Best New Consultant, sponsored by FreshMinds

Winner: Iain Kirwan, KPMG

Runners-up: Adrian Clutterbuck, Avail Consulting, Charlie Ursell, Capgemini, and Gavin Donaldson, KPMG

Clutterbuck, 31, says his background as a physiotherapist helps him tackle “change fatigue” among health workers. “I am able to enthuse them so they see the changes we suggest will make things better for everyone.”

Ursell, 23, who has clients in health and charity organisations, believes studying a client’s body language can help consultants to communicate.

Donaldson, 36, advises finance teams in the health, energy and publishing sectors on how to gain a broader understanding of their business.

Future Consulting Leader, sponsored by Collinson Grant

Winner: Craig Bush, Accenture

Runners-up: Amy Messham, IBM Global Business Services, and Natalie Johnson, Ernst & Young “Consulting has changed over the years with clients getting cleverer at identifying and analysing problems themselves, and bringing in IBM to deliver specific, measurable results,” says 29-year-old Messham.

Australian Johnson, 34, advises mining and telecoms industries. She says clients are becoming more interested in how consultants can transform their businesses strategically, by making their systems and processes more efficient, rather than simply helping them to cut costs.

Best Partner/Director, sponsored by BT Global Services

Winner: Gib Bulloch, Accenture

Runners-up: Adrian Edwards, Ernst & Young, Jonathan Wright, Accenture, and Karen Fitzgerald, Ernst & Young

Edwards, 46, is experienced in supply chain management. “I have always loved problem solving: the more complex and technical the better,” he says.

Wright, 39, says consulting is based on developing relationships, “not walking away at the end of a project and leaving a pile of papers on the client’s desk”.

Fitzgerald, 45, believes her experience in the financial services industry has helped her work with various government departments.

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