“Pippa is an experienced and excellent project manager, working in partnership to take and develop creative ideas and concepts, developing the initial pitch and business case, preparing outline budgets and identifying and achieving tangible outcomes.
I worked with Pippa at Paignton Zoo when she managed large scale public art project – The Great Gorilla Project. This type of project was completely new for the zoo, and was met with a degree of scepticism from some stakeholders due to the financial and reputational risks to the charity. Pippa developed the project plan and associated funding model to the extent that her pitch succeeded in obtaining buy in from both internal and external stakeholders.
She developed relationships with strategic partners and stakeholders such as Torbay and Exeter City Councils, Devon County Council and the Chambers of Commerce, key service providers such as sculpture providers Wild in Art along with transport providers, sponsors and artists.
The detailed plans Pippa prepared, including risk assessment and mitigation plans and business contingency planning, together with constant ongoing reviews against the predefined outcomes, ensured that the project was delivered successfully. Outcomes included achieving an increased awareness of the threats to gorillas in the wild, increased visitation to the zoo and raising £100,000 for gorilla conservation programmes.
Following a formal review, including an economic impact study, Pippa managed another similar project for rhino conservation three years later and has since acted as consultant for a number of other organisations interested in organising similar events.”