I’m Alex, and this is the long version of my story. If you’re looking for more concise information about my professional background, you can find my LinkedIn profile here. Otherwise, read on…

I was born in Toronto, but have lived in the UK for most of my life (with a few noteworthy exceptions). This experience of growing up in two countries has shaped both my identity and my professional choices.

After two very internationally focused degrees, I started my career as a researcher at the Institute for Public Policy Research, a leading UK think tank, where I worked on a diverse range of international research and policy projects relating to foreign policy, global governance and migration. In 2015 I moved to the innovation foundation Nesta, where I held a number of research, strategy and management positions over the course of a decade.

My most recent role as Head of Policy Engagement and Learning at the Innovation Growth Lab involved supporting governments around the world to design and implement innovation policies in creative and experimental ways, and to learn from each other’s experiences. I also led a programme of work on inclusion in innovation, which included co-authoring a book on this theme, published by Routledge in their Studies in Innovation, Organizations and Technology series.

As my career has evolved, I have learned more about what I love to do and where I can make a meaningful difference. In 2016, this led me to train with the Coaching School. Their Foundation Course gave me the tools and the confidence to start working as a freelance coach, alongside my research role. Since then I have built up hundreds of hours coaching individuals and teams, with a particular focus on clients in the public sector, charities, higher education and social impact startups.

In 2021-22 I undertook training in systems-psychodynamic coaching with the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust, developing my skills in supporting executive leaders to maximise their performance and their potential at work through consideration of what’s going on for them both internally and externally. I successfully completed this course and received accreditation as a Senior Practitioner Coach with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) in 2023.

In 2024 I returned to the Tavistock to embark on a postgraduate qualification in Consulting and Leading in Organisations – a two year degree focused on understanding and working with the human dimensions of organisational systems, including unconscious group processes and dynamics. Through this programme, I am developing my skills and experience as a consultant, complementing my experience in working as a coach to individuals.

Becoming a coach prompted me to make some significant shifts in my own life, with the biggest of these being a decision to make the leap to full time coaching and consulting at the start of 2025. I know firsthand how important it is to have structured support when making these kinds of changes, which is why I am passionate about sharing this approach with others and accompanying them on their journey. You can read more about my approach to coaching here.