On Purpose April 2013 Cohort Book April 2013 Cohort Book | Page 26
[email protected]
Kathryn Ripley
linkedin.com/in/kathrynripley
My background is in professional publishing, mainly in project
management, but most recently I worked as a commercial manager
for Thomson Reuters. After an enjoyable 18 years (!) of working life, I
decided the time was ripe to focus on something that had a distinctly
positive impact. I’m now pursuing a long-held passion for International
Development. I recently completed a Masters at the LSE, and have gained
valuable experience in the sector through the On Purpose programme. I’d
like to use my project and general management skills in an organisation
focused on empowering the underprivileged to live fulfilling lives.
Previous achievements
Placement Summaries
Professional
• Instigated a project to streamline production
processes saving over £400k in the first 3 years
and reducing production timeframes by 25%
EveryChild
EveryChild is expanding from a UK-based charity
to a global network of national organisations. As
Transition Project Manager:
• I initiated the project to implement this transition
• Conducted detailed planning, including
financial planning
• Put in place new governance and
communications processes
• Introduced a matrix structure across the organisation
• Created new trustee and senior management
reporting mechanisms
• Implemented a new development method for
managing the company’s largest programme
of work, including new roles, and a new board
structure
• Researched customer needs to come up with a
new application for the Banking and Finance sector
Wider
• Facilitated a strategy discussion with the trustees
of Amazing Children Uganda to refocus their
activities to maximise impact
GSMA Intelligence, Mobile for Development
GSMA Intelligence supports the digital
empowerment of people in emerging markets
through its Mobile for Development resource. As
Programme Manager:
• I was responsible for donor reporting
• Performed general programme management tasks
• Contributed to the team’s research
• Investigated how Barefoot Power Uganda could
enhance their micro-entrepreneurship program.
This involved doing primary research in Uganda
• Researched and presented to the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation on governance issues in public
procurement in Africa
“Although I had a reasonably clear sense of the
project management approach we needed, I still had
to convince senior management and the board of
our requirements. On Purpose provided a low cost
/ low risk way to trial the approach; what really
made it come to life was Kathryn’s can-do attitude
and approach to working with staff across the
organisation. The need for a role in the long term was
quickly proven; Kathryn was able to turn our high
level plans into something with much greater clarity
and ownership in a remarkably short timeframe.”
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
Prince2 Project Management Qualification
London School of Economics
Development Management
MSc
Bradford University
Archaeology
BSc (Hons)
Ian Hanham Director Corporate
Resources, EveryChild
25