Strategic business, membership and NFP consultant

Insight, support and ideas to inspire change
The resource
An experienced business professional, non-executive director, and membership expert.
Combines high level commercial acumen running large divisions of multi-national media and creative companies with 20 years of membership organisation consultancy experience. Commercial experience included launching, buying and selling businesses or parts of business. Working with venture capitalists and groups of private investors.
Available for non-executive roles, business consultancy, membership organisation and NFP consultancy.
Memberships
Past membership/NFP initiatives and projects:
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3 years as Interim Director at The Housing Forum (to October 2022)
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Launched the Memcom conference and awards in 2000 and ran for 18 years
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Initiated the Louis Armstrong award for outstanding leadership of a professional body
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Launched a conference and web site promoting fair access to the professions
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Initiated the first membership engagement benchmarking study
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Founder and Director of Ashridge Communications for over 15 years. Example projects included:
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Professional body review of its future viability working with their board
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Professional body transformation strategy
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Trade Association thought leadership review including a review of opportunities to command the agenda in their sector
Updates
Member engagement – effectively delivering and communicating value​
I've reviewed what has changed in marketing, the emerging importance of member engagement and how that is interpreted and delivered. If you would like me to review your member engagement do get in touch
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Current and recent projects and initiatives​
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Spent 3 years up to October 2022 as Interim Director at The Housing Forum. Initiated a process of digital transformation. Formalised the introduction of a Vision and Mission formal positioning as the only cross sector housing organisation see www.housingforum.org.uk. Having agreed a 6 month tenure was delighted to be able to support the Chief Executive and find a replacement director.
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Worked on a review of membership fees and benefits for an established association
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Supported a review of professional body’s inbound member and prospective member contact handling processes
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Supported a professional sector’s review on developing equality, diversity and inclusivity plans, tools and resources
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Worked for a new technology supplier to the membership sector to help assess product reaction and potential and advised on the marketing plan
Expertise

Supported an interesting project for IP Inclusive - a group of like-minded professionals working in IP, committed to improving equality, diversity and inclusivity in their community. Developed the 'Careers in Ideas' concept and helped roll that out.
Web site now live www.careersinideas.org.uk

Winners of the Louis Armstrong Award for exceptional leadership of a professional body which I initiated in 2015
- Louis Armstrong, RICS (posthumous) - 2015
- Ann Francke, CMI - 2016
- Chris Blyth, CIOB - 2017 (left receiving award from Ann Francke)
- Mark Downs, Royal Society of Biology, 2018
