Eric Phelps

I have over 15 years’ experience leading data strategy, governance, and transformation across complex, highly regulated organisations in the public and private sectors. I have held senior roles within local government, national policing bodies, and commercial organisations, such as insurance and banking services  where I have designed and implemented enterprise data governance frameworks, improved data quality and assurance, and supported regulatory compliance at scale. My experience includes working closely with boards, senior leaders, regulators, and operational teams to align data with strategic, operational, and statutory priorities. I am recognised for combining strong governance with practical delivery, enabling organisations to move from fragmented, high-risk data environments to trusted, well-managed data assets that support better decision-making and sustainable change.

Professional Experience

Data Strategy Lead
London Borough of Newham
2024 – Present
Leading enterprise data strategy, governance, and assurance across Housing Services, aligning data assets to regulatory compliance, service improvement, and executive decision-making.

Contractor Data Governance Lead
National Crime Agency
2023 – 2024
Led strategic data governance initiatives within a national law-enforcement environment, focusing on data quality, accountability, information risk, and cross-agency data sharing.

Strategic Data Governance Lead
Police Digital Service
2021 – 2023
Designed and implemented national data governance frameworks supporting UK policing, including standards for data ownership, quality, ethics, and assurance.

Senior Data Governance & Information Management Roles
Compare the Market Insurance and Banking Services
Metropolitan Police Service
2015 – 2021
Held senior roles spanning commercial and policing environments, strengthening data governance, compliance, and operational use of information in complex organisations.

I hold a Doctorate in Criminal Justice and an MSc in International Conflict, providing a strong academic foundation in risk, governance, and complex systems. My education is complemented by professional certifications and training in data governance, data ethics, and information management, including a Level 2 Certificate in Data Coding and Ethics and 

supporting effective delivery of complex data and transformation programmes. Together, this blend of academic and professional learning underpins my ability to design robust, compliant data governance frameworks and lead strategic change in regulated environments.