Neil Manfred
Group IT Director · NED · Host, Tales from the Hat
I lead technology organisations at Board level and sit on governance boards. My work spans strategic IT leadership, board-level decision making, and building high-performing technology teams that can take complex challenges and turn them into business opportunities.
Alongside the day job, I host Tales from the Hat — a podcast where I get into the real stories behind technology governance, leadership, and the decisions that shape how organisations adopt and manage AI, cybersecurity, and digital change. The hat isn't a gimmick. It's become a bit of a signature, and a reminder that even serious conversations about governance and risk can be had with a sense of humour.
- Non-Executive Director & Trustee, Vision Multi Academy Trust
- IoD Certified Director with board responsibility for governance, oversight, and assurance
- Strategic governance experience in regulated sectors, including education and public sector environments
- Board-level capability in technology risk, compliance, and digital strategy
Cloud architecture, systems design, and infrastructure built to scale with the organisation.
Threat management, incident response, and translating cyber risk into board-level decisions.
Responsible AI adoption, regulatory alignment, and practical risk assessment frameworks.
Change management and technology adoption that stays aligned to actual business outcomes.
Strategic oversight, governance frameworks, and stakeholder management at board level.
Public speaking at technology and governance conferences, and regular writing on the topics that matter to senior leaders.
Open Source & Maker Projects
Outside of governance and strategy, I build — home lab infrastructure, robotics, astronomy hardware, and the occasional Jellyfin plugin. Everything gets pushed to GitHub.
Listen to Tales from the Hat
Conversations on IT leadership, cybersecurity, AI governance, digital transformation, and board-level decision making — for senior leaders who want it straight, not sanitised.