Alex Baker-Friesen Ph.D
5.0
(14)
Studied at Maastricht University
Works at Ozymandias Intelligence
Successful clients at
Not currently taking new clients
Work Experience
Transformation & Strategic Change Advisor
Radical Value Agency
October 2024 - May 2025
I supported RVA - as it sought out visionary ventures and ecosystem partners - with the skills, tools, and capacity to navigate transformations for sustainability. I focussed on de-risking transformation using sustainability science and systemic change to maximise regenerative impact. Key aspects of my role included: - Conducting organisational diagnosis and risk assessment to inform RVA's business model design services. - Helping integrate transdisciplinary methodology and strategic transformation advisory into RVA's adaptive approach. - Generate collective intelligence through Ozyntel's expertise in therapeutic change and inner development Start-up Ventures, Sustainability Strategy and +3 skills
Sustainability Strategy Execution Lead
University of Twente
November 2022 - February 2024
I was promoted to this senior role due to the need for expert facilitation on the UT's organisational transformation for sustainability. Responsible for coshaping the emerging sustainability strategy, I streamlined university-wide decision-making on climate and sustainability. I galvanised efforts, built coalitions, strategic partnerships and soldiarity with many other organisations, such as the new Climate Centre, and Climate Crisis Coalition. Sandwiched between the executive levels and acting as an amplifier for the activism that powers change and accountability, I was challenged to hold space for a diverse coalition of action groups of staff and students. Sustainability Strategy, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and +11 skills
Sustainability Transformation Advisor & Group Lead
University of Twente
October 2020 - July 2022
• Advised and guided the group on possible pathways for organisational transformation for sustainability from my research and experience, translating into practice with an emphasis on the practical realities of the UT's staff and students. Formulated, designed and initiated concept and team for a ‘Transformation Unit’ for the Utwente - T-Unit - to guide and manage its transformation in the long term. • Initiated campus engagement and events. Planned personal and career development courses on carbon literacy and sustainability related topics for staffs and students. • Advised and designed work sessions and symposiums to define a common, coherent and tangible definition of sustainability in terms of education, research, organization, campus outreach & systemic change. Sustainability Strategy, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and +5 skills
Founder, Strategic Advisor, Research Partner
Green Hub Twente
May 2020 - Present
During the pandemic, I founded Green Hub, a youth-driven knowledge hub and embedded change agency for sustainability transformation in the University of Twente. I led Green Hub as part of the international Green Office Movement, a UNESCO-recognised model for sustainability transition in higher education. I support the current team as strategic advisor and research partner on key internal, regional and European projects as it navigates a challenging task environment and innovates to supports a growing ecosystem. Sustainability Strategy, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and +9 skills
Green Hub Manager & Coordinator
University of Twente
May 2020 - May 2023
As Founder and Coordinator, with successive teams of talented and driven young professionals, we built Green Hub Twente into a bold university sustainability transformation platform. Stemming from student change agency, and guided by staff, it supports a thriving community of sustainability & climate actors in Twente. By managing and mentoring a teams towards a central sustainability intelligence system, I steered the UT from the bottom-up to catalyse the university's transformation for strong sustainability. Emotional Intelligence, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and +9 skills
Sustainability Consultant
Mondiaal Maastricht
June 2019 - February 2020
I consulted for Mondiaal Maastricht to support its mission to translate the SDGs to the local community level. In addition to capacity-building and organisation development, I led teams with the Coordinator to deliver a campaign and city-wide event, Act4GlobalGoals. We also researched the educational landscape for sustainability, from primary to tertiary levels. Education for Sustainability, Research and +7 skills
Sustainability & Impact Coach
Arbor - Sustainable Notebooks
February 2019 - February 2020
I coached and mentored the Arbor team using my knowledge of sustainability science, organisational development, entrepreneurial practices and social impact evaluation. I advised them in hands-on manner regarding their startup sustainability strategy, as well as formulating context-specific indicators of their social impact and the ethical and psycho-social aspects of their work. Skills: Social Entrepreneurship · Facilitation · Sustainability · Social Impact Assessment · Climate Change · Start-up Consulting
Course Coordinator | Entrepreneurship & Sustainability
Maastricht Centre for Entrepreneurship
August 2018 - January 2019
Coordination, design and teaching the course Bio-Sciences Innovation, Entrepreneurship and New Ventures, as part of the Two-Year Master Programme Health Food Innovation Management at University College Venlo. Administered by MC4E and the School of Business and Economics, Department of Organisation and Strategy. Start-up development, corporate entrepreneurship, and social/environmental entrepreneurship are covered with elements from sustainability, ethical business, systems thinking and organisational development for students from a health and food sciences background. Skills: Corporate Social Responsibility · Start-up Ventures · Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) · Education for Sustainability · Social Entrepreneurship · Entrepreneurship Education · Sustainability · Supply Chain Management · Climate Change · New Business Development
Sustainability & Research Consultant
Gemeente Maastricht
July 2018 - December 2019
Consulting for senior policy officers directing the Maastricht Zerowaste 2030 campaign, Ozymandias coordinated research and liaison with and for the youth population in Maastricht. We conducted a city-wide baseline waste survey. Our advice contributes to Maastricht’s waste management environment, and how students behave and interact with it. Our work included a unique approach to sustainability research, hinging on interdisciplinary and holistic analysis. Skills: Policy Analysis · Zero Waste · Facilitation · Circular Economy · Cross-functional Team Leadership · Interdisciplinary Research · Sustainability Consulting
Founder, Managing Director
Ozymandias Intelligence
June 2018 - Present
Ozymandias Intelligence is a strategic change agency helping clients and communities to navigate transformations for planetary health and societal well-being. Using sustainability science, organisational transformation, systems thinking and psychology, we capacity build, consult and research to help various organisations - whether start-ups, SMEs, activist organisations, government agencies, NGOs or universities - to effectively navigate change towards just, sustainable futures . As Founder, I scale and leverage my 16 years of experience with an expansive, talented network of climate activists and sustainability professionals. Social Impact, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and +13 skills
University Council Member
University of Maastricht
May 2015 - January 2016
Skills: Facilitation · Political Campaigns · Grassroots Organizing · Lobbying
Research & Social Impact Partner
Casta&Bucks
May 2015 - December 2017
I partnered with Casta&Bucks to help initiate and develop its think-tank arm, delivering concrete research-driven expertise for clients and partners towards transforming market and society for the better. Casta&Bucks supported organisations to assess, create and maximise societal impact. In integrated perspectives from organisational transformation, CSR, socio-ecological systems and sustainability science for practitioners and social entrepreneurs to pioneer their business models. Skills: Social Entrepreneurship · Research · Facilitation · Management Consulting · Social Impact Assessment · Interdisciplinary Research · Sustainability Consulting
PhD Researcher: Organisational Transformation for Sustainability
Maastricht Sustainability Institute
December 2013 - December 2018
Action Research on Navigating Organisational Transformation towards Sustainability at Public Research Universities. How can universities effectively navigate pathways of transformation for sustainability? I undertook pioneering international case-study research on public research universities and social enterprises and developed and tested a participatory evaluation tool that helps stakeholders determine pathways for transformative change for sustainability. It helps organisations that seek to describe and evaluate their impacts on society, economy and environment. As part of an action research approach, I coached and guided Green Office of Maastricht University as change-agents/intrapreneurs. We sought to scale solutions to achieve a campus-level test-bed for sustainability. Skills: Corporate Social Responsibility · Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) · Research · Facilitation · Sustainability · University transformation · Organizational Development · Interdisciplinary Research · Grassroots Organizing · Climate Change · Qualitative Research
ESG & Sustainability Reporting Analyst
Route2 Sustainability
May 2013 - August 2013
As a Master's thesis student on gauging corporate governance for sustainablity, I got the opportunity to work an analyst intern at Route2Sustainability. I supported the development of an integrated reporting template for corporate sustainability disclosure, analysed ESG issues of international mining firms on the JSE100 and aligned sustainability risk issues to the indicators of the GRI G4 framework. I gained a dynamic, commercial awareness as well as a good grasp of leading world trends and issues in the translation of sustainability analytics and reporting data into rich and meaningful information. Skills: Corporate Social Responsibility · Quantitative Research · Sustainability Reporting · Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards · Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) · Sustainability · CSR · Climate Change · Corporate Sustainability
Alex was also given offers to work at
Bennu Community
Waypoint
Sustainalytics
Blended Clinic
Education
Maastricht University
Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D, Organisational Transformations for Sustainability; School of Business & Economics
2014 - 2021
A deep, practical investigation into the how of systemic change in complex organisations to ensure they achieve their ambitious sustainability goals in the long term, rather than rely on attractive pledges, reports and websites. An overarching model/tool of transformation for sustainability was produced. It has been tried and tested four times, on three front-runner international case study universities, and on Maastricht University. Through numerous interventions over seven years, together with the Green Office, MSI, and other change-makers, I discovered shared qualities and common patterns of systemic change that teams employ to navigate transformation; they dance through the complexity, high stakes, and power games, pushing for robust sustainability and climate action. The university can be redesigned as a proactive steward of multi-level planetary health rather than as an ‘a-political observer’: a necessary role in light of the pandemic crises of climate and capitalism we face. Climate Change, Qualitative Research and +10 skills
Uppsala University
Master of Science MSc, Sustainable Development
2011 - 2013
A two-year international Master’s programme jointly run with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; taught first year, second year for industrial experience and a Master’s Thesis project. Strengths: world-leading arm of Swedish Earth Sciences and Sustainability research, and the talented diversity and experience of the international cohort. Program: enables students to utilise aspects of sustainable development in future professional activity, irrespective of the work specialisation, due to the growing global demand for such candidates in both public and private sectors. Inter-personal Mediation and Negotiation Course; PhD course, 'Critical Studies in the Development of Capitalism'. Climate Change, Corporate Social Responsibility and +7 skills
University of Manchester
BSc Hons, Environmental Science
2006 - 2009
A natural sciences-based, inter-disciplinary course that allowed a broad understanding in the Earth Sciences. In my final year, I specialised in the complex arena of the science and politics of climate change, environmental field courses in Greece and Tenerife, global environmental politics, and the effects of urban development on environmental conditions in cities. Skills: Climate Change · Environmental Policy · Environmental Science · Research
14 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
Alex has helped clients get into these companies: