He graduated from Loughborough University in 1988 and then studied for his master’s degree in Transportation Engineering at Salford University. He joined a large private sector engineering consultancy where he worked on feasibility and design studies for large transportation projects including Manchester Metrolink, the Mersey Crossing and Ewloe interchange in North Wales. 

Following a period at Bedfordshire County Council, he joined District Audit in 1994 in Cardiff. He also holds an MBA from Bradford University.

His long career in performance audit has included a variety of roles while working for several audit offices. Career highlights include:

• his District Audit team winning the Read Award for notable contribution to external audit in local government and the NHS;
• at the Office of the Auditor-General in New Zealand, his work on biosecurity prompted the suspension of Parliament and an emergency debate; 
• and at the National Audit Office in London, he was involved in instigating the review of the Garden Bridge project. 

Tom has also spent time on secondment with the Jersey Audit Office and joined Audit Wales in 2015.

He is currently the Director with responsibility for the NHS Performance Audit team, and the Audit Development and Guidance team. 

Tom lives across the border in England with his wife and five children. Outside of work he enjoys reading military history, politics, economics and stoic philosophy. He is a sports enthusiast with interests in football, rugby league, cricket, badminton and boxing, most of which he has played at one level or another. He keeps fit by running and weight training. His other passion is restoring his classic Pontiac, and he holds motor industry qualifications in welding, painting, and mechanics.