Mark Arkwell, Chief Sponsor FM & Construction

Mark began his fire service career in Surrey in 1999 serving as a firefighter for five years and then experienced various roles across the Service before becoming the Assistant Chief Fire Officer in 2018. Mark was also seconded for 12months as strategic lead to the Surrey and Sussex collaboration programme in 2017. In 2019, Mark joined Royal Berkshire fire and rescue service as Director of Collaboration, Change and Finance overseeing a broad directorate and portfolio of change programmes. Highlights of 2020/21 have included delivery of multiple collaborative estates projects including tri-service stations, sponsorship of the Services’ Built Environment Programme; a response to Grenfell and being central to the Services response to Covid-19. Mark continues to champion effective collaboration and chairs the Interoperability Group, a forum that continues to deliver multiple collaborative projects across the Thames Valley bringing closer working relationships across blue-light partners.

Mark is currently the acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer taking on additional responsibilities across the Service Delivery directorate.

Mark completed an Executive MBA in 2017, graduating with distinction. Alongside broader business practises Mark focussed on strategy implementation and organisational change management. The experience also offered insight into a variety of alternative sectors and cultures, including studying finance and marketing at the Presidential Academy of Economics in Moscow. Outside of work, Mark likes to spend as much time with his young family as he can and has two daughters, Olivia and Rosie, both under the age of five.