Unlock Democracy

Chris Carrigan joined Charter88 in 1988. He is an experienced reform campaigner and was the chair of the successful Oxford Yes to Fairer Votes Campaign. Chris has spent the last two years working on a major global restructuring of Oxfam. Before that he was a partner in the strategy practice of the world’s largest management consultancy. He specialises in business strategy, mergers and acquisitions, intra-organizational collaboration and large-scale transformational change. Last year he was part of a grass-roots team that successfully stood for the Council of the Electoral Reform Society of which he now the Treasurer.

 

Like many others I joined the AV referendum campaign with enthusiasm and excitement. After many years of hard work and false dawns this was our moment and our chance. I assumed that we would be part of a well-planned campaign that had been in preparation for years. Instead I was shocked and disappointed to discover that instead of being a force to be reckoned with, the reform movement in the UK was a farce.

 

If we are to avoid a repeat of this disaster Unlock Democracy needs to become properly resourced, well organised, professional and collaborative. It also has to take on a much more active role as part of the reform movement. We need to foster the activist groups around the country, build stronger alliances with other organisations, grow our membership and become a much more effective and impactful campaign mobiliser.

 

Since the referendum Unlock Democracy has made good incremental improvements. But the scale and pace of change is completely inadequate to deal with the challenge we face. The reform movement is up against powerful and entrenched vested interests and we are not fit for the fight. I will drive the changes necessary to ensure that we can win.

Chris Carrigan combines the business and commercial experience necessary to effectively fulfil the role of a Rodell Director with the passionate commitment to civil rights and democratic reform that will ensure that Rodell is managed for the benefit of unlock democracy. Chris is an experienced chairman who led a team in Oxford that secured one of our few wins during the AV Referendum. He is a natural builder of collaboration and consensus with a proven record of working across party and organisational boundaries. In his commercial career Chris has been responsible for contracts valued at over £50 million.