I work with organisations, boards and networks who sense that their current governance or ways of working no longer fit what they are trying to do.
Often this shows up as a feeling of being stuck, overloaded or out of alignment. Decision-making feels harder than it should. Roles and accountability are unclear. Power sits in the wrong places, or isn’t talked about openly. People care deeply about the mission, but the structures meant to support it are getting in the way.
I support groups to pause, reflect and rework how they govern and collaborate in ways that are practical, participatory and rooted in their lived reality.
How I approach governance
I don’t arrive with a single governance model or blueprint. Instead, I work alongside people to help them understand what is happening now, what is no longer serving them, and what might need to change.
My approach is shaped by a belief that governance is not just about structures and compliance, but about practice. How decisions are made. How power flows. How responsibility is held. How conflict is navigated. How people relate to one another day to day.
Facilitation is central to how I work on governance. I pay close attention to relationships, culture and trust, because governance only works when people understand it, believe in it and feel able to participate.
I try to be both pragmatic and radical at the same time, holding the tension between what is possible now and what might be necessary for the future.
What this work often includes
Depending on context, this might involve:
- supporting a board or leadership group to reflect on how governance is currently working, and where it is struggling
- facilitating conversations about power, participation, roles and accountability
- supporting governance transitions, such as leadership handovers or moments of organisational growth
- helping groups experiment with new ways of making decisions and sharing responsibility
- acting as a critical friend during a period of change, rather than delivering a fixed “review”
- developing and adapting core governance documents and rhythms
This work is usually connected to how the organisation actually operates, rather than sitting apart as a one-off exercise.
Relevant experience
My governance work is grounded in lived experience across a range of roles and contexts.
This includes serving as a trustee and Co-Chair of RESULTS UK, where I helped lead a shift from a compliance-focused board to one that supported the organisation to thrive without overreaching. As part of that, I supported a governance review and practical improvements such as clarifying trustee roles and responsibilities, strengthening induction for new trustees, and changing how we structured and ran board meetings to support better decision-making. I also contributed through finance, HR and anti-oppression committee roles.
I am also a stewarding group member of the Transformational Governance project, where we experiment with participatory governance in practice. I have supported networks and initiatives such as Democratic Ownership Matters, SAFE Communities and Summerfield Community Chest to navigate questions of governance, power and collaboration.
Alongside this, my earlier work with the LearnAdapt programme shaped how I think about governance as something that must enable learning, adaptation and local leadership, rather than constrain it.
What this is not
To be clear, this is not:
- legal or compliance advice
- off-the-shelf governance models
- traditional board effectiveness reviews
- generic “best practice” consulting that applies templates without adapting them to context
I work best where there is openness to reflection, experimentation and learning, and where governance is understood as something that must live in practice, not just on paper.
Working together
Governance and ways of working often overlap with facilitation, learning partnership and coaching. I’m happy to talk through what you’re navigating and explore whether it feels like a good fit.
You can find details of how to get in touch on the Work with me page, or email me directly.