Christine Lester
Chief Executive, West Midlands Tomorrow Ltd
I and my colleagues are dedicated to enabling a culture change for the benefit of the Midlands Region. As part of my role in Minster Development Centre I managed a 5-year culture change programme at Lichfield Cathedral, the 4th largest Diocese in England, which has now won European Funds and helped to increase visitors to the City, benefiting some 300 local firms. In 2001 I developed a Leadership Consultative Event at Windsor Castle, working with the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Appointment Secretary on profiling leadership in the Church of England. In concert with the Industrial Society and the Windsor Trust. I have advised organisations, including the Police and the Banking and Shipping industries on leadership. My previous employment history included administration in the NHS, then taught business management for 11 years before establishing a people Development Centre in Lichfield. I became a member of The Centre for Tomorrows Company in 1999, before founding West Midlands Tomorrow Ltd as a “not for profit” limited company concentrating on regional strategy and organisational development. This has now existed for 7 years and has projects mainly devoted to social-inclusion in several regions including the Black Country and the West Midlands now extending to other countries wishing to benefit from our experiences and knowledge.
Our projects have included: Social Leadership; Social Relationships; Health, Training & Education for Ethnic Minority Groups, Joined Up Thinking for Emergency Services, Feasibility Studies for a Textile Project,a Cultural Centre,a Sikh Nursery and a long term project with a group of Social Enterprises for the Physically Challenged.
11 contactsWMTL is a not for profit limited company dedicated to helping other organisations achieve a vision, purpose & values based on leadership, entrepreneurship, social responsibility, corporate governance using learning sets and other consultative approaches. We have led seminars on social relationships, social change and "joined up thinking" with community groups, the third sector, the public sector and large corporates.
Minster is an Accredited Centre for vocational qualifications - management, leadership, customer service, administration. It has also advised and delivered an Investors in People programme for a Cathedral and Diocese. It gained a National Award for delivering a vocational qualification in an Innovative Way. It can also deliver bespoke people development from as little as one-day or half day workshops. It is proud that its approach to vocational qualifications leads to achievement of business objectives thereby meeting the aspirations of the candidate and the employer.
1989 - 1994Manager of one of the Colleges; responsible for recruitment of tutors and students, work placements. Subject head for business administration responsible for curriculum across all colleges in the Group.
1984 - 1989Worked directly for Director of Nursing, responsible for all aspects of nurse training programmes including in-house 6-week residential course; arranging seminars, speakers. Arrangements for all external training & development of nurses, applying for funding etc. Responsible for staff of 6 secretaries.
