Research, strategy & operations for complex problems

I'm a freelance practitioner who helps organisations with analytical and operational heavy-lifting: research and insight, strategy development, sustainability reporting, and programme delivery. I can get complicated things done simply.

Let's talk

What I deliver

  • Research and insight: regulatory scanning, evidence synthesis, policy analysis, sector benchmarking, literature reviews, audience insight
  • Strategy development: sustainability strategies, roadmaps, and target frameworks linked to business value
  • Sustainability reporting: CSRD, UK SRS, ISSB gap analyses and disclosure drafting
  • Programme and operations management: multi-stakeholder delivery, budget management, stakeholder coordination
  • Materiality assessments

The short version

I'm a researcher, strategist, and programme manager with roughly 10 years' experience across consultancies, agencies, and think tanks. I have an MSc in Environment and Sustainability from Birkbeck, University of London, and I'm currently pursuing independent academic research alongside my consulting work.

My career has two threads that tend to reinforce each other. The first is research and strategy: understanding complex problems, synthesising evidence, and turning analysis into defensible strategies and clear written outputs. The second is operations and programme management: designing and delivering multi-stakeholder programmes, managing budgets and timelines, coordinating across teams and geographies, and generally making sure things actually happen.

I'm particularly drawn to work that sits at the intersection of sustainability, policy, and systemic risk. I've worked across sectors including FMCG, healthcare, financial services, social enterprise, and global development.

I work with consultancies as a subcontractor, with think tanks and nonprofits as a collaborator, and I'm equally comfortable producing white-label client deliverables or managing a programme end-to-end.

Frameworks & domains

ESRS / CSRD UK SRS (ISSB) IFRS S1 & S2 GRI Standards GHG Protocol TCFD King IV SBTi Systems analysis Policy research

Operations & delivery

Programme management Multi-stakeholder facilitation Budget & commercial management Cross-functional team coordination

Sectors

Manufacturing & industrials FMCG Financial services Healthcare Social enterprise Technology Global development

Academic research

DMA methodology AI-assisted Scope 3 estimation Scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Decision-making under uncertainty

What my outputs look like

These are sample deliverables created for this portfolio — the type of analytical and strategic work I produce. Real client work is confidential, but these show the thinking, rigour, and output quality you'd get.

Regulatory briefing

What the EU Omnibus Means for UK-Listed Companies with European Operations

Cross-jurisdictional regulatory analysis covering the Omnibus I Directive, UK SRS timeline, and practical implications for dual-framework companies. Demonstrates rapid synthesis of complex, evolving policy landscapes into actionable recommendations.

Regulatory research Policy analysis Cross-jurisdictional synthesis Strategic interpretation
Read the briefing
Strategy framework

Sustainability Strategy Framework & Implementation Roadmap

End-to-end strategy deliverable for a hypothetical mid-cap manufacturer: materiality-led pillar design, KPI frameworks linked to business value drivers, and an 18-month phased implementation roadmap. Shows the logic flow from research findings to strategic priorities to operational delivery.

Strategy development Target frameworks Implementation roadmapping Systems thinking
Read the framework
Double materiality

DMA Methodology: MCDA-Enhanced Scoring Framework

A novel approach to double materiality assessment using multi-criteria decision analysis (AHP-TOPSIS). Demonstrates rigorous, auditable scoring methodology that makes materiality determination replicable across engagements.

DMA methodology MCDA / AHP-TOPSIS ESRS alignment
Available on request
Research

Black Box or Building Block? AI-Assisted Scope 3 Emissions Estimation

Research proposal developing a quality assessment framework for AI-assisted Scope 3 emissions tools. Three workstreams: systematic literature review, comparative platform analysis, and quality framework development. Demonstrates structured research design and the ability to navigate complex, uncertain data environments.

Research design Systematic review AI & data quality Grant writing
Abstract available on request

Two modes, one approach

I work in two ways: as a subcontractor to consultancies (white-label research, strategy, and reporting under your brand) and as a direct collaborator with organisations that need someone who can do the thinking and make things run.

Research & strategy

The analytical side: regulatory research, policy analysis, evidence synthesis, materiality assessments, strategy development, and disclosure-quality report writing. I produce outputs that hold up to board and auditor scrutiny and go straight to the client with minimal editing.

Operations & delivery

The getting-things-done side: programme management, multi-stakeholder coordination, budget management. I've delivered multi-country programmes, rescued projects that were going sideways, and managed budgets into the hundreds of thousands.

Low maintenance, high output

Whether I'm subcontracting or embedded in a team, the approach is the same: I don't need much briefing, I flag issues early, and I'm used to working autonomously in fast-moving, ambiguous environments. Based in GMT+2 with strong UK/EU working-hours overlap.

Let's have a conversation

Maybe you need research and reporting support, or perhaps you're after an operations lead for a tricky project. Or maybe you need someone who does it all? Either way, I'd love to have a conversation and see if we click.

immyfeenan@gmail.com
Cape Town, South Africa (GMT+2) · Available for UK, European, and South African engagements