Elly Ruston (Smillie)
About Elly Ruston (Smillie)
Elly Ruston (Smillie) serves as Chief of Staff at Sitenna and has extensive experience in leadership roles within the Royal Navy, focusing on training governance and continuous improvement. She holds degrees in History and Human Resources, and has completed advanced management training, emphasizing employee engagement and organizational performance.
Work at Sitenna
Elly Ruston currently holds the position of Chief of Staff at Sitenna, a role she has occupied since 2023. Located in Poole, England, her responsibilities include overseeing various operational aspects of the organization. Her experience in leadership and management within the Royal Navy has equipped her with the skills necessary to contribute effectively to Sitenna's strategic objectives.
Current Role at Royal Navy
Since 2020, Elly Ruston has served as the Lead for Training Governance, Assurance, and Continuous Improvement at the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, England. In this role, she focuses on enhancing training processes and ensuring compliance with governance standards. Her work emphasizes continuous improvement and the implementation of effective training strategies.
Education and Expertise
Elly Ruston has a diverse educational background. She studied at the University of Plymouth, earning a BA (Hons) in History from 2007 to 2010. She also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Training Management and Consultancy at the University of Portsmouth, spanning from 2014 to 2020. Additionally, she attended the Defence Academy for the Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Maritime) in 2019 and completed the Advanced Management Awareness Course at Alliance Manchester Business School in 2023.
Background in Royal Navy
Elly Ruston has extensive experience within the Royal Navy, having held various positions over several years. She served as the Officer in Charge of the Engineering Training Squadron from 2017 to 2019 and as Chief Instructor from 2016 to 2017. Additionally, she was the Commanding Officer of the Oxford University Royal Naval Unit from 2019 to 2020, leading a team of 60 personnel. Her roles have focused on training, education, and personnel management.
Professional Interests
Elly Ruston is interested in pursuing Head of People roles within inspiring and agile startups. She is passionate about supporting and leading people, particularly in Management Consultancy related to People Capability. Her focus on employee needs and retention reflects her commitment to enhancing organizational performance through people-centric initiatives.