About Helen

Whether you need surge capacity, technical writing, or strategic support, I can step in quickly and help you move forward with clarity.

What really matters to me

What matters most to me is reducing pressure on overstretched teams and creating the space for people to do their best work. I care deeply about helping organisations articulate their value and impact with clarity, confidence, and credibility — turning complex inputs into compelling, donor‑aligned narratives. Strong, trusting relationships are central to how I work: I integrate quickly, read the room, and bring a calm, emotionally intelligent presence that lifts team performance rather than adding to the load. And ultimately, I’m driven by contributing to a win — because high‑quality thinking and writing should translate into real results for the organisations I support.

About me

 

I’m Helen — a senior business development and impact communication specialist with 26 years’ experience across EU‑funded and international development programmes. I help consultancies strengthen their bids, communicate their impact, and navigate complex donor requirements with clarity and confidence.

My approach is calm, structured, and collaborative. I integrate quickly, reduce pressure, and bring clarity to complex or time‑sensitive assignments — especially when teams are stretched or bids are ongoing.

I'm also a member of the Association of Proposal Management Professionals (UK Chapter).

My Background

26 years in international development

A career shaped by the major donors that define the sector — EU/INTPA, FCDO, GIZ, the World Bank, KfW, ADB and others. I understand their logic, their language, and what evaluators look for. That long view means I can translate complex requirements into clear, competitive proposals that resonate.

Nine years as a freelance specialist

Since 2017, I’ve been trusted by multiple EU and international consultancies to deliver high‑quality bid writing and business development support under pressure. I integrate quickly, adapt to different organisational cultures, and bring structure, clarity and momentum to busy teams.

Seventeen years at Cardno (UK) (formerly Agrisystems)

My approach is shaped by nearly two decades working on large, complex programmes and EU frameworks. I led the Business Development Team with oversight of the full bidding cycle, from pipeline and capture through to submission and handover, building a deep grounding in systems, compliance and high‑stakes delivery. I understand all the pressures and responsibilities of the bid team. I know how to slot in to ease that pressure.

A foundation in people, teams and communication

Earlier roles in Human Resources, Recruitment and Customer Services gave me the ideal grounding for identifying and presenting expert teams, navigating multiple stakeholders, and building strong, engaged consortia. It’s a people‑centred skillset that continues to underpin my work today.

 

Strengthen your next bid.   Sharpen your Impact Story.

How I work

My approach is flexible, calm, and collaborative. I integrate quickly, reduce pressure, and bring clarity to complex or time‑sensitive assignments.

Clients value my ability to:

  • Understand complex TORs rapidly
  • Deliver high‑quality content with minimal onboarding
  • Bring structure and calm to busy teams
  • Strengthen both technical and narrative quality
  • Provide surge capacity exactly where needed

Please contact me at helenrachel46@gmail.com if you would like to see my CV.