Let’s be honest: corporate innovation is broken.
It’s full of big decks and bigger ambitions. But when it comes to actual execution—moving fast, taking smart risks, building with urgency—many organisations get stuck. They want transformation but settle for iteration. They chase innovation while clinging to legacy systems, slow governance, and safety-first thinking.
That’s exactly why The Collective exists.
We're not consultants. We’re not an agency. We're not here to tell you what you want to hear.
We're here to build, to challenge, and to partner with the brave—those who want to shape what’s next, not just survive what’s now.
Why We Exist
The world doesn’t pause so you can catch up. In a high-velocity environment where disruption is constant and expectations shift overnight, the cost of standing still is irrelevance. As Avril Chester puts it: "Relevance is survival."
The Collective was born from this urgency. We saw too many great ideas die inside big companies—not because the ideas were bad, but because the system around them wasn’t built for speed or transformation. We knew there had to be a better way.
So we created it.
We bring together senior operators, technologists, strategists, and founders who’ve been in the trenches—people who know what it means to lead under pressure, scale what works, and stop what doesn’t. Together, we help organisations move at the speed of change—not just react to it.
A Different Kind of Partner
Think of us as a critical friend. The one who doesn’t just nod along but asks the hard questions. The one who helps you see around corners, call time on what’s no longer working, and get the right things live—faster.
We’re not here to build things that look good in a slide deck. We’re here to build what ships, what scales, and what shifts the dial.
We understand that the most powerful ideas aren’t always the loudest. Sometimes, they’re the ones stuck in the “maybe later” pile. We help bring those ideas to life—with the strategic clarity, product rigor, and founder-style momentum they deserve.
Who Are We?
We're a diverse group, united by a shared belief: real change starts with real challenge.
- There’s Ez Britton, who’s led fintech startups, national innovation bodies, and knows how to bring code, capital, and culture together.
- Mark Caddy, who’s delivered complex transformation for global enterprises and not for profits and believes in clarity over complexity.
- Avril Chester, a CTO who blends innovation and empathy to build tech that truly helps people.
- Klaas Ardinois, the calm in the storm, who brings strategic focus to messy, high-stakes decisions.
- Andrew Brown, who’s reshaped data systems and regulations for entire sectors.
- Kent Vorland, a fintech operator who scales with speed and precision.
- Chris Harris, the person you call when your big idea needs to become a beautifully functional product.
Each of us brings different experiences. But we’ve all felt the pressure of getting something built when the stakes are high and the clock is ticking. We know what it takes—not just to dream big, but to deliver boldly.
Why This Matters Now
We’re at a tipping point.
Organisations that win tomorrow are the ones brave enough to ask tough questions today:
- Are we still relevant?
- Are we building what matters?
- Are we moving fast enough—or just moving?
In a world where transformation can’t wait, where markets shift in months not years, and where irrelevance doesn’t knock—it just walks away—we help leaders stay bold, sharp, and in motion.
Because the truth is, if you’re not jogging, you’re falling behind. And by the time you realise it, your customers, your talent, and your edge might already be gone.
Let’s Build What’s Next
We didn’t create The Collective to give safe advice. We built it to be useful. Honest. Brave. Fast. And above all—relevant.
If you're ready to think like a fintech, move like a founder, and build like it matters—we’re ready.
Let’s go.
Let’s be honest: corporate innovation is broken.
It’s full of big decks and bigger ambitions. But when it comes to actual execution—moving fast, taking smart risks, building with urgency—many organisations get stuck. They want transformation but settle for iteration. They chase innovation while clinging to legacy systems, slow governance, and safety-first thinking.
That’s exactly why The Collective exists.
We're not consultants. We’re not an agency. We're not here to tell you what you want to hear.
We're here to build, to challenge, and to partner with the brave—those who want to shape what’s next, not just survive what’s now.
Why We Exist
The world doesn’t pause so you can catch up. In a high-velocity environment where disruption is constant and expectations shift overnight, the cost of standing still is irrelevance. As Avril Chester puts it: "Relevance is survival."
The Collective was born from this urgency. We saw too many great ideas die inside big companies—not because the ideas were bad, but because the system around them wasn’t built for speed or transformation. We knew there had to be a better way.
So we created it.
We bring together senior operators, technologists, strategists, and founders who’ve been in the trenches—people who know what it means to lead under pressure, scale what works, and stop what doesn’t. Together, we help organisations move at the speed of change—not just react to it.
A Different Kind of Partner
Think of us as a critical friend. The one who doesn’t just nod along but asks the hard questions. The one who helps you see around corners, call time on what’s no longer working, and get the right things live—faster.
We’re not here to build things that look good in a slide deck. We’re here to build what ships, what scales, and what shifts the dial.
We understand that the most powerful ideas aren’t always the loudest. Sometimes, they’re the ones stuck in the “maybe later” pile. We help bring those ideas to life—with the strategic clarity, product rigor, and founder-style momentum they deserve.
Who Are We?
We're a diverse group, united by a shared belief: real change starts with real challenge.
Each of us brings different experiences. But we’ve all felt the pressure of getting something built when the stakes are high and the clock is ticking. We know what it takes—not just to dream big, but to deliver boldly.
Why This Matters Now
We’re at a tipping point.
Organisations that win tomorrow are the ones brave enough to ask tough questions today:
In a world where transformation can’t wait, where markets shift in months not years, and where irrelevance doesn’t knock—it just walks away—we help leaders stay bold, sharp, and in motion.
Because the truth is, if you’re not jogging, you’re falling behind. And by the time you realise it, your customers, your talent, and your edge might already be gone.
Let’s Build What’s Next
We didn’t create The Collective to give safe advice. We built it to be useful. Honest. Brave. Fast. And above all—relevant.
If you're ready to think like a fintech, move like a founder, and build like it matters—we’re ready.
Let’s go.
Read Next
Let’s be honest: corporate innovation is broken.
There’s a hunger to move faster, think bolder, and build smarter. And nowhere is that more urgent than at the intersection of fintech and corporate innovation.
Leading at the Speed of Change
Unless you're constantly moving, you’re falling behind: Why transformation must be in your ventures DNA