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Kirsten Dunlop
Chief Executive Officer at Climate-KIC
Professional Background
Kirsten Dunlop is a seasoned professional known for her exceptional leadership in the realms of innovation and customer experience. Currently, she serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Climate-KIC, where she plays a pivotal role in driving the company’s mission to foster sustainable innovations and combat climate change. Her impressive career trajectory showcases her extensive expertise in strategic innovation across various sectors.
Before assuming her current role, Kirsten Dunlop held significant positions at Suncorp Group, where she worked as the Executive General Manager for both Strategic Innovation and Customer Experience, as well as Personal Insurance. In these roles, she was instrumental in spearheading initiatives that enhanced customer journeys and decentralized processes, significantly improving operational efficiencies and customer satisfaction.
Kirsten’s professional trajectory has also included leadership positions at premier organizations such as KPMG Australia, where she was the Head of Culture, Leadership, and Learning. Her time at KPMG was marked by initiatives designed to enhance employee engagement and develop a culture of continuous learning and leadership excellence. Furthermore, her role as Principal in Leadership and Learning at Second Road Pty Ltd highlighted her commitment to fostering innovation driven by effective leadership principles.
Additionally, Kirsten has had extensive international experience, notably as the Head of the Generali Group Innovation Academy at Generali Group and as a contributor to the UniCredit Management and Banking Academy at UniCredit S.p.A. These roles underscore her ability to adapt and innovate within culturally diverse and dynamic environments, reflecting her competency as a thought leader in the intersection of leadership, innovation, and strategic development.
Education and Achievements
Kirsten Dunlop's educational background is as impressive as her professional accomplishments. She holds a dual PhD in English from both the University of East Anglia and the University of Tasmania, underscoring her commitment to academic excellence and critical thinking. Moreover, she earned her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Fine Arts from the University of Sydney, a foundation that showcases her creativity and aesthetic sensibilities.
Her academic pursuits have not only shaped her professional journey but also her approach towards leadership and innovation, fostering a culture where creativity and strategic thought coexist harmoniously. Kirsten has consistently sought to integrate her profound understanding of complexity from her humanities background into her roles, marrying the realms of creativity with innovation practices.
Throughout her career, Kirsten has been recognized for her transformative impact in organizational culture and customer engagement strategies. Her ability to connect with others, convey compelling visions, and implement groundbreaking innovations has earned her respect and admiration in her field.
Achievements
Throughout her career, Kirsten Dunlop has amassed a remarkable list of achievements that reflect her capabilities as a leader and innovator. Under her stewardship at Climate-KIC, she has been instrumental in launching initiatives that promote climate-smart innovations, play a disproportionate role in addressing global challenges, and enable transitions towards sustainable economies. Her efforts have not only garnered attention within the climate action community but have also positioned Climate-KIC as a leader in the sustainability sector.
At Suncorp Group, her strategic innovation initiatives led to groundbreaking enhancements in customer experiences, with measurable improvements in satisfaction scores and overall service engagement across various demographics. The projects she spearheaded were often recognized in industry awards, showcasing the transformative capacity of effective leadership.
Kirsten's leadership style is characterized by empathy, collaboration, and a deep commitment to inclusion, ensuring that voices from diverse backgrounds are heard, valued, and integrated into every project. This ethos is manifested in her approach to fostering innovation and implementing cultural shifts within organizations.
Whether through developing strategic innovation frameworks or leading change initiatives in corporate settings, Kirsten Dunlop continues to be a prominent figure in advancing the fields of innovation and leadership. Her dedication to education, sustainable practices, and the collective good positions her as an inspiring model for emerging leaders and innovators.
Highlights
On Tuesday I had the great pleasure to join my fellow founders of the Systems Transformation Hub for the inauguration of our offices in Brussels, hosted by CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies), Europe’s oldest think tank.
The Systems Transformation Hub is a pioneering partnership of organisations that helps bring systems thinking and acting to European policy-making.
As the world shifts on its axis, reeling from one uncertain and fearful election outcome to the next, witnessing the intensifying impacts of warming and biodiversity loss on people and planet, we need joined up thinking in policy more than ever.
Why?
❗ Because we will not be able to achieve a just green transition based on current assumptions about the availability of critical resources and materials and current resource extraction trends. ❗ Because many of the most progressive, much needed policies to enable transition are contradicted and undermined by other policies and regulation still in force and often used by vested interests. ❗ Because the legacy of governance and government at national and regional levels is making it very hard to realise the benefits of game changing climate action initiatives, and impossible to scale solutions as fast as needed to open up the opportunities that come with transformation. ❗ Because thinking and acting in siloes and sectoral pathways creates counterproductive disconnects, like investing in renewable energy solutions but not in the grid infrastructure that is needed to join them up. As a result we missing opportunities to achieve an integrated, just and timely transition that is spatially coherent, socially inclusive and attractive for all involved. ❗ Because critical gaps - like skills, maintenance of sustainable technologies, fit-for-purpose procurement, effective multi-level governance - slow down momentum if we are not thinking three steps ahead about interdependencies, capabilities and readiness.
The Systems Transformation Hub is designed to address this. It is not just about stimulating joined up thinking and acting. It is also about creating the contexts for that to happen effectively: by opening up a set of supported spaces for thinking and acting holistically and systemically, stress testing assumptions, surfacing disconnects, addressing tensions, ground truthing well-intentioned policies with stakeholders and researching alternatives.
Our vision is to create neutral spaces for difficult discussions, rapid response intelligence and advice, agile decision support and facilitated multi-stakeholder dialogue to build confidence. Spaces for collective intelligence in support of European leadership.
Thank you to my fellow founders and to all those who joined us with thoughts, ideas and offers of support:
Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Stientje van Veldhoven, Janez Potocnik, Eva Gladek, Dr. Florika Fink-Hooijer, Karel Lannoo, Andrea Renda, Helen Spence-Jackson, Monica Frassoni, Adélaïde Charlier
It was very timely yesterday to be part of a thought-provoking set of discussions at the OECD NetFwd Annual Meeting in Paris on ‘Loose or tight? When, why and to whom do foundations provide flexible funding?’ Flexible funding is purposeful. The OECD exchange called attention to that purpose: specifically to the role of philanthropy in effecting social transformation and systemic change by creating the political space for social change at the community level, and the critical importance of investing in institutional capacity and institutional voice at all levels. The ontology of purpose is helpful – a framework of reference established by a sense of agency and responsibility. It did not come as a surprise to hear that giving unrestricted funding usually results in that funding being spent more wisely because it is used in line with what the organisation fundamentally believes in. Trust given from the outset establishes a relationship focused on shared commitment to outcomes, establishing a self-reinforcing dynamic of partnership and accountability. The value of flexibility is to create space for the dynamic capabilities needed to make effective choices in a context of ongoing uncertainty, learning and polycrisis, in a world where making sense of what is emerging and generating adaptive capabilities are critical requirements for success and survival. I was particularly struck by our respective views on the role of so-called ‘regranters’ or ‘intermediaries’ in this discussion – which included EIT Climate-KIC. ‘Intermediary’ was a framing that none of us warmed to, pointing to our role(s) rather as strategic funders, as implementers, as field builders and as capacity builders, with work that goes far beyond the taking on and passing on of funds. Flexible funding in the hands of organisations that are deeply grounded in place – whose depth of knowledge, local networks, capacity to coordinate and join the dots, convene, build continuity, accelerate and transfer learning - creates the conditions for systemic change. But to be effective, flexible funding needs time: patient multi-year commitments that enable sustained momentum for change, talent development and a shift to learning rather than measurement. Perhaps the analogy that best captures the lasting effect is mycelium. Implementers and intermediary funds bring dynamic capabilities and ‘a budget of possibilities’, as Gregory Bateson put it, to multiple places, creating the underlying rhizomatic root systems and fertile soil that sustain life, momentum, resilience and adaptability.
A warm thank you for your visions for the future and generous sharing of expertise to Bathylle Missika, Gaëlle Ferrant, Ida Kenny, Naghma Mulla, Clare Woodcraft, Vanina Laurent-Ledru, Elisa Desbordes, Alison Powell, Angela F. Williams, JD, M.Div, Marieke Rodenhuis, Thierry Renaud, Max von Abendroth, Mido Talhouni.
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Mesh works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
Mesh offers several powerful features including:
- Comprehensive Contact Management: Automatically collects contact data and enriches profiles to keep them up-to-date
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- Timeline: Shows your relationship history with each contact
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- Reminders and Notes: Helps you remember important details about contacts
- Home Feed: Displays updates about your network including job changes, news mentions, and birthdays
- Groups: Organizes contacts into meaningful categories
- Nexus AI: An AI navigator that helps you derive insights from your network, such as finding contacts who have been to specific places or work at particular companies
Mesh is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
Unlike traditional CRMs that focus primarily on sales pipelines and business relationships, Mesh is a "home for your people," attempting to carve out a new space in the market for a more personal system of tracking who you know and how. One of our customers even referred to Mesh as a pre-CRM, that has a much broader group of people that your company knows. Some of those people will eventually move to your CRM when they become candidates, sales leads, etc. Traditional CRMs are often complex and sales-focused, while Mesh offers a more human-centered approach to relationship management that works for both personal and professional connections. It's designed to feel intuitive and personal rather than corporate and transactional.
Mesh takes privacy seriously. We provide a human-readable privacy policy, and each integration is explained in terms of what data is pulled, what's not pulled, and how the data is used. Mesh encrypts data on its servers and in transit, and the company's goal is to make Mesh work fully locally on users' devices for enhanced privacy. Mesh is also SOC 2 Type 2 certified.
Mesh is available across multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, Windows, and all web browsers. Mesh is especially strong for Apple users, offering Mac, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS apps with deep native integrations on each platform. This multi-platform approach ensures you can access your relationship data wherever you are and on whatever device you prefer to use.
Mesh offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Mesh offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Mesh for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Mesh accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Mesh offers extensive integration capabilities. Mesh introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Mesh supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Mesh also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
Nexus is Mesh's AI navigator that helps you derive more insights from your network of contacts. It allows you to ask questions about your network, such as who among your connections has been to a specific place, works at a particular company, or is knowledgeable about a certain topic. Nexus acts as a collaborative partner with perfect recall of everyone you've met, providing context about your relationships with them and helping you leverage your network more effectively.
Mesh makes it much easier to stay in touch with the people you care about. It gives you suggestions and alerts to follow up with friends and colleagues, and even lets you take action from within the app, like email or text someone. Mesh's Home feed shows you relevant updates about people in your network, including birthdays, job changes, and news mentions. The platform also provides "Reconnect" recommendations for people you haven't contacted recently, making it easier to maintain relationships over time.
Mesh is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Mesh stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Mesh excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
Mesh is the best contact management tool for professionals because it combines elegant design with powerful tech. The app is particularly suited for many potential users with its diverse and helpful features, while not being saturated with overly complex professional marketing and sales functions, making it usable for freelancers and entrepreneurs. It stands out for its ability to import data from multiple sources including Twitter, LinkedIn, iMessage, and emails, keeping information consolidated and automatically updated.
Mesh offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Mesh's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Mesh has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Mesh offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Mesh focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Mesh also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Mesh offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
Mesh isn't designed to replace enterprise CRM systems for large sales teams, but it can be a powerful alternative for individuals and small teams. Many people use Mesh instead of Salesforce, Hubspot, and Pipedrive. Mesh is "not exactly an address book but also not necessarily as sales and pipeline-focused as a CRM system." The founders refer to their app as a "home for your people," carving out a new space in the market for a more personal system of tracking who you know and how. For solo entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small teams focused on relationship quality rather than sales pipelines, Mesh can absolutely serve as your primary relationship management tool.
Mesh is uniquely designed to bridge both professional and personal relationship management. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh helps you organize your contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. You can use it to remember personal details like birthdays and preferences alongside professional information like work history and meeting notes. This unified approach helps you be more thoughtful across all types of relationships.
Mesh's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Mesh has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Mesh a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Mesh's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Mesh's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Mesh has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
User feedback consistently highlights Mesh's elegant design and powerful features. Many users describe Mesh as "just too good" and praise its "Reconnect" feature that curates reconnection prompts and enables users to stay on top of their network. Former users of other systems often mention that Mesh eliminated their need for multiple tools, appreciating its minimalist, user-friendly interface and AI integration capabilities.