Services

Critical Thinking + Culturally & Emotionally Intelligent working

How I work

Whatever service you choose I’ll spend time at the start getting to know your organisation, your needs and what you would like to achieve. As we work together you will stay at the heart of the process. I’m renowned for my timely and effective communication – you’ll have the information you need, when you need it but without overload.

Building a solid foundation means the impacts of the work are generally precise, sustainable and add maximum value to you and your organisation.

Depending on your needs I act as a critical friend; advisor and guide; skills and knowledge developer or work to build capacity in your team.

Strategy and change

I act as guide and facilitator through the big questions of strategic thinking to place organisations and teams on the path that works for them. Providing analytical objectivity, challenge, input of ‘how others do this’ based on wide-ranging and in-depth experience across sectors and cultures. I then work to keep the process on track creating robust, implementable goals and plans that work.

British Council & Higher Education Commission, Pakistan (2015): growing the strategic planning capabilities of leadership teams from over 20 HEIs; sector analysis and advice for structural and system reform

Vishal Group, S Asian MNC (2013-15): guided the Executive team and employees through a deep-hitting visioning process from which the VG brand identity was born, centralised structures and systems (HR, IT) for the groups’ core companies initiated and impact ambitions clearly articulated. Currently devising an impact reporting process for the group’s lead companies

Jo is by far the most effective consultant I have ever worked with. I can thoroughly recommend her to you
Dr Sohail Naqvi, Executive Director, Higher Education Commission, Pakistan

We at Vishal Group have had multiple occasions to work with Jo and her team. We found Jo’s approach, insights, and skillsets to be incredibly value additive. From Strategic Road Mapping, to Brand Definitions to Corporate Branding – across a pretty broad spectrum we very really delighted to work with Jo. Besides the incredible talent that she brings, we also were impressed by the timely execution of various assignments which in our case was very critical. We will continue to reach out to Jo in the future and benefit from her multi-functional capabilities and skills
Anuj Agrawal, CEO Vishal Group, S Asia

Her work on Knowledge Exchange strategy for Pakistan is a driving force for transforming knowledge into economy
Muhammad Ali, Higher Education & Skills, British Council Pakistan

Jo is well respected among the higher education sector in Pakistan and in the UK for her great work that she delivers with high quality
Nishat Riaz, Director Education, British Council Pakistan

Professional development

I use my foundations in experiential learning, coaching, teaching and training skills to create programs, approaches and materials that trigger and sustain professional and personal growth.

Researcher Connect, British Council 2011-14: I have driven the development and roll-out of this global professional development program for early career stage researchers since inception in 2011. Working with UK and country based British Council teams, National Research Foundations and HEIs in 20+ countries I have written and published a suite of 7 short experiential courses; created a trainer management system (including training of trainers); QA; M&E; set-up and delivery systems for the international roll-out. As a result Researcher Connect is now Newton Fund supported in 15 countries, has three regional trainer hubs and is part of the British Council’s commercial product suite

Knowledge Exchange CPD program, various Pakistani HEIs 2011-12: co-created and delivered a series of training programs for university Knowledge Exchange (KE) professionals with a UK university; a strategic planning training for Vice Chancellors and KE leaders in partnership with global strategy experts; and set up and ran an award scheme that created sustainable links with UK university KE teams for continued support and growth. Achieved as a British Council Higher Education Consultant, S Asia.

Thank you for an amazing time, for teaching how much teachers can influence our lives and equipping me with strategies that I now use in my own classroom
Dr Nadia Hussein, Al Ain University, UAE

The last few days for me has also been of great learning in the broad sense of the word
Ellen De Souza Marquez, Senior Researcher, UENP, Brazil

I felt compelled in writing to you to after what I have achieved during the Training the Trainers course in Sao Paulo. Very nice ideas and energy have arisen after that and I consider that experience one of the high spots of my career
Dr Adriano Cavalleri, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

I worked with Jo in Islamabad (British Council) and would say that she is certainly one of the strongest trainer/facilitators I’ve seen in action! The material was dry, complex and not without points of contention but Jo managed to set-up the day in a way that seemed to have everyone on the front foot. Throughout the day Jo was able to follow the detail of the content while judging the mood of delegates in order to maintain the healthy working atmosphere that was present from the start. I’d recommend Jo strongly both as a trainer and consultant
Adrian Day, Senior Policy Adviser, HEFCE

Project development and management

Highly organised, practical and an excellent communicator I have been responsible for planning and managing multiple projects in post-conflict zones, rural communities and inner city sink areas.

Himalayan Development Foundation Australia March 15- present: country program manager (Nepal)

Resources For Change: Associate Consultant, (UK) Nov 07 – Sep 09: Major contributor to the development of environmental, heritage and bridging social capital program plans as part of a multi-sector consultancy team. Work included: Audience Development & Access Plans for the South Pennines (£4.5m); Audience Development & Access Plans for a community heritage asset in Sunderland (£2.3m)

Open Spaces, Green Places (Cumbria County Council, Friends of the Lake District and VAC) 2005-06: I spent one year developing the plans and funding proposal for this £1.3m community asset project. Both the funding bid and the subsequent project delivery were successful.

Education Consultant (Southern Sudan & Somaliland) 2001-05: part of Africa Educational Trust and UNICEF team set up and ran this teacher training and English Language teaching course in three locations across immediate post-conflict southern Sudan and then on to Somaliland. Included all resource development.

Contract research

Using social research methodologies, participatory approaches and incisive analytics for both primary and secondary source research.

• Insurance Constraints Analysis – post earthquake tourism recovery (Adam Smith Int., Nepal 2015)
• English language learning by mobile phone: market opportunities in Nepal (British Council, Nepal 2010)
• Market sector and needs analysis: researchers’ professional development (British Council INSPIRE 2011)
• Culture & Conflict: the role of the British Council in cultural peacebuilding (internal, S Asia region 2013)
• Portering trends in the Nepal Himalaya: adventure sector analysis to determine organisational activities and spend (Porters’ Progress UK, 2012)

Other areas of work

Coaching – for executives, for individuals. I’m qualified and experienced but manage coaching relationships with just a handful of clients. If you’re interested please contact me with your story.

Trek, Climb and Bike Guide – I run my own trips in the greater ranges: always wild, often remote. For more on my bike trips please check out www.thambikes.com . For

Korakoru Journeys – combining coaching, professional development and trekking I offer unique journeys through incredible places to stimulate your personal and professional growth.

Jo carried out invaluable needs research for Porters’ Progress UK helping us to establish how we can best support porters in Nepal. With her knowledge of the area and back ground in evaluation and research, she guided and helped us set up the parameters, then implemented the research in key areas in Nepal with questionnaires and group sessions, finally gathering all the information together and presenting us with a report. We have used the findings of her report to guide and inform how we best can support porters going forward.
Venetia Simmonds, PPUK

Jo’s no nonsense approach and strong organisation skills, allows her to drill down and tackle the real issues and deliver results on budget.Jo’s resilience and high energy levels to see a project to conclusion are a real strength.
Duncan Chessell, Director, Himalayan Development Foundation Australia

A big thank you for all your very good work on developing the Culture and Conflict (Cultural Peacebuilding) agenda. It has not been an easy assignment- a lot of hard thinking, consultation, listening and responding to fast changing views. However, you have responded magnificently and I am really pleased with the final output. This has given us a really strong foundation on which to take forward the CP agenda into the future.
Stephen Roman, Regional Director S Asia, British Council