Derrick Johnstone

Derrick has worked in local and regional economic development, and more widely in performance improvement in the public sector, as a practitioner and as a consultant, for over 20 years. He has particular expertise in applying management and organisational development techniques in a multi-agency setting.

A strong theme running through much of his work has been that of building capacity: developing skills, knowledge and ways of working amongst client organisations and their partners. This has involved, for example, partnership development, best practice reviews and competence-based approaches to organisational and staff development.
 

He has led consultancy assignments for an extensive range of clients including the European Commission, central government departments, Regional Development Agencies, local authorities, Local Strategic Partnerships, the Learning and Skills Council, economic development partnerships, Business in the Community, international companies such as BT and GE, and foundations such as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. He is a Local Improvement Advisor, one of the national panel supporting Local Strategic Partnerships, Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships and government bodies. His specialisms are Leadership and Partnership Development, Performance Management, and Local Economy and Worklessness. He was previously a Neighbourhood Renewal Advisor (for the Department for Communities and Local Government) in a similar role, which included work on the Houghton Review of local authorities and LSPs in tackling worklessness. He is also an Inspire East Enabler and a National School of Government Associate.

Derrick graduated in Economics and Economic History from Edinburgh University, followed by a master's degree from Glasgow University specialising in urban and regional economics and policy analysis.