Ali Bond
Cairney Partner
Ali is a highly regarded, accredited and experienced Coach, Trainer, and Facilitator. She works with senior leaders, managers, and operational teams to develop capability, shape culture, and bridge the gap between strategy and execution. She is a Cairney and Company Partner, Executive Coach, trainer and assessor for Warwick Business School, and was an internal coach for Oxford Brookes University and Teach First.
Previously, Ali held director-level roles in corporate engagement, external affairs, and stakeholder management. She was Head of External Relations at Warwick Business School, where she led strategy across alumni engagement, corporate and international partnerships. She strengthened the School’s global brand and built senior-level stakeholder relationships.
During her time at Warwick, she established a more strategic and globally focused alumni relations function. She led international engagement in key markets including India and China, restructured the Alumni Board, and directed the School’s first Global Conference in Delhi. She also founded the Warwick Business School global mentoring programme, which was recognised by the UK Training Journal Award for excellence in coaching and mentoring.
After WBS, Ali was Director of External Relations at Oxford Brookes University and Director of Development and Alumni Relations at Solihull School, where she established the Development and Alumni Office, and secured early success in major gifts and legacies. Most recently, she led national corporate engagement strategies for the Department for Education (DfE). She was also Executive Chair of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) Global Alumni Association.
Drawing on her experience in large, complex organisations, Ali combines proven leadership development approaches with broad sector knowledge. She helps leaders build high-performing teams, take ownership of their development, and foster cultures of accountability and open communication. Her approach is grounded in empathy and compassion.
Ali’s clients range from middle managers to CEOs and principals across the public and private sectors. They include organisations such as Sky, Siemens, HSBC, and Government departments. Through Cairney and Company, she has also worked with institutions including the Universities of Oxford, Glasgow, St Andrews and Sunderland. Her coaching focuses on leadership transition, confidence and resilience, and leading high-performing teams.
Ali holds the Institute of Leadership and Management qualification in Coaching and Mentoring, the Advanced Diploma in Mental Health and Wellbeing Coaching from Kingstown College, and BeTalent accreditation in Strengths and Decision Styles. She has also delivered MBTI training.
Having lived and worked in Japan, Germany, and Spain, Ali brings strong cultural awareness to her work. This experience gives her a practical understanding of organisational realities and a pragmatic, strategic perspective when supporting leaders and teams.
What inspires Ali to think big?
Having met Nelson Mandela in the early 90s, I have been inspired by his words “There is no passion to be found in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” I always make it my intention to inspire those I work with to live to their full potential and passion.