Julian Thompson

Julian’s work helps individuals and organisations achieve higher levels of purpose, productivity and fulfilment in their working lives.

With an academic background in anthropology and organizational psychology, he has particular interests in collective leadership, social innovation, collaborative technology, participatory organizational change, purpose-led strategy and sustainability.

In his five years at Ashridge he has conducted award-winning customized leadership and organisational development work for voluntary, public and private sector clients spanning energy, technology, financial services, health, welfare services, local and national government. He is a program director and head of the Leadership faculty group.

Before joining Ashridge Julian spent five years at the RSA – a social innovation charity – where as an executive Director he managed a diverse portfolio of social research and innovation projects exploring community development, social enterprise, education reform, climate change and the circular economy.

Prior to that he spent ten years at the research agency Ipsos MORI. As a Research Director he specialized in qualitative research, large-scale public engagement through deliberative dialogue, foresight and innovation, particularly for the UK Government.

Julian holds a MA in Social Anthropology from Cambridge University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology from London Guildhall University and an MSc in Organisational Psychology from Birkbeck College, University of London.