About

About Thom

I'm Thom Wilkinson, an independent programme and transformation consultant and the founder of Plexity.

I specialise in delivering government programmes that work across organisational boundaries, with industry, regulators and international partners. I spent nine years in UK Government, including roles at the FCDO, UKHSA and the Vaccines Taskforce. My experience spans security and law enforcement, international and diplomatic work, and regulated health delivery, always from the client side.

My strength is getting organisations with different priorities to commit to the same plan. I am brought in to set programmes up, to take them through approval, or to pull them back under control when they have drifted. Through Plexity, I do that for government organisations and for the consultancies and companies that deliver alongside them, as a security cleared consultant working UK hours.

I also support consultancies bidding for government programmes, bringing the client-side view of what a credible delivery approach looks like.

How I work

My approach is simple: bring structure where there is uncertainty, create alignment around a shared objective and help people turn plans into practical action. I bring a calm, pragmatic style and place a strong emphasis on relationships, trust and delivery.

I enjoy working on things that matter and helping organisations move forward with confidence. Alongside delivery, I focus on building capability, strengthening teams and leaving organisations better placed for the future, bringing energy, curiosity and a practical mindset to every engagement.

My background

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Principal Consultant, Programme & Transformation | 2024 to 2026

I was an internal consultant, brought in to shape delivery models, strengthen governance and turn ambiguous strategic objectives into practical, funded plans.

Alongside the Caribbean security and intelligence hub, I designed the workforce optimisation framework for a global network of 17,000+ staff, adopted into FCDO 2030. I also set up the governance and engagement model for the Soft Power Council, securing sign-up from the chairs and chief executives of 25 national institutions.

UK Health Security Agency

Programme Delivery Lead, Vaccine Portfolio | 2022 to 2024

I led a £300m+ international vaccine portfolio covering two vaccines, including the world-first deployment of Sanofi's COVID-19 vaccine and the $127m recovery from a supplier that had missed its contractual milestones.

I was also government contract manager on the Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre, built under a 10-year, £1bn UK partnership, and ran the assurance that took the facility through its first three government Gateway Reviews.

Vaccines Taskforce

Transformation Programme Manager | 2021 to 2022

I ran the £429m onshoring investment programme, authoring the management case, co-authoring the strategic case and securing Ministerial approval for the business case.

At the same time, as part of the senior leadership team, I designed and implemented the target operating model for the Taskforce's integration into UKHSA, cutting contractor dependency by 80%.

Earlier career

Before that, I worked at the Department of Health and Social Care on programme reporting and governance behind national vaccine supply decisions, and in the Civil Contingencies Secretariat on EU Exit readiness and emergency preparedness.

Qualifications

APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ)
PRINCE2 Practitioner
AgilePM Practitioner
Government Commercial Function Contract Management (Level 3)
APMG Change Management Foundation
ILM Level 5 Mentoring and Coaching (in progress)

Education

MSc International Public PolicyUniversity College London
BA (Hons) Politics with International Relations, First ClassUniversity of York

Testimonials

In their words

His collaborative approach is valued, and commented upon by both companies – even in the most challenging of political & commercial circumstances.
Thom has managed to retain collaborative dialogue on day-to-day business, gaining, for example, the shelf-life extension that enabled many people with allergies to safely and confidently come forward for boosters this Spring. Thom has held the hands of these two companies through regulation, batch-testing, logistics of supply and been a brilliant interlocutor supporting the NHS front line teams to fully appreciate the nuances of these vaccines and resolving all manner of issues...
Thom's colleagues describe him as a shoulder to lean on, and someone that keeps them sane. He's never too busy to act as a professional sounding board, a critical friend or share his depth of VTF experience widely.

Director, Vaccines Taskforce

Thom has consistently demonstrated outstanding problem-solving skills, tackling complex and often unclear asks with determination and creativity. This was particularly evident on his Global Strategic Framework - leading a sensitive consultation, and driving forward work on a model that brought much-needed structure to a particularly confusing and complex area.
His ability to stay calm despite ambiguity and pressure, meet tight deadlines, and to step up and hold his own, in the face of some very difficult stakeholder dynamics, was genuinely exceptional. Despite significant obstacles, he navigated a number of sensitive situations with patience, remarkable tact, and a clear focus on delivering outcomes aligned with Executive Committee's steers. His leadership and persistence were key to making progress on work that has historically struggled to gain traction in the FCDO.
On a personal note, Thom has been a fantastic colleague over the last few months. He's taken the time to offer thoughtful career advice and has been an encouraging, positive presence every day throughout a very challenging project.

Senior Consultant, FCDO

Let’s have a conversation

If you'd like to talk about a programme, a bid or working together, get in touch.

Get in touch