Perfect Circle People | Alex Munslow-Wood
Here is the latest article in Perfect Circle's 'People Profile' series, and we are delighted to introduce Alex Munslow-Wood, Advisory Director at AECOM.
Career History
'My career has spanned data and business analysis and supply chain management at the Environment Agency before joining AECOM's Programme Advisory team. I now lead an Advisory team across the UK and Ireland, helping organisations define their future direction and build the capabilities needed to deliver it.
I have worked with clients across energy, water and transport, including National Grid, Anglian Water, Network Rail and the Environment Agency. My projects have included shaping National Grid’s approach to infrastructure delivery, supporting the Thames Estuary 2100 TEP2 visioning and developing operating models for heat network zoning.
Today, I specialise in strategy development, business architecture, target operating model design and transformation planning. A consistent theme throughout my career has been bringing different disciplines together, translating complex challenges into a shared understanding and helping clients connect their strategic ambitions with practical, achievable changes to how their organisations operate'.
Career Highlight
'Working on the Next Generation Supplier Arrangements (NGSA) programme as a business analyst and integrator was a pivotal moment in my career. It gave me the opportunity to apply systems thinking directly to a complex delivery environment, understanding the relationships and dependencies between different parts of the Environment Agency asset management portfolio, rather than looking at each in isolation.
For me, the highlight was connecting the bigger picture with the realities of delivery. The experience shaped my approach to business architecture and reinforced my belief that successful transformation depends as much on how teams and disciplines work together, as on their individual expertise'.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
'A good cup of coffee gets me started, but a complex problem and the people I work with are what really motivate me'.
What does a typical day look like?
'A typical day involves plenty of meetings, and I’m often the person drawing pictures to help make sense of the discussion. Much of my role is turning complicated conversations into simple descriptions of what we’re looking at, what we need to do next and what we need to be aware of. The most rewarding moments are when those pictures and conversations help something click, giving people a shared understanding and the confidence to take the next step'.
What do you like most about your role?
'I enjoy the variety and pace—different challenges, different people and always something new to learn. But what I value most is knowing that I’m contributing to something that will benefit society and communities. My work often starts with a strategy, a diagram or a conversation, but its purpose extends far beyond that.
Being able to look back and know I played a part in improving the services and infrastructure people rely on is what makes the role particularly rewarding'.
If you could switch jobs with someone, who would it be?
'I’d swap with an astronaut, the geek in me can’t help it! The chance to explore space and see Earth from orbit would be hard to beat. I spend a lot of my time talking about the bigger picture; that would be an opportunity to see it from a whole new perspective'.
What is your biggest achievement to date?
'My biggest achievement has been growing a team of people who share my passion for systems thinking, business architecture and transformation. Just as importantly, it’s a team where people can be themselves, bring different perspectives and have fun doing meaningful work. I’m proud of what we deliver for our clients, but equally proud of the culture we’ve built together'.
Tell us a secret that others would be surprised to find out?
'I play Dungeons & Dragons with my closest friends. It’s a chance to be creative, step into a completely different world and put everyday stresses to one side for a few hours.
Mostly, though, it’s about having a laugh together and seeing where the story takes us.'
