Our Associates

Alice

Alice is an independent project and change management consultant. Alice works with and assists charities and their teams to implement change; particularly around processes, systems, people, and software. Alice’s primary aim is to ensure the effective and successful delivery of their projects in order to drive development, quality, and efficiency; in a way that shares knowledge and skills to allow charities to continue to manage projects themselves in the future, providing support if required. Alice has worked in the world of project management for many years, with all levels of experience from operational delivery through to senior management and trustees, and has a person centred style and approach. She’s experienced in planning and successfully executing on projects ranging from community funded development and service delivery, through to bespoke IT system replacement, CRM Implementation, and Web Integration. Alice’s work also involves implementing new processes and procedures to support operational and organisational management. She initially worked in Child Protection and Youth Offending, before moving on to Communities and Health, and finally focusing IT Software and Systems using Agile and traditional approaches focusing especially on NFP. As such, Alice brings a breadth of experience and knowledge that can be applied to a variety of charities. The support Alice provides is primarily specifying, planning, and successfully implementing projects and change. Alice has worked with a wide range of organisations including Missio, London City Mission, Versus Arthritis, Art for History, Groupcall, BlueSky Communications, teamSOS, World Land Trust, National Literacy Trust, The Schools Library Association, Justice Defenders, Royal Lifesaving Society and many more; along with being a Lloyds Bank Foundation Enhance Partner and having experience with many software suppliers in the sector. Alice is qualified/certified in: - IBITGQ EU General Data Protection Regulation Practitioner (GDPR P) - IBITGQ EU General Data Protection Regulation Foundation (GDPR F) Member of the Project Management Institute, qualified in: - Project Manager Professional (PMI-PMP) – Alice’s PMI qualifications can be independently checked at https://certification.pmi.org/registry.aspx - Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) – This qualification can also be independently checked at https://certification.pmi.org/registry.aspx - PRINCE2 - Alice’s PRINCE2 qualification can also be independently checked by using her Candidate Number P2R/625337 Alice’s specialist areas are/include: - IT systems, CRMs, and websites (inc. procurement and vendor selection). - Organisational development and change (IT strategy, organisation restructures). - Developing new or existing processes, tools, and procedures for organisations to continue. Alice combines project management skills with technical awareness, and an ability to make complex information readily understandable at all levels. She’s also experienced in working with and managing Suppliers and Third Parties, ensuring everyone is working together effectively with a positive relationship. Projects and changes can vary in terms of length and amount of support, Alice will ensure that the expectations are set and understood by all involved, and regularly discussed if they need updating. Alice’s aim is to always add value, particularly by bringing clarity and sanity to projects and change, and keeping teams motivated.

Clare

Clare is a “setter upper”, leading the way to success in setting up and embedding new services within organisations has served charities and public sector bodies well. She plans and steers a path with the different stakeholders, making sure that the cause and mission of the organisation is the driving force. Clare will help you plan the practical steps you need to make change achievable, visible and measurable. Clare started her career setting up a language training company at the tender age of 23, after a TEFL qualification. Moving to the voluntary sector in 2007 and being relatively new to fundraising, she set up a Prospect Research function at The Children’s Society, completely revised the Ethical screening policy at the British Red Cross and designed and embedded an Insight team at Christian Aid, bringing in project management at the same time. Clare has volunteered in various roles with the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, including as a committee member and conference organiser with the Special Interest Group Technology in Fundraising. Clare is an associate member of the Market Research Society and recently was involved in the Trailblazer group to develop an apprenticeship scheme in the market research industry. Clare has most recently spent 4 years designing and embedding an Insight team at the House of Commons. As a trustee of a small international development charity, she has unified the whole organisation around the globe in a Theory of Change and an outcomes framework. She has the ability to look at complex problems and use large volumes of information to pick out the essential and cut through the noise for better decision-making, based in robust evidence. If you are planning a restructure, bringing a new system or reviewing how your organisation works internally and with external partners, Clare can help you. Highly experienced in implementing new ways of working, she will support you to embed change.

David

David is a qualified accountant and Agile project management practitioner, bringing practical, commercial, challenging and effective thinking to projects he has worked on. David specialises in finance & grant management system implementations and process improvement, and recent clients include Maudsley Charity, Santa Rosa and C-Vu Body Corporates (New Zealand). After training and qualifying as an accountant (ACA) in New Zealand, David spent 5 years in public practice before entering the commercial workspace, including 11 years with the Lion Nathan Group (New Zealand's largest drinks company) in Business Partner/Commercial/GM Finance roles and as CEO of their gaming charity. David moved on to a GM of a high growth learning difficulty provider before moving into Project Consulting assisting property development owners navigate their way through the litigation and subsequent reconstruction of weather compromised apartments. At the same time, he was overseeing operational systems and process improvement for a hospitality chain. Upon moving to the UK, David spent 2½ years at Maudsley Charity, initially to implement aCloud (Access Financials) after selection with Adapta's help, to 'go live', including overseeing all training, adding in historic data, building bespoke reporting and delivering on a year-end consolidated set of financials at the push of a button. Additional projects were completed for the charity, including resolution of VAT issues, scheme of delegation, and project management of the charity's new grants management system, integrating payments into aCloud. Additional projects for the charity's trading included enhancing subsidiary systems (Priava booking system) and their processes for repatriating information and cash managed by their agent. Currently, David is also working with a UK international development charity on systems review, with a particular focus on improving the 'process pain' in Financial Force. From a systems perspective, David has implemented Microsoft Great Plains with Lion Nathan Charity from a lead user perspective, along with Access Financials at Maudsley Charity. In both cases, system interconnectedness was part of the overall design, as was standardised reporting. Currently, he has had exposure to Financial Force and by extension SalesForce and their linkages. Financial Systems David has been exposed to include Microsoft Dynamics/Great Plains, MFG Pro, Access Financials, MYOB, QuickBooks, XERO, Nomisma, Financial Force (and by extension SalesForce and their linkages). His all-rounded financial/accounting, IT systems and project management experience helps him navigate to competence quickly when assisting clients with implementing new systems.

Fiona

Fiona is an experienced consultant having worked in the not-for-profit sector for the past 18 years. She has assisted charities, membership organisations, trade unions and housing associations with a wide variety of projects all of which shared an overarching objective to improve performance, efficiency and effectiveness. Fiona's areas of expertise include organisational development and strategy, process improvement, the specification and selection of systems, finance function review and development, and Data Protection Act compliance. Fiona has undertaken projects for many not-for-profit organisations including ActionAid UK, The Brooke, Cats Protection, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Dogs Trust, Fire Brigades Union, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, Mind, The National Trust, PCS, Prospect, Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal Institute of British Architects, Society & College of Radiographers, St Dunstan's, St John Ambulance, The Salvation Army, and UNISON. Underpinning all of Fiona's areas of expertise are her people and project management skills. Fiona is an experienced project manager having assisted with and led numerous projects over the past 18 years. She supports clients by providing project management advice or adopting a more hands on approach when required. She is accustomed to and enjoys working with people at all levels within an organisation. She is a skilled facilitator of interviews, meetings and workshops. Prior to working with Adapta, Fiona was a management consultant with BlueSpark Consulting and Crowe Clark Whitehill. Before then she worked for the Metropolitan Police Service for 4 years on a project involving outsourcing property services and 1500 employees. Having worked on such a broad range of projects and with so many different organisations, Fiona brings valuable skills and experience to projects which she enjoys sharing with clients. She likes working with not-for-profit organisations because she appreciates and values working with people who are passionate about and believe in what they are trying to achieve.

George

George is an experienced digital executive, with a background in consultancy, IT project management (PRINCE2), operations and finance. He has had direct responsibility for leading several business functions, which have included off-shore and on-shore IT departments, support desk functions, operations, finance, HR, and marketing. His experience spans numerous business sectors which include central government, legal, charity/not-for-profit, membership organisations, healthcare, education and property. Prior to joining Adapta, George’s most recent experience was as an IT Operations & Finance Director for a community charity. As well as turning around arrangements with under-performing suppliers, he also successfully delivered many data-centric process improvements and was the driving force behind the digital transformation of expensive and resource-intensive processes into efficient, effective and user-friendly digital services. George also implemented a knowledge management system to disseminate siloed information, allowing the organisation to be more effective and resulting in staff being more engaged. Some 15 years ago, George started up an IT consultancy that specialised in document process automation, workflows, document digitalisation, digital mailrooms, and web content management. George is passionate about helping charities to use digital technology and IT systems to help deliver their strategic goals. Most recently, he has worked with organisations such as Dementia UK, the Diocese of Salisbury, the Start Network, Childrens Hospice South West, PCS trade union, Chatham House, Sadlers Wells Theatre, West Sussex Mind, the Overseas Development Institute, and The Royal Society. George has been able to assist such organisations across a range of areas, including procurement of systems (finance, HR and CRM), process improvement, ERP project management, supplier management, recruitment of senior hires, and interim IT leadership, as well as strategic advice and guidance.

Jo

Jo has worked with data and databases in the not-for-profit sector for over 20 years, and more recently has become a data quality consultant to the sector. Jo is passionate about helping organisations of all sizes and causes overcome their frustrations with poor quality data so they can deliver their mission efficiently, with reliable information, and with confidence that they are GDPR compliant. Jo started off in supporter care and subsequently database fundraising for Christian Aid. She then ran the direct marketing programme for donor recruitment and development as well as managing the Raiser 's Edge database at Notting Hill Housing Trust. A long stint at the Advertising Standards Authority gave Jo extensive exposure to Microsoft Dynamics CRM through her work as a business analyst and project manager to deliver process, system and data improvements. Jo has also been a school governor for 5 years, particularly supporting the governing body with data literacy. Specialisms include: - Data governance frameworks and implementation - Root cause analysis of data quality issues and their resolution - Scoping and requirements for data migrations and integrations - Designing and implementing business process improvements - Privacy and permission management - Data and database literacy Jo 's work is underpinned by her interest and enthusiasm for making improvements, helping people understand the reliance on data for delivering their vision, and then guiding them on that journey. Jo is comfortable working with people at all levels and in both technical and non-technical roles. Jo can advise on strategic aspects of data as well as getting involved in day-to-day detail. Jo has formal qualifications from the BCS in Requirements Engineering, Business Process Modelling and Business Analysis Practice. She also holds the Foundation certificate for PRINCE2 and the Open University's Certificate in Fundraising Practice. Jo has also undertaken training in the Ten Steps™ process, an internationally-recognised framework for improving Data Quality in organisations.

Jon

Jon is a senior technology leader with 20 years managing teams in some of the UK's largest and best known non-profits and arts organisations. As Director of IT at the National Theatre the focus was about the migration to the cloud and fully integrated digital e-commerce. At the V&A the strategy involved replacing many different contact management and fund-raising applications with a single Dynamics CRM. At Shelter it was about the computerisation of case management records and call centre technology. Jon brings a strategic view - how do your technology capabilities match the business plan for your organisation. For lots of understandable reasons, organisations find themselves with a collection of IT systems that don't quite gel and are not absolutely fit for purpose. Jon is experienced at developing communications that the board and other senior stakeholders can use to assure themselves that the investments in the right direction. Secondly, Jon has a focus on assuring stakeholders that the requirements for technology improvements are well structured, include reference back to the business case for change, and that the organisation is continuously developing the capacity to develop and deliver the benefits. Finally Jon is keen to see organisations take a board-driven view of the opportunities and risks associated with managing information. The GDPR mandates board involvement but defining information as a strategic asset is good practice. Overall Jon's general approach is through organisational capacity building, using a combination of facilitation and coaching to encourage and develop people into new roles and ways of working. How to bring the strategic top down direction to meet the knowledge and experience of the front line staff. Jon also founded a secondary school in east London with a small group of parents looking for a smaller and more creative school than was on offer at the time. Now in it's eighth year of operation, Jon served as Chair of Governors for 5 years and continues as a governor today.

Mark

With over 20 years experience working in the not-for-profit sector with organisations small, large, and global in scope, Mark is a technology leader with a proven history of achieving excellent results with limited resources. He favours actions over words and “getting things done” over excessive strategising. He is experienced in agile project management and software development practices, and specialises in a product-led and community-focused approach to delivering technology. Mark has spent the last decade working for Greenpeace, an industry leader in developing and utilising technology for fundraising, mobilisation, and engagement, where he built from scratch a world class engagement systems team, managing a portfolio of products which included the global website, CRM system, digital marketing platform, volunteer engagement, open campaigning, and face to face fundraising tools. Mark has led many innovative projects, often involving system selection, implementation, and adoption, which have delivered transformation for organisations, and is an expert in maximising the impact of non-profit technology, with a particular expertise around data. Having spent five years as a Lead Consultant at Purple Vision and before that working as a Database Manager for not-for-profit such as Anti-Slavery International and the Royal Society of Arts, Mark has developed a deep understanding of fundraising and engagement strategy across a range of contexts. He has worked with most not-for-profit CRM systems over the years and has particular recent experience as a strategic Product Manager for Salesforce, Hubspot, Wordpress, Engaging Networks, Open Social, ControlShift, and Evergiving. Mark is passionate about developing people, and building and empowering technology teams with a specific focus on diversity. He has a successful track record in recruiting diverse teams and he leads with empathy, integrity, and authenticity, taking a “people-first” approach to his work. Mark has worked across the globe, most notably in Southeast Asia, Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand, India, and several European countries, with extensive experience in the UK. As a neurodivergent person, Mark has a creative, flexible mindset that seeks a pathway through uncertainty and chaos with resourcefulness and ingenuity. He is able to find innovative solutions to problems and blend existing concepts together to develop new approaches.

Philip

Philip is a senior IT professional, experienced in leadership positions such as IT Director / Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). He has a particular focus on technology strategy, architecture and consultancy. Adapta clients have included Asthma UK, Earthwatch, Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, the Mental Health Foundation, Pony Club UK, SignHealth, the Royal Society, and the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre. Recent experience includes senior management roles at Sopra Steria and its public-private joint venture Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL), 2012-2016. Previously (2003-2012), Philip provided IT leadership as a senior civil servant in the Ministry of Justice (CTO) and the National Offender Management Service (CIO). Earlier, as Technical Director, Philip led the European professional services team for Software.com (later known as Openwave), specialising in email and related software, following a similar role with HP Consulting. He has travelled widely and worked overseas in the Americas, Europe and Asia, including having lived for three years in India as a British Council officer. Philip has significant experience at board level in both commercial and voluntary organisations, as non-executive director, charity trustee and chairman. Philip is currently Chair of Trustees at Eduserv, a not-for-profit IT services business and Chairman at JUXT, a small software development company. Philip holds several voluntary roles within the Church of England, from local to national levels: churchwarden, lay chair of Rochester Diocesan Synod, member of General Synod. He has advised both the Alzheimers' Society and the Church of England on IT strategy, information security, programme delivery and organisational design, on a voluntary basis. He has also been a school governor and the chair of trustees for Hands of Compassion, supporting primary education in Zambia. Philip read Natural Sciences and Mathematics (MA MMath) at the University of Cambridge. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, a Fellow of the British Computer Society and a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIoD FBCS MIET).

Philippa

Philippa has a wealth of consultancy experience both in the private and not-for-profit sectors. She specialises in HR specifically carrying out HR audits; return on investment (ROI) of, for example, the training function; employment law issues including reviewing contracts, policies and procedures, as well as running investigations for disciplinary, grievance and long-term sickness issues. She has worked with charities, housing associations, membership organisations as well as having clients in the private sector. Most recently, client work has included: HR audit; writing staff handbooks; - leading on GDPR; - dealing with whistle-blowing and NMW claims; - facilitating sessions to develop competency frameworks; - facilitating sessions to develop banks of recruitment and selection questions around competency and valued-based recruitment, and - dealing with complaints against a CEO and a Chief Executive. Philippa has runs her own successful HR consultancy. She sat as a Board Trustee for the NSPCC from 2007 until 2016 where she also sat on the Divisional Trustee Committee and the Finance Committee. She is a Pension Trustee of the NSPCC Pension Fund. Philippa was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year's Honours List in 2018 for her charity work. With nine years as a Trustee, she has a wealth of experience and insight as to how charities run and the issues they face. Philippa is a Chartered Fellow (CFCIPD) of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and has written articles for WoltersKluwer, provided written content for CIPD products, and co-wrote 'The Induction Pocketbook' for the Management Pocketbooks series. She brings a wide range of skills and knowledge to Adapta including HR expertise and facilitating meetings, interviews and workshops. Philippa is used to working with a range of clients including housing associations, membership organizations and charities as well as media, advertising, family-owned companies and, of course, different sizes of client including organizations with between 10 and 20 staff to those with 4000 worldwide. She is used to dealing at Board level as well as all other levels.