Sanderson-Connect

About Sanderson-Connect

My Experience

Skilled in leadership development, strategic planning, social innovation and systems change.
Significant cross-sector experience in developing and delivering innovative and impactful social value programmes with a wide range of non-profits, major corporates, private philanthropists, government and local authorities.
Former Foundation CEO with a strong emphasis on 'place' based initiatives and community building, with significant experience in sustainable business & transformational change.
MBA, Army Staff College and UK Future Vision leadership programme graduate. Extensive international experience.
Experienced expedition leader. Keen interest in conservation.

Services

Individuals

Mentoring and supporting individuals, helping to define personal goals and transforming leadership skills to help fulfil potential.

Philanthropic Advisory

Working with private individuals, families and foundations on developing strategy, measuring performance and delivering impact.

Working with Boards

Working with CEOs, executive teams and boards on navigating challenging landscapes and exploring social value / social impact opportunities, connected to non-for-profit or corporate strategy.

Location

Available to travel globally or for online consultation and delivery. Informal discussions welcome.

David Sanderson - Biography

Recently the CEO of the Rank Foundation, with an endowment of £280M & an annual spend of £12M, David led the development of Rank’s model of relational philanthropy, combining social, intellectual, and financial capital in order to increase impact across our chosen areas.

With particular interests in addressing the consequences of social inequality, with a strong focus on ‘placed based’ programmes, David has led the implementation of a number of transformational place-based initiatives in the cities of Dundee, Hull, Plymouth and Sunderland. These collaborative programmes have proved highly impactful, attracting significant external funding, helping to rethink system change solutions to deeply entrenched social issues.

An experienced board member, both as chair, trustee and executive, David was a founding trustee with the Community Foundation for Lancashire, he sat on the board of the international Jane Goodall Institute and is involved with range of community initiatives including chairing a Town Centre Partnership Board with a £45M+ regeneration budget.

A former career soldier, with a background in counter-insurgency operations, David served across the globe but with a particular emphasis on post-conflict environments. Awarded an MBE, as a young captain, for his leadership of a small team stationed on the Angolan border following Namibian independence, David’s skill in diplomacy and negotiation have been well honed over many years of operational service.

David holds an MBA, is a graduate of the Army Staff College and recently attended the UK’s Future Vision senior leadership programme, an invitation only course, working both in the UK and at Harvard and MIT. With a strong focus on strategy, systems change and adaptive leadership.

He is currently advising Leadership Conservation Africa on developing a leadership programme aimed at creating a new generation of resilient, robust and entrepreneurial leaders, better equipped to navigate the complexities of conservation in Africa.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sanderson-mbe-dl-a761a54/