Magdalen Fisher

TESTIMONIALS

Magdalen has the rare ability to combine tact with a proactive approach and she has exceptional  relationship management skills, especially around complex or tricky challenges. She always delivers what she promises.
Philippa Charles, Director, Garfield Weston Foundation

It was a pleasure to work with Magdalen in reviewing our support for Clore Learning Spaces to inform future programmes and priorities. Her clear and intelligent thinking, flexibility of approach, knowledge of the sector and people skills were key in getting results that were useful and appreciated by both trustees and grantees. I really appreciated her pragmatism and good humour plus ability and willingness to work at the most strategic levels and to get her hands dirty with the details. She was also brilliant at keeping the project on a very tight timetable. I would not hesitate to recommend her or to work with her again.
Kate Bellamy, Director, Clore Duffield Foundation

I have found Magdalen to be exceptional. She is extremely well versed in the field of Development, teasing together experience from across multiple sectors, and tailoring it effectively to the specific needs of a particular setting with dexterity and skill. Coupled to astute observation, intellectual agility and creativity, Magdalen proved herself a potent professional ally and one I would not hesitate to draw upon for future advice and guidance in this area of our strategy. I recommend Magdalen’s services without reservation.
Nicholas Hewlett, Headmaster, St Dunstan’s College

Magdalen’s work was invaluable in identifying issues with our fundraising operation. Whilst most consultants add significantly to the workload of time-constrained executives, Magdalen was effective and to the point, offering practical and insightful solutions without needing constant guidance. She is articulate, personable and dedicated, and was able to engage with all staff constructively and effectively. Our Development Board was particularly impressed by her report and presentation. In my view, Magdalen was simply exceptional.
Alfonso Leal del Ojo, Chief Executive, The English Concert

Although Magdalen’s background is in fundraising, her experience extends to other disciplines such as corporate governance and community engagement. This gives her a significant ‘edge’ as a consultant in that she is able provide a holistic response to complex client briefs. I have worked with Magdalen over 19 years, first as a colleague and latterly as a client. What has always impressed me has been her attention to detail, work ethic, creativity and interpersonal skills. She thrives on solving problems and her wide experience and contacts in the arts, culture and heritage sectors make her a very effective operator.
Mark Pemberton, Chairman, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust

Magdalen and Jane were very thorough in their research and very structured in their approach, setting clear milestones for the project at the outset which they absolutely kept to. They engaged with lots of stakeholders, both internal and external, which really informed their final report. Their amiable personalities and lightness of approach really shone through, which I believe enabled them to get the best out of the stakeholders they interviewed as part of the process. They have left us with a strategy that is ambitious but absolutely achievable, and will enable NCCA to get on the road to financial recovery quickly.
Froniga Lambert, Chief Operating Officer, National Centre for Circus Arts

I have known Magdalen since the end of 2016 when I started to get involved in Sadler’s Wells. I have come to know and like her very much, both professionally and personally, over the intervening three years. Magdalen is a highly professional operator. She grew up in Development but was performing a much broader role than that at Sadler’s Wells, overseeing our marketing, brand and fundraising, as well as the various community programmes. She has a highly developed understanding of all of these, a good strategic sense and a good grasp of the operating detail. She has immeasurably improved the performance and the presentation of Sadler’s Wells in all of these areas. At a personal level, Magdalen is thoughtful, always measured and diligent. She has a good creative approach but is also pragmatic.
Nigel Higgins, Group Chairman, Barclays & Chair, Sadler’s Wells

Magdalen is able to adapt her approach to get the best out of people she mentors. She always sets high standards and gives individuals the space to thrive and achieve through their own personal strengths and approach to problems.
Sinéad Donoghue, Head of Corporate Partnerships, Alzheimer’s Society

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