Service Owner · Data Platform Services

Greg Fowler

Digital product and service leader delivering high-impact data and technology solutions in the UK public sector. Currently leading Data Platform Services at the Ministry of Justice.

Get in touchSee my career
Photo of Greg Fowler
20+years in public-sector IT & data, since 2005
10roles across five public-sector organisations
10professional certifications
About

Data, delivery and people

I'm an experienced digital product and service leader with a track record of delivering high-impact data and technology solutions within the UK public sector, with strong expertise in agile delivery, data governance, and building cross-functional teams to drive organisational transformation.

I started out as a data analyst and have worked my way through data management, product management and service ownership, across the education and justice sectors.

Current role
Service Owner
Based in
Birmingham, UK
Focus
Data platforms & tools
Ways of working
Agile: Scrum/Kanban
Education
Degree, BSc (Hons)
Career

Where I've worked

Ten roles across five public-sector organisations, from student records systems to departmental data platforms.

Ministry of Justice

Mar 2023 – Present

Service Owner – Data Platform Services

Mar 2023 – Present

Responsible for the strategic direction and delivery of the department's Data Platform Services, including:

  • Leading the development of the Justice Data Platform and Justice AI Gateway services
  • Overseeing the Analytical Platform, enabling data-driven decision making across MoJ
  • Managing the Data Catalogue, improving data discoverability and governance across the department
  • Leading cross-functional product teams and stakeholder engagement
  • Defining product roadmaps aligned with departmental priorities
  • Ensuring compliance with government data standards and best practice

Department for Education

Apr 2016 – Mar 2023

Digital Service Owner

Dec 2020 – Mar 2023

Digital Product Manager

Apr 2018 – Dec 2020

Digital Product Manager for the Learning Records Service (LRS), an IT shared service designed to create an efficient and connected education data landscape. Provided strategic leadership for the service and acted as product owner, leading an Agile team of 8–12 people.

  • Delivered quarterly product releases, managing scope and stakeholder expectations
More detail
  • Formed the vision for the service and engaged the team and stakeholders in developing it over time
  • Managed key stakeholder relationships and promoted uptake of the product
  • Represented users throughout delivery, using their feedback to drive continuous improvement
  • Ensured business processes (e.g. engagement with GDS) were followed and supported service governance
  • Developed and maintained the product roadmap and prioritised the backlog to match

Data Governance & Assurance Manager

Apr 2016 – Mar 2018

Led a diverse team of IT professionals (developers, testers, DBAs, data stewards) within the Data Science division.

  • Implemented data governance frameworks, improving data quality by 35%
  • Led the GDPR compliance project for the Data Science division
  • Oversaw data governance for the Department's Master Data Repository (MDR) and acted as Product Owner for key data products
More detail
  • Managed and governed development of the Learning Records Service application
  • Supervised Data Quality Frameworks across a suite of systems and data products
  • Sourced new data sets to expand the catalogue available to analysts and business users
  • Managed the Data Science Test Strategy and provided assurance of the division's products and systems
  • Mentored junior staff and developed team capabilities

Skills Funding Agency

Aug 2012 – Apr 2016

Strategic Analysis Manager

May 2015 – Apr 2016

Managed a team of five data analysts delivering two key services:

  • Strategic Analysis: SQL-based analysis of ILR funding data for internal and BIS colleagues, supporting policy development and integrity/audit investigations
  • Data Management: ran the data management function for the Learning Records Service, including designing a Data Quality Framework
  • Developed dashboard tools for real-time performance monitoring

Data Manager – Learning Records Service

Aug 2012 – May 2015

Managed a sub-team of analysts maintaining and governing learner data across the public education sector in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: data quality frameworks, stewardship, standards, master data management, data protection and BusinessObjects reporting.

Presented the Learning Records Service to 200+ data and MI professionals at the LSECT Summer Data Conference 2015.

Department for Education

Apr 2012 – Aug 2012

IT Project Manager

Apr 2012 – Aug 2012

Transferred from the GTC as part of the Government's ALB reform programme. Led the Department's MS Exchange upgrade, migrating 5,000+ staff from Exchange 2003 to Exchange 2010 under PRINCE2 governance.

General Teaching Council for England

Oct 2007 – Mar 2012

Systems Development & Projects Team Leader

Oct 2010 – Mar 2012

Led systems development for the Data Governance & Systems team: MS Access/VBA applications, reporting processes, automation of BAU tasks and large data-processing activities, in line with Data Protection and Information Assurance guidelines.

Data Governance Administrator

Oct 2007 – Oct 2010

Lead administrator for the Data Quality Framework for the GTC's Oracle CRM system, using SQL and VBA for analysis, root-cause investigation, custom reporting and FOI responses.

University of Birmingham

Apr 2005 – Jul 2006

Systems Officer

Apr 2005 – Jul 2006

Data and database administration for the University's main student records system, plus development of subsidiary systems and reporting, and training for users.

Certifications

Always learning

Professional qualifications in agile, data, testing, service management and reporting.

PSPO
Professional Scrum Product OwnerScrum.org · Dec 2019
BCS
Foundation Certificate in AgileBCS · Feb 2017
ISTQB
ISTQB Certified TesterISTQB · Feb 2017
ITIL
ITIL Foundation in IT Service ManagementBCS · Jun 2016
SQL
Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012 (70-461)Microsoft · Mar 2014
BCS
Certificate in Data Management EssentialsBCS · Oct 2013
SAP
BusinessObjects Enterprise XIR3: Administration & SecuritySAP · Oct 2012
SAP
BusinessObjects Universe Design FastTrack XISAP · Oct 2012
SAP
BusinessObjects WebIntelligence XIR3SAP · Sep 2012
P2
PRINCE2 FoundationAPMG International · Jul 2011
Skills

What I bring

A blend of leadership, delivery and hands-on data skills.

Leadership & product

  • Product Management
  • Service Ownership
  • Team Leadership
  • Strategic Planning
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Policy Support
  • Project Management
  • Change Management

Data

  • SQL
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Governance
  • Data Quality Assurance
  • Information Management
  • Analytical Platforms
  • Data Catalogues
  • BI Tools
  • Business Objects

Delivery & tools

  • Agile Delivery
  • Scrum
  • Kanban
  • OKRs
  • PRINCE2
  • Business Analysis
  • Requirements Gathering
  • Process Improvement
  • VBA
  • SharePoint
  • Microsoft Office
Education

BSc (Hons) Computer Information Systems

University of Liverpool · 2000 – 2004
Contact

Let's talk

Happy to connect about data platforms, digital services or public-sector delivery.

Connect on LinkedInGitHub