About Us

Our people

Proceed

Our management team and country heads. 

Senior staff

Julia Middleton

Founder and Chief Executive, Common Purpose Charitable Trust

Julia is passionate about helping people to develop as leaders, and campaigns to encourage leaders from all backgrounds to make an active and tangible contribution to their communities and to wider society. More...

Aditi Bhat

Director – Global City Programmes

Aditi leads a team that is rolling out a new leadership programme across global cities – the ‘Streetwise mba®’. The ‘Streetwise mba’ is a programme for leaders in global cities to become more inclusive; leaders who can lead diverse teams, serve diverse customers and work with diverse stakeholders. Aditi joined Common Purpose in May 2015 to manage some of the group’s large operations and marketing projects. She led the process to conceptualize and deliver Common Purpose’s Impact Framework, along with a Self-Assessment tool designed to quantify a participant’s learning and development on leadership programmes. More...

Alison Coburn

Chief Executive, Common Purpose International

Alison is one of the founders of Common Purpose and played a key role in piloting the first Common Purpose programmes in the UK and in growing the UK organisation. Since then, Alison has taken on a number of international roles. As Chief Executive of Common Purpose International, she continues to develop Common Purpose's work around the world. More...

Andy Coxall

Chief Executive, Common Purpose Student Experiences

Andy joined Common Purpose in 2007 to run courses for middle managers in London, before becoming Curriculum Director in 2011, overseeing the curriculum for all our programmes around the world. He is now Chief Executive of Student Experiences and leads our work with university students globally. More...

Elsbeth Dixon

Chief Executive, Common Purpose South Africa

Elsbeth joined as Chief Executive of Common Purpose South Africa in 2006. Since 2011, she has held additional roles in the global operation of Common Purpose, including setting up the international student leadership team and offering leadership programmes across Africa from the South African hub. More...

Lloyd Fleming

Group Finance Director, Common Purpose Charitable Trust

Lloyd’s commercial experience began in London over 25 years ago and has spanned both small and large organisations internationally. He joined Common Purpose in August 2015 to head the Group Finance function and act as Company Secretary for Common Purpose Charitable Trust. More...

Ayşegül Gurerk

Director, Common Purpose Turkey

Ayşegül is the Founding Director of Common Purpose Turkey. During her time at Common Purpose, Ayşegül has delivered Meridian and Frontrunner, as well as customised programmes. More...

Dr. Mike Martin

Chief Operating Officer

Mike joined Common Purpose in 2015 as Global Communications and Marketing Director following a career running businesses, writing, and mapping societies in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Somalia and the Congo. He is now Common Purpose’s Chief Operating Officer, as well as acting as the Global Risk and Security Advisor. More...

Marie Mohan

Chief Executive, Common Purpose UK

Marie joined Common Purpose in 2000, becoming Chief Executive of Common Purpose UK in 2014. Marie has a track record at Common Purpose of bringing leaders together to tackle complex social problems, to understand collaborative working and to More...

Farhad Merchant

Chief Executive, Common Purpose India

Farhad joined Common Purpose India in February 2013 as Chief Executive. With over two decades of experience in the corporate and social sectors, as well as international exposure and versatility, Farhad was rapidly able to establish Common Purpose in India, focusing on the key cities of Mumbai and Delhi. More...

Dale Pearson

Marketing Manager

Dale has worked with Common Purpose since February 2014. He holds both a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing and a BA in English Literature from Newcastle University. Prior to working at Common Purpose, Dale was Editor of PictureShow Magazine—an online film magazine. More...

Johannes Roux

IT Director

Johannes' primary role is to oversee IT operations, projects and support for Common Purpose group-wide. Johannes has been working for Common Purpose in various IT roles since 2001. More...

Julika Rollin

Chief Executive, Common Purpose Germany

Julika set up the Common Purpose Hamburg office in 2006 and managed it until she took over the role of Chief Executive Common Purpose Germany in July 2014. More...

Adirupa Sengupta

Chief Executive, Common Purpose Asia-Pacific

Adirupa joined Common Purpose in 2001 as Programme Director in London, subsequently moving to the East Midlands as Regional Director. She then focused on international development; launching and growing Common Purpose in India More...

Isobel Phillips

CEO, Common Purpose Ireland

Isobel joined Common Purpose Ireland in 2015, taking over the role of Chief Executive of Common Purpose Ireland in 2016. Isobel is passionate about providing leaders at all levels of experience with opportunities to learn from each other, broaden their horizons, and reach their potential, and believes that by creating the right conditions, we enable leaders to shine. More...