During his tenure Julian has made a substantial contribution to Itad’s growth, culture and impact.
Julian has worked in a myriad of roles at Itad including Workgroup Manager, Team Leader, Technical and Programme Director, Co-Chairman. And for the past nine years has served as Non-Executive Director on our Board, notably including as chair of our risk committee as we increasing work in high risk environments
Through his engagement with peers and clients such as the UK Government and the Rockefeller Foundation, Julian has helped improve aid effectiveness, and create lasting positive social and environmental change. He has provided leadership, strategy advice, project management, and evaluation services to address a range of global challenges including climate change, gender equality, conflict and security, governance and civil society, natural resource management and poverty.
Chair of the Board, Michael Jary, said:
“In my time as Chair, since 2016, I have always found Julian to be a friendly, helpful and wise supporter. We have greatly benefitted from his thought-leadership, coaching and quality assurance and I have hugely valued his advice and fellowship.”
Notable work
Julian’s work on a major project to improve the lives of people who depend on wetlands in Northern Nigeria was the start of a growing portfolio of governance programmes and was part of our groundbreaking work on adaptive, problem-driven development. It became one of the first projects in Nigeria to use an innovative ‘issues based approach’ to improve governance through politically smart, locally-led programming. Our work supported project partners to successfully lobby Nigeria’s government to invest in better water management in the river basin. Over the course of the next decade, we helped to evolve the principles of this approach and apply them to other major adaptive programmes on state accountability.
Other notable work since then include Julian’s leadership as technical director on three UK Government civil society and governance programmes in West Africa including the innovative State Accountability and Voice Initiative. Julian directed a five-year programme of Department of International Development country programme evaluations and he led the evaluation a large Rockefeller Foundation initiative to improve the climate resilience of Asian cities. More recently, he led the development of a long-term evaluation strategy for the Global Challenges Research Fund.
Managing Partner, Rob Lloyd, said:
“We extend our sincere thanks to Julian for his exceptional service to Itad and wish him all the very best.”
Julian Barr said:
“Thank you to Rob and Michael for these kind words. I have been privileged to have spent more than half my career at Itad, being a part of important, innovative and rewarding programmes and evaluations, working alongside a group of committed and engaging colleagues. I started my career doing research on palm trees in the Pacific Islands. Over the 40 or so intervening years, international development has evolved to tackle ever more complex and challenging issues. The field of monitoring and evaluation must continue to respond to ongoing change to ensure it stays useful and relevant. I am sure Itad is in good hands to do so.”
Inviting applications for a new Non-Executive Director
Itad are now seeking to appoint an exceptional leader to join the Itad Board and build on the strong foundations that Julian leaves.
Managing Partner, Rob Lloyd, said:
“I’m confident that there will be strong candidates interested in the Non-Executive role. It’s a great opportunity for someone who wants to shape the direction of an ambitious and growing company that is at the heart of shaping solutions to global challenges through evidence and learning.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Helping to set the company’s strategic direction, with a particular focus on: (i) identifying key international development trends and implications for Itad’s clients and markets; (ii) reviewing Itad’s market position and approach to building its client base, influence and impact.
- Scrutinising the company’s management information to ensure performance and delivery of the company’s strategy and that key objectives are ambitious and achievable.
- Contributing effectively to board meetings – held quarterly and ad hoc as required.
If you are interested in the role please apply on our recruitment portal.
