Associates

Matt is also an advisor to the Innovation Unit, applying disciplined innovation and design practice to complex problems, for example as a coach in the Department for Education’s Innovation in Social Care Program. And as Lead Expert in Open Innovation for URBACT, an EU body, he facilitated a Europe-wide network of cities embracing the principles of open innovation. His career in leadership positions within the public sector includes roles as an executive director of a local authority, a director of inspections in a national regulatory body and a civil servant.

Steve’s consultancy experience also includes regulators, government departments, and improvement agencies. With a background in workforce, organisational development and user involvement, his main areas of interest are in organisational behaviour and especially how this links to user experience. He has a special interest in the development of the BAME workforce, both inside health and social care and in wider fields of employment, with a focus on the psycho-social factors that facilitate or inhibit career aspirations and development. Factors of group dynamics, occupational psychology and organisational behaviour in organisations, services and teams, and how this impacts on service user experience, is of particular interest for research and evaluation.

Steve has extensive experience of working on NHS Leadership Academy programmes, including the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson programme, Nye Bevan programme, and on the inaugural Clinical Executive Fast Track Scheme. His speciality is working with executive and mid-level leaders, unlocking potential with a special interest in the development of aspirant BAME leaders and the related specific challenges. He has also coached and mentored individuals and teams across a range of organisations, both public and private. From January 2020, Steve is the Programme Director for the NHS Leadership Academy’s Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Programme.

Annette specialises in research, teaching and consultancy:

• Organisational development, change and service improvement in the public services
• User centred evaluations
• Sustainability and spread of NHS Service improvement programmes
• Leadership development (clinical and managerial)
• Executive coaching

Liz has extensive experience of co-designing and leading systems leadership development programmes for senior leaders across public services, including Leadership for Change (Systems Leadership Steering Group), Skills for Systems Leadership (PHE), C21st Aspiring Directors Programme (University of Birmingham/PHE), National Graduate Development Programme for Local Govt (INLOGOV). She has also directed a Masters leadership programme for civil society leaders in Central and Eastern Europe. Other relevant work that keeps her grounded includes supporting systems change work and innovation at local level in health and social care integration and with public health, alongside team coaching work with public health teams. During the current pandemic, she has spent significant time on facilitating the repair and re-building of strategic relationships between local authorities and social care providers. She has also become actively engaged in the facilitation of online citizens’ assemblies, particularly on climate change and looking to a post-Covid future.

Liz is an accredited mediator, executive coach and MBTI practitioner. She has trained extensively in embodied/systemic approaches such as organisational constellations and Gestalt and has a Masters in Organisational Consulting from Ashridge Business School.  She is particularly interested in supporting the conditions for courageous conversations around questions that matter most, connecting the personal to the systemic and deepening reflective practice– be it in her coaching work, facilitation of Action Learning Sets, working with senior leadership teams or multiple stakeholders across boundaries. Outside of work, she loves playing flute in a Cuban Big band.