Dean has worked in HR management for 27 years, in a variety of roles in both private and public sectors. He is currently employed as the Joint Executive Head of Human Resources by the London Boroughs of Sutton and Merton providing a unique public sector shared HR service. Dean has previously worked in a variety of HR and OD roles for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London Borough of Lewisham, the Medicines Control Agency and Dalgetty-Spillers.

Dean is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD), has a Masters in Strategic HRM and is a Visiting Fellow at Kingston University Business School. Dean received the national IDeA skills champion award for two consecutive years in 2008 and 2009. He is currently President of the Public Sector People Management Association - for 2010/11.