Colin Douglas is the founder of Douglas Knowledge Partners and has spent over two decades as the knowledge partner of choice to some of the world's leading organisations, working with them to conceive and create books, reports and articles on topics that shape the world's future for the better. Previously, Colin served as a contributing editor to the McKinsey Quarterly and worked with the firm in senior leadership to develop and publish articles, reports and books on key knowledge topics.
Nicola Weaver is an economist by training and has worked in academia and across not-for-profit and for-profit organisations. She previously convened and ran the master's degree in inclusive innovation at the University of Cape Town; ran the SAB Foundation investing in social innovation and entrepreneurship; and worked for INSEAD and the European Union to develop a sustainability toolkit for industry. She has held corporate strategy and other global roles at SABMiller plc and has worked as a consultant for Kearney.
Melanie Blythe has carved out a 17-year career as a strategic communicator, helping organisations connect with stakeholders through content that shifts hearts and minds. She spent ten years in London at a leading comms agency and then at a multinational healthcare company, driving global campaigns in multiple languages. A writer and editor with a passion for translating complex ideas into plain English, she shapes material across diverse topics including sustainability, financial services, healthcare and organisational culture.
Jackie Fermo is an experienced writer and editor of articles, reports and books covering topics including healthcare, supply chain and logistics, diversity, productivity, and public-sector reform. She works closely with clients to develop their ideas, refine their content, and produce and publish a final product that brings their research and expertise to life. Jackie brings a mix of creativity, business acumen and academic skill to her work. She holds an MBA and a fine art degree and has an entrepreneurial background.
Mvuselelo Dyabaza is responsible for wellness, development and training. He oversees the company's human-resource function, ensuring that the organisation attracts, retains and develops top talent. Mvuselelo has worked in start-ups and medium-sized enterprises, as well as in the creative industry across Africa – with expertise in live broadcasting, directing, producing and scriptwriting. Mvuselelo is also experienced in project-management systems, with years in managerial roles.
Courtney Cox, is a creative strategist and thinker who leads, manages and recruits for multiple complex projects internally and externally. As a digital artist, she has worked with leading design thinkers and multimedia experts, harnessing her artistic capabilities to create end-to-end publications. Her previous training as a molecular engineer uniquely equips her to combine the powers of analytical and creative thinking.
Luandri Emslie leads her team in creating captivating designs that reflect clients' visions. She engages with clients, manages projects, mentors the team, and crafts a wide range of online and print materials – books, reports and more. With a bachelor's degree in art, she specialises in layout, brand creation, digital and print design, photography, illustrations, data visualisation and editing. She believes in the power of creativity and innovation to make a meaningful impact.
Nella Freund helps clients develop their ideas and communicate them in the clearest, most effective way. Her responsibilities include client liaison, project management, writing and editing. With over 30 years' experience of working with the written word in the corporate, creative and educational fields, her areas of specialisation include sustainability, energy and Asia. She holds an undergraduate degree in journalism and a master's degree in creative writing.
Pierre Liebenberg, our Head of Analytics, is trained in industrial engineering, with a special focus on data science and machine learning. He is a seasoned consultant on research design, modelling and analysis, and has crafted bespoke solutions and insights for clients in areas such as AI, health technology, leadership and sustainability. Drawing on skills in software development and communications, Pierre integrates his editorial and analytical expertise to articulate ideas effectively. He also enjoys a non-professional career in choral singing.
Edmund Rodseth helps clients to develop, refine, and communicate their ideas for maximum impact. In this role, his responsibilities include project management, writing, and editing. Edmund holds a PhD in molecular and cell biology from the University of Cape Town and has extensive experience in data collection and analysis, as well as effective communication of complex topics. He is passionate about effecting change in the world through the formulation and communication of important ideas.
Kirstie Schwerdtfeger is a Senior Knowledge Partner specialising in energy-sector policy, management and editorial strategy. With a Master's degree in Microbiology and six years of advanced study, she brings strong analytical and writing capabilities to her work. Kirstie balances project management with editorial support, helping global clients manage their publication pipelines. Her scientific training enables her to transform complex ideas into clear, compelling content, delivering fresh perspectives to every project.
Henrietta Rose-Innes is an internationally published novelist and experienced commercial writer who uses her sense of narrative to produce professional prose with the pace and drama of great fiction. She holds a PhD in creative writing. Henrietta has worked with clients on topics ranging from financial services to technology, and from healthcare to education. She is also an outstanding editor, whose skills have sharpened major novels, non-fiction works, and numerous articles and reports for Douglas clients.
Taryn Augoustatos brings more than two decades of financial expertise to the team. This follows her success as a CFO in the start-up space, where she was instrumental in driving company growth, guiding strategic direction and building an effective finance function. With corporate experience across Deloitte, Nike and Virgin Active, Taryn excels at guiding agile teams to innovation, building inclusive cultures and mentoring future professionals.
Kathryn Wooldridge has a master’s degree in industrial sociology and a background in government work, which has helped hone her expertise in project management and strategy. She develops and implements solutions from both operational and analytical perspectives, fostering strong relationships between our clients and teams while nurturing individual growth and leadership development within the company.
Rik Kirkland is chair of Douglas Knowledge Partners. As a McKinsey partner running the firm’s publishing from 2008 to 2020, he grew audience fivefold. From 2000 to 2005, Rik was editor of Fortune magazine, which under his leadership was three times nominated as a finalist for general excellence by the American Society of Magazine Editors. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, he has appeared on CNN and CNBC and moderated panels at global business forums, including the WEF and Microsoft’s CEO Summit.
James Mountford has three decades' experience supporting change across the public and private sectors, with a focus on healthcare and education. His passion is helping individuals and teams continually improve and hold the gains. Having worked as a doctor, he has held local and national leadership roles in the English NHS and been Health Strategy Officer for Paris-based Galileo Global Education. Currently, James edits BMJLeader, a journal aiming to equip leaders for health systems across the world, and consults for several public- and private-sector clients internationally.
Julian Misell, an insight specialist with over twenty years’ experience, is passionate about understanding the needs of organisations and delivering innovative research solutions. He has worked with global organisations across sectors as diverse as technology, finance, retail, leisure, education and consumer goods. Having cut his teeth at a consultancy providing evidence-based messaging advice to the UK Government and leading business figures, Julian spent 14 years at Ipsos, eventually heading its customer-research practice – helping clients address challenges such as how to build customer loyalty and re-position their brands.
Brett Cohen is an independent sustainability consultant, and also holds a position as an Honorary Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town. He consults on topics including climate risks and opportunities, greenhouse gas emissions accounting and modelling, scenario and futures planning, technology assessment, industrial ecology, decision support, development, and ESG. Brett was a Lead Author on the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) 6th Assessment Report (AR6) and Scoping of AR7, and is a C2 rated researcher in the National Research Foundation’s researcher rating system
Mary Kuntz creates, edits and produces online content, journals and articles for professional-services firms, companies and nonprofits. Mary also helps organisations develop effective thought-leadership strategies and builds the capabilities to support them. With a deep background in financial journalism and consulting, Mary has worked with executives, policy makers and practitioners from around the world to hone their insights and bring them to the audiences that will find them most valuable, both online and in print.
Crystal Ball taps into her experience as a social anthropologist to connect big ideas to everyday lived experiences. Her writing process is collaborative and analytical; she tackles projects with a view to learning from experts, extracting nuggets of meaning that can be refined into impactful prose. Her ethnographic research on indie game development and her work in the EdTech space sparked a special interest in emerging technologies, with a focus on inclusivity in digital production and consumption.
Edmund Rodseth helps clients to develop, refine, and communicate their ideas for maximum impact. In this role, his responsibilities include project management, writing, and editing. Edmund holds a PhD in molecular and cell biology from the University of Cape Town and has extensive experience in data collection and analysis, as well as effective communication of complex topics. He is passionate about effecting change in the world through the formulation and communication of important ideas.
