Tim
Walmsley

Tim Walmsley serves as the head of change management in MENA, driving centres of excellence in the UAE and KSA for a portfolio of government, consumer and industrial clients. Based in Dubai and running a regional GCC team, he focuses on programme design and delivery to accelerate return on change through change management frameworks, internal communications, organisational design and creative campaigns.

Energy is Eternal Delight

– William Blake

Tim’s experience is primarily in European, emerging and developing markets spanning finance, energy, infrastructure, construction and FMCG sectors, as well as in major government transformation, sectoral change and social impact initiatives. His work is based on two simple premises: people-centric thinking is key to growth, change, success and strategy is about getting the execution right.

With over 25 years’ total business and communications experience, Tim has built up a formidable body of expertise in behaviour change programmes, as well as in specialist areas such as advocacy advertising, digital-first multidisciplinary campaigns, issues and crisis handling.

As director of marketing and communications at the Dubai International Financial Centre Dispute Resolution Authority (DRA), Tim integrated marketing functions around a digital core. He extended the reputation of DIFC Courts globally through the Courts of the Future and Courts of the Blockchain projects.

Prior to DRA, Tim grew the PR and social media agency Impact Porter Novelli in MENA from a three-person operation into a mid-sized consultancy, retaining a hands-on client handling role through planning and executive training. Previous agency roles also include technology practice leadership in Paris, and Europe-wide stakeholder issue-based campaigning on topics as diverse as Europe’s ageing demographic, nuclear waste management, plastics production and telecoms.

Tim began his career supporting the UK Government’s first department-wide branding programme, going on to lead communications initiatives supporting the economic and social transformation of Central and Eastern European countries at the European Commission.

Tim speaks fluent French as well as his native English and holds an MA in History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London) and an MA in English Literature from Churchill College, University of Cambridge. Recent short courses include Future Foresight (Dubai Future Foundation) and Design Thinking (Darden School of Business, University of Virginia).