Kelly has spent over a decade exploring the intersection between business, innovation, civil society and technology. Her experience - from within large corporates and NGOs to running a social enterprise and now working as an independent strategist and facilitator - gives her multiple and varied perspectives from which to approach strategy, design and research work.
Passionate about connecting diverse concepts, people and organisations, Kelly thrives when collaborating to generate ideas, solve problems and facilitate change that will have sustainable social, economic and environmental impact.
Previously she was the Managing Director of Year Here, an early-stage social start-up incubator programme and before that, a Senior Manager at Accenture in the international development practice, as well as working in financial services in the UK and Hong Kong.
Kelly enjoys writing about systems change and participatory approaches to funding and creating. Her articles have been published in Sifted, Stir Magazine and Proximate.
An advocate for the powerful role that the arts can play in telling new stories, she is a Trustee at Collective Encounters, a charity making theatre for social change.
Kelly is currently studying a 3-year part-time course with Natural Academy to become an accredited ecopsychologist and nature-connection practitioner, weaving her experience in creative facilitation with her love of the natural world.
Kelly works with organisations that are designing new, more equitable systems of social, environmental & economic justice.
"Constructive challenge backed up by case studies and examples from the breadth of her work across the non-profit sector and drawn from interests across politics, psychology, wellbeing and social change. Kelly brings in inspiration and an external perspective to look beyond ourselves and open up thinking."
Senior Manager at Crisis
Recent projects
Leading the design of a partnership ecosystem for a London university's start up development programme, focused on social mobility.
Co-led a research project to explore trends in how UK trusts are funding community-led change.
Facilitating a leadership team strategy day for a community energy initiative.
Strategy and organisational change lead for the development of a ten-year strategy to end homelessness.
ESG strategy design, development and management for a UK corporate, including net zero target setting and B Corp accreditation process.
Designing effective organisational governance and resource planning for a participatory theatre for social change company.
Strategy project exploring alternative future models for social change with a UK homelessness charity.
Social venture development and commercial strategy with a national housing association.
Impact strategy workshop design, delivery and facilitation for a climate change start up.
Community development, digital strategy research and communications project with a mutual credit union.
Workshop design and facilitation with a cooperative development and community organising movement.
Kelly writes about social innovation, systems change, ethical technology and alternative funding models.
"We would strongly recommend reading her piece for a more nuanced and detailed perspective."
Zebras Unite London
Selected articles
Is a £100 million participatory fund the solution to the UK's journalism crisis? - Proximate, February 2024
Failure is an option - STIR: The Magazine for the New Economy, November 2022
Another Internet is Possible - STIR: The Magazine for the New Economy, July 2021
What can charity digital learn from the femtech revolution? - Catalyst, February 2021
Let founders chose which startups get funded: why peer-selected investment makes more sense than conventional VC methods - Sifted, January 2021
Let's stop measuring impact - Pioneers Post, January 2021
Why 'building in public' is a feminist act - Pioneers Post, December 2021
The end of ownership? Rethinking land and business in the new economy - Pioneers Post, September 2020
Beyond entrepreneurial capital: why some female founders are choosing to be 'under-represented' - Pioneers Post, July 2020
Kelly is studying Ecopsychology & Nature-based practice with Natural Academy and is passionate about working with groups to create joyful, healing and restorative experiences in nature.
"Kelly encourages people to think that their hopes for a fairer, kinder world are possible and tangible. She does this by listening fully and talking with the heart and head in harmony."
Workshop participant