Ann Bicknell, Arup

Chartered Management Consultant of the year

Winning a Queen’s Award for innovation in the evaluation of blended learning technologies to future-proof Police training, marked a significant milestone in Ann’s professional career balancing rigour with relevance in practice. This cemented a commitment to a ‘best in class’, method-driven approach to helping organisations improve and transform to meet some very different futures by growing organisational capabilities and democratising knowledge. This work embedded Ann’s doctoral outputs as a model to help organisations to achieve their learning ambitions; it increased inclusive and flexible access to professional development and career progression for under-represented groups, as well as returning significant operating efficiencies to one of our key public services. Ann has subsequently advised national and central government bodies on these challenges and has recently obtained her third Chartership to recognise her as an Experienced Professional in Management Consulting.

Ann has maintained this ‘energetic juggle’ between applied collaboration and research roles and consulting, throughout 20+ years with diverse and international clients; shaping strategy and design thinking when implementing policy across the public sector and in defence infrastructure; standing-up new operating models with two global corporates and improving health, safety and well-being outcomes in transport and with heavy asset infrastructure clients.

Most recently Ann led Arup’s team to secure UK professional firm accreditation for the Chartered Management Consultant (ChMC) training which is now positioned as central to Arup’s Global Trusted Advisor Learning Pathways. As an ambassador, Ann is directly enabling future generations with professional consulting capabilities by piloting the newest Associate Award.

View the Arup profile in the MCA Members Directory.