jan 2017 - May 2018 The Royal Air Force

Coordinated the merger of first-level training for three aerospace career streams and seven sub-specialisations to streamline processes, realize cost-savings, and reduce training times. Managed four aerospace control SMEs to develop integrated training systems, using existing training processes and materials to improve and optimize the standard of training and support centralization. Accountable for managing daily queries, providing status updates to key stakeholders, and resolving arising issues.

Middle East & North Africa Cultural Advisor

- Aug 2017 International Policy and Planning, Ministry of Defence, London (RAF)

Successfully leveraged field expertise to develop an area-specific strategy and coordination structure, through liaison with key stakeholders, resulting in reduced decision-making timelines, cost-savings, and increased team engagement and collaboration. Conceptualized and delivered a proposal, later used as a template, for quantifying the effect of influence, stabilization, and training projects valued at £12m. Ensured UK MOD strategy aligned to objectives by regularly engaging with key stakeholders and conducting cross-Whitehall liaison.

Intelligence Advise & Assist Deputy Head and Cultural Advisor

Jan 2016 - Jan 2017 The Royal Air Force

Improved communication and information sharing, resulting in time and cost savings through conceptualizing and supporting the implementation of air operating procedures, negotiating with key stakeholders, and training personnel. Improved cultural understanding and collaboration between partners through effectively advising US-led multinational headquarters on communication strategy and contributing to the planning process. Identified the need for improved cultural and Arabic language training for UK personnel working with overseas partners, devised and delivered a research project where results were adopted for best practice pre-deployment training and planning. Supported increasing Iraqi military intelligence capacity and delivering behavioral change through effectively collaborating with Iraqi intelligence representatives in an advisory role, with daily leadership engagement, managing an international team. Delivered comprehensive briefing updates at board level and regular reporting supporting UK decision-making.

Middle East and North Africa Cultural Advisor - Gender Trainer

Jan 2014 - Jan 2016 The Royal Air Force

Significantly improved gender awareness skillset of staff within an operational environment through delivering gender training aligned to UN Resolution 1325 (Women Peace and Security) whilst ensuring training aligned with MOD policy. Provided cultural advice, Arabic language support to exercise headquarters, led gender training workshops, and pre-deployment training.

Education

MSci

Sep 2004 - Jul 2008 University of Nottingham

CMI L8 Certificate in Strategic Direction and Leadership

Nov 2017 - Dec 2017 Manchester Business School

Change Management Practitioner

May 2024 - Jun 2024 APMG International

PRINCE2 7 Practitioner

Jul 2024 - Jul 2024 AXELOS Global

ITIL4 Foundation

Jan 2024 - Jan 2024 AXELOS Global

Managing Successful Programmes

Jul 2020 - Aug 2024 Axcelos

SAFe 4 Scrum Master

Nov 2019 - Nov 2019 Scaled Agile

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Jan 2024 - Feb 2024 Axelos Global