Our Story & Purpose

Building healthy organisations to propel people, economies & societies forward

Founded in London in 2008, Q5 was born from a fundamental realisation: while traditional consulting firms offered detached high-level strategy or complex IT systems integration, few specialised in the underlying health, structure, and human vitality of organisations.

Core Philosophy

Two sides of the same coin

High-performing organisations require both a well-architected operating structure and an empowered, psychologically safe workforce. We unite the science of design with the art of development.

The Structural Dimension (The Science)

Organisation Design

Organisation design addresses the formal architecture of work: how customer demand flows through an enterprise, where decisions are made, and how resources are governed.

■ Target Operating Models (TOM)

■ Management Spans & Layers

■ Decision Governance Rights

■ Workforce Capability Sizing

■ OrgMaps Activity Modelling

■ Process & Handoff Design

The Human Dimension (The Art)

Organisation Development

Organisation development nurtures the behavioral conditions for excellence: leadership capability, cultural resilience, trust, psychological safety, and collective identity.

● Culture Diagnostics & Audits

● Executive Team Alignment

● Psychological Safety & Trust

● Agile Ways of Working (WoW)

● DE&I Behavioral Audits

● Managerial Enablement

Our Culture

Values developed by our global team

Our values are not poster slogans; they guide how we engage with clients, support one another, and challenge industry norms.

Belonging & Inclusivity

Creating an environment where every individual brings their authentic self to work and feels genuinely valued.

Feedback & Challenge

Giving and receiving continuous, constructive feedback on behaviours and outcomes to push standards higher.

Endless Curiosity

Constantly challenging assumptions, exploring innovative methodologies, and pushing clients forward.

Collaboration & Support

Fostering respectful disagreement, mutual loyalty, and collective problem-solving across global hubs.

Dedication & Integrity

Immersing ourselves deeply in client contexts while upholding the highest standards of professional ethics.

Social & Environmental Impact

The Q5 Foundation & Net Zero by 2035

We believe consultancies have a moral obligation to contribute meaningfully to society. Every year, Q5 donates over £1,200,000 in professional advisory time to charities and social enterprises.

Youth & Mobility Career mentoring & workshops for underrepresented youth.

Health & Wellbeing Advisory support for mental health and patient care non-profits.

Climate Action Formal UN SDG-aligned target of Net Zero emissions by 2035.

Local Charities Pro bono governance reviews for grassroots organizations.

Led by Annabel Tonge, Associate Partner & Head of The Q5 Foundation.

Global Network

The Transformation Alliance

In addition to our permanent hubs in London, Leeds, Cardiff, New York, Houston, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Riyadh, Q5 is a co-founding member of The Transformation Alliance.

Q5 Partners UK, USA, Australia, Middle East

Specialists in organisation design, development, and enterprise performance.

Kea & Partners France, Brazil, Morocco

Strategy and transformation execution across Paris, Lyon, Casablanca, and São Paulo.

H&Z Management Consulting Germany, Austria, Switzerland

Strategy, procurement, supply chain, and sustainability advisory in DACH.

Cordial & MBS Consulting Sweden & Italy

Strategy execution in Stockholm and strategic business transformation in Milan.

Leadership

Meet our senior partners & practice leaders

Experienced practitioners who roll up their sleeves to work directly alongside client teams.

Olly Purnell

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Co-founded Q5 in 2008 with a passion for building vibrant, healthy organisations.

Sharon Rice-Oxley

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Organisation development authority specializing in culture evolution and executive alignment.

Chris Parsons

Co-Founder & Australia MD

Leads Q5’s Asia-Pacific practice across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Juliet Scott-Croxford

President, North America

Directs North American operations across New York and Houston hubs.

Jim Dobel

UK Managing Director

Oversees UK consulting delivery across London, Leeds, and Cardiff.

Amanda Lewis

Global Chief Financial Officer

Directs global finance, financial governance, and international hub structuring.

Joel Grundy

Associate Partner | Strategy & Defence

Specialises in sovereign capability, defence alliance operating models, and strategy.

Heather Martin

Head of Financial & Professional Services

Advises investment banks, wealth managers, and insurance providers on COO simplification.

Graham Page

Associate Partner | Media & Sports

Expert in audience-first operating models, newsroom restructuring, and sports governance.

Pavlina Kouvela

Associate Partner | Culture & OD

Leads organizational culture diagnostics, psychological safety, and executive coaching.

Annabel Tonge

Head of The Q5 Foundation

Coordinates £1.2M+ in annual pro bono consulting for social mobility and non-profits.

Kate Ross

Partner | Public Sector & Non-Profit

Guiding central government departments, NHS health boards, and NGOs through reform.

Compliance & Ethics

Corporate governance & ethical commitments

Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement

In accordance with the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, Q5 maintains a strict zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and child labour throughout our direct operations and supplier ecosystem. All vendors undergo formal screening.

Data Privacy & GDPR Governance

We comply with the UK Data Protection Act 2018, EU GDPR, and Australian Privacy Principles (APP). We maintain strict organizational data safeguards, encrypted data transmission, and regular third-party security audits.