Michael Palmer

Michael Palmer

Senior Fellow (Alumni)

In his previous role as Director of Performance and Implementation, Mike Palmer worked as a member of the Future Generations Commissioner's leadership team, to help establish the Commissioner's office and work programme. He was responsible for the design and delivery of the Commissioner's first assessment of the Public Service Boards in Wales. He also played a key role in developing a close working relationship between the Wales Audit Office and the Future Generations Commissioners Office. As Sustainable Development Manager at the Wales Audit Office, Mike Palmer was responsible for leading the Auditor General's response to the WFG Act. This involved working with a range of stakeholders, including Welsh Government officials. This work was informed and shaped by the previous five years he had spent working closely with Welsh Government officials as they developed the Well-being of Future Generations Bill, representing the Auditor General as an observer on the Future Generations Reference and Advisory Group and the Welsh Government's Technical Advisory Group for the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

Employment

  • April 2019 to present: Senior Fellow currently at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies(IASS)
  • January 2018 to present: Founder/Director, Tymor Hir consultancy focusing on challenging and supporting organisations to turn words into action on sustainability
  • July 2016 to October 2017. Director Performance and Implementation, Office of the Future Generations Commissioner, Cardiff, Wales.
  • April 2013 to July 2016. Sustainable Development Manager, Wales Audit Office, Cardiff, Wales.
  • April 2006 to March 2013. Performance Audit Manager, Wales Audit Office, Cardiff, Wales.
  • 2003 to 2006. Performance Specialist, Audit Commission in Wales.
  • 2001 to 2003. Best Value Inspector, Audit Commission of England and Wales.
  • 1996 to 2000. Head of Community Affairs, Wales Council for Voluntary Action.
  • 1992 to 1996.North Wales Officer, Wales Council for Voluntary Action.
  • 1990 - 1992.Team Leader, Information and Special Services, Culture and Leisure Department, Gwynedd County Council.
  • 1987 to 1990.Community Librarian, Clwyd County Council.
  • 1990.Information Co-ordinator, North Wales Flood Response Team, Clwyd County Council.
  • 1985 -1987. Branch Librarian, South Glamorgan County Council, Cardiff. Education
  • 1984.University College, Cardiff; Cardiff - BA 2.1 Welsh History/Welsh Studies
  • 1985. Welsh College of Librarians, Aberystwyth, Postgraduate Diploma, Librarianship and Information Science
  • 2012. Cardiff Business School; Cardiff - Master of Public Administration MPA
  • Sustainable Development
  • Behaviour Change
  • Decision making for the Anthropocene
  • Emergent thinking
  • Complexity
  • Governance

Publications prior to joining the RIFS

Contributions to:

  • Legislating for sustainable development and embedding a Health in All Policies approach in Wales by Cathy Weatherup, Sumina Azam, Irfon Rees, Michael Palmer, Cathy Madge, Richard Lewis, Mark Bellis and Andrew Charles, in 'Progressing the Sustainable Development Goals through Health in All Policies: Case studies from around the world'.Adelaide: Government of South Australia and World Health Organisation; 2017.
  • The Well-being of Future Generations and what it means for your audit, Auditor General for Wales, Wales Audit Office, 2016.
  • Sustainable development and business decision making in the Welsh Assembly Government', Wales Audit Office, 2010.
  • 2013-2015 Welsh Government: Future Generations Bill Reference and Advisory Group