Empowering leaders to influence change and enhance practice for lasting impact

I’m a facilitator, researcher, coach and tutor with over 20 years of experience offering services in:

  1. leadership, organisational and network development

  2. influencing and engaging with policy and practice

  3. strengthening innovation eco-systems

I bring together an understanding of the broader context, individual behaviour and group processes to support leaders to navigate complexity and uncertainty. I focus on the human as well as technical dimensions of change and integrate an awareness of power and privilege.

What can I help with?

Leadership, organisational and network development

Improving teamwork, creativity, and communication, aligning with a shared purpose, while preventing burnout.

Supporting change processes such as mergers, acquisitions, leadership transitions and reorganisations

Developing and strengthening networks and communities of practice and improving collaborative practices

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Influencing policy
and practice

Helping organisations understand the context in which influencing takes place

Developing, operationalising and improving advocacy/influencing strategies 

Facilitating reflection of and learning from current and past advocacy and policy work

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Strengthening innovation
eco systems

Understanding and strengthening knowledge and decision-making systems.

Enhancing participatory, consultative, and public engagement processes and promoting better partnerships.

Improving the generation, procurement, and use of knowledge and evidence in decision-making.

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What can I do?

Research and diagnostics: I conduct thorough research and diagnostics providing actionable insights

Training and facilitation: I lead tailor made training programmes and facilitate conversations and processes

Developing strategies: I create comprehensive strategies and action plans.

Leading teams: I guide teams through complex projects, fostering collaboration and innovation

Coaching: I offer personalised coaching helping leaders navigate challenges, and reach their full potential

Evaluation and learning: I conduct evaluations and lead learning processes helping organisations assess impact and continuously improve.

My approach

Recognised for combining academic rigour with practical insight, with a focus on the human dimensions of systems and change processes.

Excel at balancing action with reflection, identifying patterns, and advancing strategic goals.

Prioritise building capability within teams and organisations.

Skilled in using innovative techniques to unlock creativity and imagination in team efforts.

Known for creating inclusive environments where all voices contribute to collaborative solutions.

Navigate sensitive situations with emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity, and integrity, while delivering challenging feedback.

Recent clients

I’ve worked in the UK and internationally on a range of issues (e.g. climate, the environment, health, humanitarian and social affairs) with a diverse range of clients including foundations, government agencies, universities, think tanks, NGOs and international organisations.

Recent Work

Assignments

Organisational Development Consultant for the Southwest London and St George’s (SWLStG) Mental Health NHS Trust

Publication

A review of the Indonesian Knowledge Sector Initiative's support to 16 policy research institutes funded by the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

Testimonials

  • Pat Scheid, former programme officer at the Hewlett Foundation.

    On leading a strategy refresh for the Hewlett Foundation “Ajoy handled this complex assignment extremely well. Through verbal and written communications, he asked insightful questions to ensure the work met our expectations, and also kept me well-informed of progress. When challenges arose, he consulted in a timely manner, offering and implementing solutions. Ajoy is especially good at keeping an eye on the pulse of a team, and showed a high degree of emotional intelligence and sensitivity to people’s well-being and DEI issues.I enjoyed getting to know Ajoy, his unique perspectives and transparency, and his ability to make sense of and advance complex concepts and knowledge generation. I recommend him to funders and nonprofits seeking to undertake strategic or learning projects, especially those requiring sensitivity to DEI and stakeholder participation.”

  • DP

    Ajoy is that special mix of doer and observer. He came onto a project I was running and helped us to navigate a tricky HR situation, putting the team at ease and in the right position to deliver. In my interactions with Ajoy, he was always gentle and courteous, yet somehow reaching straight to the heart of the matter. If you need an organisational coach who can work with the workers and yet step back and see all the power-plays and system level failings, then Ajoy is your man. Don't expect easy answers, but they will be thoughtfully and sensitively delivered!

  • Kate Bird, Development Hub

    On co-facilitating a skillshare programme on decolonising development practice: “I appreciated the way Ajoy worked collaboratively in teams. We worked together planning the programme's live sessions. He took time to think through what would work best for both the participants and the facilitation team. I liked the way Ajoy integrated the content of the programme and reflected on this and also on contributions by programme participants, while reflecting on how they resonated with him. He created a space for listening and reflection during the live session, which was very useful for the participants - ensuring that they knew that their contributions were valued. Ajoy has a way of communicating challenging ideas and differences of opinion which supports discussion and collaboration, without pulling his punches, rather than driving dispute and disagreement.

  • Signe Sorensen, consultant and coach

    As a co-creator and co-facilitator of the Delving Deeper programme, I’ve found Ajoy’s warmth and intuitive sense of forming a cohesive experience for the group incredibly enriching. He effortlessly identifies patterns in people’s experiences, which deepens group learning and fosters a sense of common humanity. Ajoy’s integrity in fostering a learning environment, combined with his natural curiosity, hunger for learning and academic rigour, makes it an authentic and inspiring experience to work with him There is always space and openness in his approach to welcome something new

  • Martina Voss, former advisor GIZ on supporting a business association to establish a think tank

    Analytical abilities: Ajoy is skilled in taking in information from the client and extract what is of utmost importance and create linkages with topics that were initially not apparently linked. With this he supported the client in outlining their added value to the existing landscape of think tanks.

    Interpersonal abilities: Ajoy has a sensitive antenna for when conflict is solvable and when clients just want to vent or find a scapegoat. During heated conversations he managed to keep the focus on the topic, support with inputs for solutions and steered the entire group towards constructive and tangible next steps.

    Inter cultural sensitivity and tolerance: Ajoy brings in his deep understanding of different cultures, including office cultures and hierarchy levels among clients. This helped tremendously to steer decision making processes, establish different levels of responsibility to accomplish the assignment and build trust.