Tom is the Corporate Director for Environment, Planning and Economy for Cornwall Council having joined the new unitary authority in March 2009. Previously he was employed as the Executive Director of Environment & Regeneration with Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council and was latterly seconded as Project Director for the Manchester City Region MAA (Multi Area Agreement). Before that he held the post of Executive Director Environmental Services with Oldham and prior to that a similar portfolio with Liverpool City Council.

He holds a doctorate in Civil Engineering specialising in Traffic & Transportation and much of his professional life has been spent leading on major initiatives in regeneration programmes and environmental service delivery. He has passionately promoted the concept of partnering, establishing a number of joint venture arrangements with the private and social enterprise sectors and also leading a number of partnership bodies in the field of regeneration.

He is one of the few Chief Officers in Local Government to have also held political office, having been an elected member for 10 years, holding a number of portfolio roles including Leader of Bradford Council during 1990-93 – his claim to fame being that he ousted Eric Pickles from power!