Extraordinary strategic initiatives

Strategy and innovation consulting for organizations tackling complex global challenges.

Selected Work

Gates Foundation

Global fintech ecosystem development

•Identified digital financial services companies for private sector investment portfolio
•Conducted market research on digital financial services innovation landscape across eight emerging markets
•Advised program teams on financial inclusion initiatives and partnerships

UNHCR

Innovation management and emerging technology adoption

•Guided the establishment and operations of UNHCR internal innovation unit
•Advised leadership on technology-driven modernization initiatives to support refugees
•Facilitated introductions between UNHCR and Silicon Valley tech companies

Bitfury

Pre-competitive consortium strategy and launch

•Evaluated approaches to drive investment into technical development and adoption of Lightning Network infrastructure
•Led initiative to develop a consortium of organizations within the bitcoin ecosystem
•Managed business development to secure membership and funding

GSMA

Mobile money initiative strategy development

•Worked with mobile money program leadership to develop strategy around expanding digital financial services
•Developed learning agenda around innovative mobile money deployment practices worldwide
•Supported strategy review and annual planning

Simon Fraser University

Research partnerships development and operations

•Strategy development and operations planning for university/industry research collaborations
•Identified high-potential scientific research partnerships with external organizations
•Advised faculty on partnership development and management

Port of Vancouver

Port 2050 scenario planning and strategy

•Guided the Port through long-range multi-stakeholder strategic planning process
•Researched and developed future scenarios for Port leadership
•Produced public-facing scenario planning workshops

About

Chris Coldewey is the founder and principal consultant of Grey Area. Chris brings over 15 years of expertise in strategy and innovation.

Past lives include: head of strategy for development finance organization in India, strategy consultant at Monitor and future scenario planning firm Global Business Network (GBN), cofounder of developer tools startup, and wildlife field biologist.