Spokespeople
Common Purpose can offer a range of different people to talk on a variety of topics, including leadership, collaboration and experiential learning.
If you would like to interview any of our spokespeople, please contact Lyndal Stuart, Media & Communications Manager on +44(0)20 7608 8122 or email lyndal.stuart@commonpurpose.org.uk
Out of office hours, please contact Joanne Howard on +44 (0)7958 560943 or at joanne.howard@commonpurpose.org.uk
Alison Coburn, Chief Executive, Common Purpose International
Alison was one of the founders of Common Purpose in the UK where she held a number of positions before becoming Deputy Chief Executive. She played a key role in piloting the first Common Purpose courses in the UK and in growing the organisation. Alison chaired Common Purpose courses for eight years as well as developing and piloting new courses, including the national course 20:20. This included contributors such as Lord Mandelson, Chris Patten (when he was Governor of Hong Kong), Sir Stuart Hampson, the then Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, Robert Peston, BBC Business Editor.
In 2000, Alison moved to run Common Purpose International and has led the development of Common Purpose in France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, the Netherlands, South Africa and Turkey.
Alison is also the Chief Executive of Civilia Ltd (the trading arm of Common Purpose) and is now leading the development of international “customised” courses.
Before joining Common Purpose, Alison worked in the arts and media, including roles at the Arts Council of Great Britain, a national music touring company and the Community Service Volunteers media programme. She then joined the BBC, where she worked on the production of education and social affairs programmes for the national and local radio networks.
Adirupa Sengupta, International Director
Adirupa Sengupta is International Director for Common Purpose. Her role involves developing Common Purpose in new countries with the current focus being parts of the Asia Pacific region. Drawing on her career background in governance and public-policy, Adirupa’s areas of special interest include the development of civil society in Asia and Africa.
She is also responsible for Common Purpose’s campaign in London as well as About Time – an initiative which aims to identify and support talent from diverse backgrounds and communities to take on non-executive roles in UK public bodies.
Adirupa has a M.Phil in International Relations from St. John's College, University of Cambridge and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School's High Potential Leadership Programme. She is a Trustee of the Leicester Theatre Trust.
Julia Middleton, Founder and Chief Executive of Common Purpose
Julia Middleton is the founder and Chief Executive of Common Purpose. Julia is passionate about helping develop people's leadership skills and abilities. She campaigns to encourage leaders from all backgrounds to make an active and tangible contribution to their communities and to wider society.
In the autumn of 1988, Julia formed Common Purpose, a leadership development organisation that gives leaders the inspiration, the knowledge and the connections they need to produce real change. Common Purpose now operates across the UK and worldwide in France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Ireland, South Africa, Sweden, the Netherlands and Turkey. Since 1989, more than 25,000 leaders have completed one or more Common Purpose courses.
In 2007, her book, Beyond Authority: Leadership in a Changing World, was published by Palgrave Macmillan. The book explores a different approach to leadership when leaders start to operate beyond their own spheres of control.
Julia has helped in the founding of: Demos (an independent think tank), Impetus Trust ( developing venture philanthropy in the UK), The Media Standards Trust (fostering high standards in the news media), The Good Governance Network (supporting those involved in governance), and Alfanar (developing venture philanthropy in the Arab world). She is also on the Advisory Group of the Oxford Business School.
Julia was born in London and educated at French Lycees around the world. She worked for the Industrial Society after receiving an economics degree from the London School of Economics.
In his book The New Alchemists, Charles Handy said of her: "How Julia came to be the force she is, the values she holds and the way she applies them, contains messages for many who dream of making the difference she has done."
Read Julia's leadership blog or follow Julia on Twitter.
