From Gillian Martin Mehers – Director, Learning, LEAD International:

Progress on the LEAD 2.0 process has been encouraging. The initial research and investigation into emerging trends in leadership and learning has given us exciting options to think about: developments in open access education, social innovation, and learning and network technologies all provide relevant and complementary opportunities for LEAD. Many of these approaches go hand-in-hand with the potential for new operational models, and provide synergies with ongoing developments in other sectors. We have completed a mapping of the operational space through a competitor analysis and will be undertaking a detailed review of customer demand.

We have been encouraged by the enthusiasm expressed by new and existing partners – there is strong support for the LEAD 2.0 transformation and we have secured a number of opportunities for active collaboration. This has been complemented by the new management arrangements for the change process, which includes the appointment of Graham Ward (who has joined the team via support from Carbon Leapfrog) as LEAD 2.0 Project Manager. We are currently securing a number of additional pro-bono inputs for other aspects of the process and more than 30 LEAD Fellows have also offered their services.

A progress update from the work streams can be found below. For more information about the LEAD 2.0 process please contact Katie Singer ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

1. Market Research (managed by Graham Ward)

• A review of organisations providing training in leadership and sustainable development has been compiled and reviewed. Thanks to all the LEAD Fellows who suggested organisations to include. 
• The demographics of the Fellows network have been reviewed for comparison with competitors.
• A report on the Market Research to-date is being presented to the Committee of Directors in Ottawa. 

2. Transition Communications (managed by Katie Singer)

• The Transition Communications work stream was launched at the end of September
• The communications plan for LEAD 2.0 is being drafted and will be completed by the end of November 2011, pending input from other work streams
• Key activities in the work stream will be a stakeholder analysis, development of a LEAD 2.0 webpage, and regular email updates to the Network, CoD and partners
• Emails have been sent out to the Network introducing the concept of LEAD 2.0 and asking for volunteers – more than 30 Fellows have put themselves forward

3. Learning Systems and Network Platform (managed by Gillian Martin Mehers)

• The Learning Platform Work stream has just being launched after a couple of months of briefings, brainstorming and consultations with staff, governance bodies, and partners.
• Fifteen LEAD Fellows and staff members have volunteered to take part in the design and delivery process.
• The draft work stream document will be shared in the next week, and the Learning System will be discussed at the Committee of Director's meeting in Ottawa, 14-15 October.
• At the International Session, a questionnaire will be administered to Associates and Fellows to collect inputs on learning preferences, virtualization experience and connectivity.
• The same survey as above will be sent to the LEAD network after the International Session.

4. Commercial Modelling and Financing (managed by Mike Ellingham)

• Initial modelling is looking at three possible product scenarios, the initial cost of development, and revenue streams.
• These will be developed and extended over a time frame with cash flow implications built into the model.
• The work stream has benefitted from the pro-bono support of Jabbar Athar, an MBA graduate and Carbon Leapfrog contact.

5. Results Framework (managed by Janet Southern)

• Work on the Results Framework will begin this week.
• Specialist M&E pro-bono advisory support has been secured.
• The work stream will include a mission-aligned theory of change, integrated key performance indicators for activities at the project, programmatic and organisational levels, and clear metrics for impact.

6. Partnerships and Marketing (managed by Graham Ward and Caroline Spencer)

• We have completed the initial work stream planning process.
• We have engaged the majority of our existing core partners on LEAD 2.0 process, and a wide range of new ones. We have developed a number of collaborative opportunities for the design and delivery of LEAD 2.0 (including two organisations interested in piloting LEAD 2.0 on a organisational level) which we are continuing to scope and secure.

7. Global Project Support Facility (managed by Amit Arulananatham)

• The scope of the work and programme models in this stream is under assessment.
• The work stream will focus on providing support in all aspects of project cycle management and linking practitioners across the LEAD Network and beyond.

8. Network Governance (managed by Mike Ellingham)

• This work stream will commence in January 2012.

9. Organisational Development (managed by Graham Ward) 

• The organizational development work stream has not yet formally launched, although a number of activities have been conducted with the London staff for strengthening skills for collaborative work during this transition process.
• Upcoming capacity development activities include strategic communication skills, and a leadership discussion which focuses on how LEAD as an institution can be as congruent as possible in its practice with its message.