Our story
Founded in 2016, Dot Project is a consultancy building digital resilience and confidence in the social sector so that people and organisations can thrive collectively.
“We envision a world where the lives of individuals and communities are enhanced by a thriving social impact sector”
- Annie, Alex & Cat, Co-Founders of Dot Project
Our values
At Dot Project, we pride ourselves on doing things differently. We are guided by our values and have evolved a way of working that’s best for our clients and our own team, in today’s climate.
It is your story, not ours
We listen to understand - not to reply.
We challenge to build - not to break.
We work with teams - not at them.
We build relationships, not temporary connections
Any behavioural change is fuelled by strong relationships, so relationships sit at the heart of everything we do.
We’re in it for the long term, because change needs time
Dot Project is a mission-driven cooperative. As a CoTech member, we always embrace the co-operative values, working on principles of autonomy, equality and democratic control.
Dot Project also plays a convening role in the community. We founded and incubated Tech for Good South West, a community of people across the South West driving positive outcomes for people and the planet through technology.
Our people
All of our members and associates are experts in their respective fields, coming together to bring a wealth of knowledge and support to the social sector. As a collective, we are focused on delivery and advocacy; collaborating to drive value and digital transformation in the social sector.
Members
As a cooperative, our members collectively own and manage Dot Project.
Annie Legge, Co-Founder
A connector and convenor, Annie loves to make connections and grow networks and communities of practice.
Annie has worked in digital and technology since the 1990s with multi sector and international experience across start-ups, SME's, global brands and social impact organisations.
She brings a deep experience across digital strategy, systems and data having worked as a business analyst in telecoms through to leading digital teams client side, and within agencies. Annie is a sensemaker and connector, straddling our tech mentoring and organisational coaching, assessing existing digital capabilities and readiness and identifying where improvements can be made throughout the cycle of our work.
Alex Mecklenburg, Co-Founder
As an experienced business executive, serial entrepreneur, certified coach and facilitator Alex believes that connections, relationships and communication are the fuel that enables organisations to innovate, build resilience and thrive.
Alex works across teams, leadership and boards to guide them in building collective confidence, collaborative structures and the governance practices that support, boost and sustain digital change journeys. With over 20 years of hands-on experience, Alex brings a deeply practical approach to facilitating technology and cultural change.
She is a regular mentor and business coach at accelerators and incubators and a RSA Fellow.
Cat Ainsworth, Co-Founder
Cat has a deep rooted passion in understanding humanity and influencing positive change. Her career started in international development first at the United Nations and subsequently delivering healthcare programmes in Central Africa.
It was the experience in the Central African Republic where Cat saw first hand the transformative impact of simple technology solutions on people who are most in need. This inspired a shift towards understanding how to use technology as a force for social good.
Cat is a skilled facilitator passionate about solving problems creatively and collectively. She has a track record of guiding organisations in developing stronger technology infrastructure and working with funders to embed funding for digital into their programming.
Our support team
No organisation can function without the wonderful people who support in the background, helping us to maintain our own organisational resilience.
Jonathan Legge
International forward-thinking performance leader CFO with over 25 years’ experience across design, marketing and professional services businesses.
Highly collaborative, Jonathan is people first and digital-centric with board level, transformation and acquisition experience. Jonathan is a passionate mentor to start-up and scaling businesses, and holds the role of financial leadership and our Company Secretary.
Our associates
We pride ourselves on doing things differently, being independent, small and nimble. Our associates work with us in various ways to shape our direction and our delivery. They are a group of amazing and inspirational individuals who we love to work with. Everyone brings specialist expertise to the delivery of our projects and shares our unique approach of Tech & Teams.
Kirsty Cameron
Kirsty draws on her 20+ years of experience as a digital project and programme lead spanning both the commercial and social impact sectors. Agile certified, she enjoys working at the intersection of people, technology and ways of working. Her roles are and include strategy, change management, digital transformation, stakeholder management, facilitation, training, sensemaking, planning and delivery. Kirsty brings both deep digital programme management skills supporting the teams on their journey towards collective confidence.
Nicola Chowings Thomas
Nicola has been in IT for over 25 years; firstly as a programmer and latterly as an architect, development manager and consultant for the last 10 years. Nicola’s heart has firmly remained in the charity sector providing IT consultancy specialising in the charitable sector maximising efficiencies on challenging budgets. Nicola’s key area of expertise working with the Dot Project is to help organisations make sense of their digital estates, build and translate requirements and project specifications and support implementation including partner selection and systems changes.
Holly Simmons
Holly is a social innovator and growth expert with experience scaling social enterprises across Europe and Africa. Having previously worked in the education, healthcare and wellbeing sectors, Holly is now focused on advancing DE&I, working with organisations who are tackling social mobility and global inequalities.
Holly thrives in engaging and collaborative work environments and most enjoys utilising her creativity to assist teams with their marketing, sales and partnerships. Holly supports the co-operative’s marketing and communications.
Chris Charlton
Chris is a highly experienced hands-on technology leader. His experience as Head of Architecture, CTO or IT Director include digital transformations within HM Courts and Tribunals, a transformation programme across Midlands Probation, Head of Infrastructure architect for the Metropolitan Police and been CTO for two start-ups.
Chris is a hands-on, delivery focussed technologist regularly refreshing skills in Development, Security and Cloud technologies and has significant experience in ‘data’ and Information Security. As IT Director, CTO and Chief Architect he has developed proven skills and a passion for building and leading high performing, diverse teams, and his business skills extend to commercials, business case building and complex stakeholder management.
Matt Hardy
Passionate about technology from an early age, Matt spent the first 10 years of his career in software engineering delivering major projects including the channel tunnel and air traffic control systems.
He’s been a board-level executive since 2001, with 6 years' experience jointly managing an agency of 130 people. He has driven business strategy, had P&L responsibility and devised technology strategies to engage and inspire teams to deliver high quality tech products. Working with the Dot Project, Matt brings deep expertise and experience around digital strategy and data, assessing and mapping data ecosystems and needs to document data management processes which help organisations build robust foundations and stronger technology infrastructure.
Cazz Ward
With over 25 years experience in the sector, Cazz is a highly experienced hands-on technology transformation leader within the public, voluntary and third sector. Her role has always been about making technology make sense to non-technical people, understanding their organisational challenges and helping them make the most of the opportunities that digital can bring.
Working with the Dot Project Cazz brings a wealth of experience in end-to-end business and technology transformation with a focus on supporting charities to design and deliver robust digital strategies and technology roadmaps. She also brings deep expertise in information security and governance and user-led solutions development.
Work with us
We love to work with talented, dedicated individuals who can add to our collective sense of purpose. If that’s you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.