Genie is a former senior civil servant who now works as a non-executive director in the private and charitable sectors.

She is on the board of the family owned construction company, the Wates Group, and of the executive search company, Rockpools. She is also on the boards of the Dulwich Picture Gallery (and Chair of DPG Enterprises), the Horniman Museum, the Wessex Archaeological Trust, the Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation and the Historic Houses Association. She is a lay member of Salisbury Cathedral Chapter (and Chairman of its RemCo).

Genie was formerly on the board of the Woolwich Building Society, a City University Council member, an Independent member of the ALG review of London Borough Grants and a Trustee of the Pilgrim Trust and AA Motoring Trust.

In her executive career Genie has extensive public sector experience. Later roles include Director General for Housing, Planning and Urban regeneration in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (2000 – 2004) and Director, Government Office for London (1997 – 2000), a post in which she established London’s new government under the elected Mayor.

Genie read Classics and then carried out research at Girton College, Cambridge. Her interests include government, gardening, books, painting, music and shopping.

Genie is a Criticaleye Associate.
 

Andrew Minton

Charlie Wagstaff

Matthew Blagg

We've all heard the phrase, 'It's lonely at the top'. As chief executives across Criticaleye's Membership tell me, being a leader can be immensely rewarding, but also quite isolating. Who do you turn to when it comes to debating important issues on strategy? And, where can you go for solutions?

Unlike the individuals on the teams you lead, who are more than likely encouraged to share ideas and information, there are few people you can ask for useful and impartial advice. Your staff will expect you to have the answers already and professional advisors are likely to push their own agendas. In addition to this, the immediacy of today's business environment, where advances in technology and communications have intensified the pace of change, has created a world where leaders and directors have to be up-to-date and on-message around the clock.

Criticaleye was created in 2002 with the aim of helping leaders across industry sectors, business functions and geographical locations resolve business issues through peer-to-peer debate and discussion. Our Community works on the premise that business leaders and chief executives  need a safe space to ask questions and discuss solutions without the threat of being held to ransom by employees, stakeholders or the media for not knowing the answer to every problem or challenge that presents itself.

Being part of the Criticaleye Community means a number of things: Access to a managed network of leaders who can offer you fresh perspectives on and solutions to your critical issues. Intimate events on topics that have been generated from within the Community; a dedicated Relationship Manager to monitor your Membership activity and ensure you're getting the most value from it; a seasoned executive or 'Associate' to provide high level advice and ensure you are talking to the right people in the Community. And access to Criticaleye's Insight through an interactive online knowledge portal which is made up of cutting-edge business research, event write-ups, film footage of events and interviews and Community Articles by other Members.

Matthew Blagg, Founder & CEO, Criticaleye