I’m Peter Allan, and I help organisations navigate complexity to discover solutions that actually stick.

My curiosity about design started in a 1990s UK call centre, watching the tension between business results and customer needs. That question—“why are these at odds?”—launched a 25-year expedition through organisations in the UK and New Zealand.

I’ve spent over 15 years guiding teams through uncertain territory: transformational workshops, capability-building programmes, customer research that challenges assumptions. I’ve led 100+ design thinking engagements and scaled programmes to 1,000+ participants at organisations including major financial institutions, national telecommunications providers, and leading retail networks.

But here’s what I’ve learned on this journey: workshops alone don’t create change. Sustainable transformation comes from building capabilities and creating environments where teams can discover real problems together, connect authentically, and solve with confidence.

I bring the mindset of an expedition guide—someone who’s navigated this terrain before, knows where the pitfalls are, and can help you reach rewarding discoveries safely. My toolkit combines Design Thinking, Lean Six Sigma, and agile methodologies, adapted to your unique landscape.

As a former competitive formation skydiver and current surfer, I’m comfortable with carefully calculated risks and the unknown. I’ll even take our work outside when inspiration requires it—some of the best discoveries happen when we’re immersed in nature.

When I’m not working with clients, I co-host The Design Thinker Podcast with Dr. Dani Chesson. Over 54 episodes, we’ve explored the frameworks and capabilities that make design thinking actually work—and examined why it so often fails. It’s a great way to understand my approach before we talk.

Based in: Auckland, New Zealand

Working with: Organisations across NZ, Australia, UK, and globally (remote)

Available for: Consulting engagements, contract roles, and permanent opportunities