As of 1st January 2023, Lauren Pett becomes Agulhas’ CEO and Nigel Thornton steps down from that role to become the Finance Director.
As Agulhas celebrates 20 years of work in 2023, the past two decades have seen significant change in our field and in our team, which has grown from a small group of like-minded individuals into a thriving organisation. Whilst our leadership is changing, our principles remain; commitment, effectiveness, openness, integrity, and respect. Agulhas supports justice, equity, diversity and inclusion and has applied to become a certified B Corp. In 2020, Agulhas became an Employee-Owned Trust, owned by our people, and run by its Directors, with the support of our Senior Management Team. As CEO, Lauren will lead Agulhas as we launch a new five-year Strategic Plan which continues our collective ambition to support our clients to apply knowledge to respond to pressing global challenges.
Lauren joined Agulhas in April 2018 as COO, having spent more than 20 years working across the international development and humanitarian sectors. Prior to joining Agulhas, Lauren supported the start-up and establishment of successful development research consultancy, Integrity Global, and a social enterprise specialising in peace building in the Middle East; The Stabilisation and Recovery Network. She also worked for several years with Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) in the field and in the London office, as Director of Impact for The Fairtrade Foundation and in HQ at CARE International.
Since joining the team, Lauren has been responsible for managing the company’s operations, as well as risk and duty of care across all of Agulhas’ work and has worked across a range of our portfolios and projects. In 2021 she became a director and has helped the company grow into the successful and highly respected business it is today.
“I am delighted to be stepping into the role of CEO and look forward to continuing the high quality work of the directors and team. Agulhas is a great place to work, where we have created a reputation for intellectual rigour, thoughtfulness, honesty and excellence in our work. I am proud to be taking the company forward and helping write the next chapter.”
Lauren Pett, Agulhas CEO
“When I look back on what we set out to achieve through Agulhas’ work two decades ago, I am extremely grateful to all those who have been part of our many achievements. I have always said that I would step down after 20 years. It has been an honour to build Agulhas as CEO, and I am delighted that Lauren is going to lead Agulhas forward to the next part of our journey. ”
Nigel Thornton, founding Agulhas CEO, Agulhas Director
As a team, we look forward to continuing to build a sustainable, values-driven Agulhas, owned by our dedicated team – and we wish Lauren every success as our new leader for a better future!
