Vicky is the Deputy Head of the Royal Navy's Internal Consultancy Group (UK Ministry of Defence).
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Vicky Fearnley, EMPP
As Deputy Head of the Royal Navy’s Internal Consultancy Group I oversee and deliver a range of projects spanning the spectrum of Navy business. This creates a broad portfolio of work, ranging from high level policy and strategy, cost modelling and military capability analysis, to complex business change programmes. I regularly draw on a board range of innovative methodologies, exploit analysis, innovative technologies, organisational theory and flexible delivery methods. I always wanted to do a master’s degree but it was never the right time or the right course. I saw the EMPP as an amazing opportunity to stretch my personal and professional development by situating my current knowledge within wider structures and theories.
Prior to undertaking the EMPP I described myself as a highly skilled policy professional. Within weeks of joining my cohort, I realised that while I have been involved in delivering some extremely tough and complex policy, I had been extremely sheltered working in Defence. One of the hardest but most rewarding parts of the course was that I had to step out of my comfort zone of “defence and security” and consider wider issues. The opportunity to work with other students and an excellent cast of lecturers who brought different ideas and perspectives to a conversation was an important experience, even though it was not one of my priorities at the outset of the course.
The EMPP gave me a new appreciation for the practical applications for state-of-the-art empirical methods, and several widely used empirical approaches to determine the effectiveness of public policy interventions and for conducting evidence-based impact evaluations. I can honestly say that this is not my natural comfort zone, I found the more technical modules daunting. However, I am now far more comfortable in more technical design and evaluation discussions with specialists as a result.
My favourite parts of the course were the Policy in Practice modules. They consolidated my learning and drawing on continuing real-world events, explored the practical applications of theory and concepts. Understanding the experiences and perspectives of my cohort as well as sharing my own perspectives has given me confidence to apply and share my knowledge in the workplace; coaching and improving ideas as well as creating them.
The challenges that policymakers are currently facing are bigger and more complex than ever before, responding to events in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East, adapting to a new government in a fiscally constrained climate, as well as addressing challenges such as climate change and emerging technologies. Completion of the EMPP has pushed my skills and understanding to the next level and I feel better prepared to address these challenges. The added complexity of juggling remote learning, home working and home schooling as well as pregnancy and a new baby also truly tested my personal resilience! The support of my family and team was invaluable. I am proud of my achievements and a feel that I am a better policy professional for the experience.