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The Strategy Unit is an NHS team that specialises in applied analysis, strategic advice, and decision-making support. Fraser has worked for the Strategy Unit since 2015 focussing on strategic decision-making and leadership development. He recently became Head of Policy.
Since joining the Policy Fellows Network, my experience has been nothing short of transformative, both personally and professionally. I initially sought out the Fellowship at a time when I felt I needed intellectual stimulation—something to refresh my thinking and reignite my enthusiasm for public policy. I wasn’t looking for formal education, like a master’s degree, but rather a dynamic way of learning, engaging directly with people who could challenge my ideas. That’s exactly what the Policy Fellowship has given me, and more.
"Overall, the Policy Fellowship has not only refreshed my thinking but also had a direct and practical impact on my work. It introduced me to new disciplines and methodologies, like design thinking, and provided me with tools and insights that continue to shape my projects today."
From the outset, the structure of the Fellowship has been incredibly supportive. I never felt like I was simply left to navigate the Cambridge academic world on my own. The team helped tailor the fellowship to meet my specific needs, connecting me with academics who could address my questions and, crucially, introducing me to new ways of thinking. I’ve always felt that, at any point, if something needed to change or if I wanted more guidance, there was support available. This structure, combined with the expertise of the academics I met, made my time at Cambridge both stimulating and deeply productive.
One of the most impactful aspects of the Fellowship was the opportunity to meet academics from disciplines outside of healthcare. This was particularly important to me because, working within the health and social care sector, I am already familiar with the perspectives of those within my field. What I craved was the chance to see things differently—to learn how someone from engineering, or philosophy, for instance, might approach the same challenges I face. The Fellowship delivered this in ways I never anticipated.
"The Fellowship reinvigorated my love of public policy. It introduced me to new ways of thinking that have influenced how I and my colleagues approach major projects."
A standout example of this is my meeting with Nathan Crilly, Professor of Design in the Engineering Department at Cambridge. Initially, I wasn’t sure engineering would have much relevance to my work. But that meeting turned out to be one of the most valuable of the entire Fellowship. Nathan introduced me to the concept of design thinking, something I wasn’t that familiar with, and it completely opened up a new way of approaching problems.
In particular, Nathan exposed me to the Design Council’s “Double Diamond” framework. It’s a simple but powerful tool for structuring creative thinking and problem-solving, and it has had a profound effect on my work. I’ve since used the Double Diamond framework to shape large-scale projects within the Strategy Unit. What’s more, the ideas from that meeting didn’t just stop with me; they’ve filtered through to my colleagues as well. There’s now a broader appreciation for design thinking within my team, and it’s directly influencing how we approach strategic planning.
Another academic who had a significant impact on my thinking was Farbod Akhlaghi. He helped me explore how to integrate ethics into decision-making processes. I had always known that ethics were crucial to the work I do, particularly when advising leaders on strategic decisions, but I didn’t have a strong background in the subject. Farbod helped me see how virtue ethics might help NHS leaders. After speaking with him, I had a clear sense of how I could apply these ideas in a practical way. This has since changed how I approach many of the discussions I have with leaders about decision-making, particularly in complex, morally ambiguous situations.
"I've gained access to a network of brilliant academics who’ve challenged and expanded my perspectives, and I’ve left the experience with a deeper understanding of how interdisciplinary thinking can drive real-world solutions."
The cumulative effect of the Fellowship has been a renewed sense of enthusiasm for public policy. It has helped me shift my role towards a more explicit policy focus, which has been both rewarding and energising. The intellectual stimulation I was looking for has been more than met, and I feel better equipped to tackle the strategic challenges in my work with fresh eyes.