Lunchtime seminar with Oliver Fisher

Our 2026 lunchtime seminar series kicked off on 29 January with an event titled “Rewiring Complex Organisations” led by Oliver Fisher, Chief Investment Officer at HMRC.

The seminar brought together thought leaders, academics and professionals to explore how organisations can transform deeply embedded structures while maintaining resilience in today’s fast-changing environment.

Key discussions focused on:

• Organisations as systems and system-of-systems
• Moving from strategic vision to practical delivery
• Reshaping culture, behaviours, and mindsets to enable sustainable change
• Aligning incentives to drive transformation
• Streamlining governance layers while navigating the disruptive influence of AI technologies

Oliver shared insights gained throughout his career in senior leadership roles, and which covered strategy, investment planning, and digital transformation. he also spoke about his passion for enabling a more agile government, ensuring that public sector work is responsive, innovative, and delivers meaningful improvements for citizens and society.

Successful transformation strategies require the dismantling of siloed governance, noted Oliver, highlighting the persistent issue of organisational fragmentation that undermines so many institutions. Drawing on several theories of change management and organisational design, Oliver emphasised that a unifying thread runs through all effective approaches: alignment between people, leadership, purpose, and systems.

Oliver then guided participants through compelling case studies, demonstrating how a systems-based approach can deliver meaningful outcomes. His narrative illustrated not only the importance of systemic thinking but also its practical application in real organisational contexts.

He concluded with a thought-provoking message that resonated deeply with the audience: “Rewiring starts with asking the right questions.” How many of us are truly asking the right questions? That reflection was deliberately left with us.

Participants walked away with actionable insights on how to rewire organisational DNA for agility and innovation without compromising stability. The event sparked rich conversations on how organisations can future proof themselves and thrive amid continuous disruption.

Stay tuned for more events that challenge conventional thinking and inspire meaningful change.

If you would like to explore how to connect with us, contact Professor Jeni Giambona, j.giambona@soton.ac.uk