Working with Difference - Milton Keynes Inspiration Awards

nomination for the https://mkinspirationawards.co.uk 2026

In 2026, I was nominated for the Milton Keynes Inspiration Awards in the Inspirational Role Model category. The awards recognise individuals who have had a positive impact within their local and professional communities. I see the nomination simply as a reflection of this way of working over time — not as a result in itself, but as an indication that how you work is noticed.

Most work doesn’t break down because people lack ability, it breaks down because people approach the same problem from different angles and don’t always know how to work through that. In practice, commercial, operational, and strategic perspectives rarely align from the start, and they shouldn’t. The value tends to sit in those differences.

The challenge is not removing them, but working through them properly — without forcing agreement too early or allowing friction to become the focus, that requires a certain way of operating. Clarity in how decisions are made. The ability to challenge without turning it into conflict and a baseline level of respect across teams.

When those are in place, disagreement becomes useful. It sharpens thinking, improves decisions, and usually leads to better outcomes. A lot of this work isn’t visible, but it’s often where real progress happens. It’s less about alignment in the traditional sense, and more about creating a way of working where different perspectives can be brought together and turned into something practical.