Simon Duckworth

Operational transformation leader with extensive experience delivering organisational redesign, regulatory readiness, service transformation and operational improvement across complex regulated environments. Proven track record leading operational change, implementing systems and governance frameworks, improving organisational performance and supporting executive leadership teams through periods of growth, restructuring and transformation. Experienced across multi-functional operations including customer experience, compliance, residential operations, service delivery, CRM implementation, risk management and organisational scaling.

Senior Consultant at National Institute of Teaching (2026-01 – Present)

Supporting organisational transformation and operational development for a national education institution, including operational design, governance structures, service development and organisational effectiveness initiatives.

• Designed scalable operational frameworks and service structures.
• Developed governance, policy and operational performance frameworks.
• Supported executive leadership with organisational effectiveness and transformation activity.
• Led operational development across support, safeguarding and compliance functions.
• Delivered operational improvement initiatives focused on service quality and efficiency

Founder & Lead Consultant at SXW Consulting (2024-01 – Present)

Providing operational transformation, strategic advisory and organisational development support to education providers and service organisations.

• Operational redesign
• Regulatory readiness
• Leadership advisory
• Service transformation
• Crisis and change management
• Market and organisational strategy

Interim Head of Student Services & Operations at Northchild Group (2024-01 – 2024-12)

Supported operational setup and organisational readiness for a new university campus operation.

• Designed quality assurance and operational governance processes.
• Led implementation of operational systems and service frameworks.
• Restructured strategic partnership agreements.
• Developed safeguarding and operational training programmes.
• Supported compliance readiness and widening participation objectives.

Director-Level Operational Consultant at Buckinghamshire New University (2023-01 – 2024-12)

Provided senior operational leadership across customer support, retention and organisational improvement functions during a period of institutional change.

• Led operational restructuring across multiple teams and functions.
• Improved onboarding and admissions operational processes.
• Embedded operational reporting and Power BI performance frameworks.
• Supported apprenticeship and regulatory inspection readiness.
• Delivered organisational change and process redesign initiatives.

Head of Operations & Student Experience at INTO University Partnerships (2015-01 – 2023-12)

Led large-scale operational and service delivery functions within a complex residential educational environment.

• Managed operational services across accommodation, facilities and commercial operations.
• Led enterprise CRM implementation using Agile delivery methodology.
• Directed regulatory readiness activity including successful UKVI audit outcomes.
• Improved customer experience and operational visibility through CX and reporting initiatives.
• Developed operational governance and risk management frameworks.
• Increased international market performance across Africa, South Asia and Gulf regions.

Senior Pastoral & Curriculum Support Manager at Notre Dame High School (2004-01 – 2015-12)

Provided operational leadership, organisational management and safeguarding oversight within a large educational environment.

• Led departmental restructuring and operational redesign activity.
• Managed staffing, operational performance and organisational workflows.
• Supported successful Ofsted outcomes through operational improvement initiatives.
• Worked across complex safeguarding and external stakeholder environments

MSC in International Relations of EU – Loughborough University

BA (Hons) in Politics with Communication & Media Studies – Loughborough University