One World Consulting is an international consulting firm based in Istanbul, Turkey, co-founded by partners Tim Bright and Joan O’Rourke, consulting professionals originally from the United Kingdom. The firm, which lists “diversity” as one of its values, offers critical race theory-aligned consulting services oriented toward “equity synthesis,” among other things.

Background

One World Consulting was founded in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2007 by Tim Bright and Joan O’Rourke, both consulting professionals originally from the United Kingdom. The firm’s main line of business involves the placement (both in and out of firms) and mentoring of executives in private and public organizations. However, the firm also lists “Diversity” amongst its values and to that end offers diversity-oriented “intercultural” briefings and coaching sessions. ¹

According to the firm’s statement on Corporate Social Responsibility, One World Consulting works with MyClimate (also known as the Climate Protection Partnership), an international nonprofit foundation based in Switzerland, to “offset” the firm’s carbon emissions by participating in the financing of environmentalist projects. ^{2 3}

The right-leaning Parents Defending Education notes in its “Consultant Report Card” profile on One World Consulting that the firm has done at least $42,000 worth of business with school systems in the United States. ⁴

Activity

In October 12, 2020, the Alamo Heights Junior School in Alamo Heights, Texas, formed a District Equity Council, guided by the school’s own executive director of Curriculum and Instruction, Jimmie Walker, and equity program consultants from One World Consulting. According to an estimated budget for the contract associated with services provided to this council published by Parents Defending Education, the firm charged the school $3,000 for “Board and Leader Initial Participatory Audit Training,” $25,000 to “Conduct focus groups and analyze the qualitative data,” $3,000 to “Facilitate Equity Synthesis Meetings,” and $11,000 to “write [a] final report with recommendations.” Additionally, the firm agreed to provide “three virtual check-ins to support the equity council” free-of-charge. ⁵

According to a school newsletter reporting the formation of the District Equity Council and the hiring of One World Consulting, the new council will address the “need” for “racial equity practices.” ⁶

Tim Bright

Tim Bright is a co-founder and partner of One World Consulting. Prior to founding the firm, he worked with Nicholson International from 1995 to 2007. There, Bright was sequentially the country Manager of the firm’s Turkish office, regional director of the firm in Hong Kong, and a member of the firm’s Management Board responsible for operations in the United States. Additionally, Bright chairs the British Business Group in Istanbul, is on the Senior Advisory Board of the British Chamber of Commerce, is a co-founder of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council in Turkey, and is a workshop leader at the Society for Intercultural Education Training and Research. ⁷

Joan O’Rourke

Joan O’Rourke is a co-founder and partner of One World Consulting. Previously, O’Rourke worked at the London International Group, the Corporate Services Group, Nicholson International, and the Quintiles Transnational Corporation. ⁸

1.  “What Do We Do?” One World Consulting. Accessed January 2, 2022. https://www.oneworldconsulting.com/owc-wwd.php?b=00
2. “Information.” MyClimate. Accessed January 3, 2022. https://www.myclimate.org/information/
3. “About Us: Corporate Social Responsibility.” One World Consulting. Accessed January 2, 2022. http://www.oneworldconsulting.com/owc-about.php?b=00
4. “One World Consulting Services.” Parents Defending Education: Consultant Report Card. Accessed January 2, 2022. https://defendinged.org/report/one-world-consulting-services/
5.  “One World Consulting Services.” Parents Defending Education: Consultant Report Card. Accessed January 2, 2022. https://defendinged.org/report/one-world-consulting-services/
6. “Equity: Relentless Intention, Rigorous Process.” Alamo Heights ISD School Views. Fall/Winter 2020. Accessed January 3, 2022.
7. “About Us: Our Team: Tim Bright.” One World Consulting. Accessed January 2, 2022. http://www.oneworldconsulting.com/owc-about.php?b=00
8. “About Us: Our Team: Joan O’Rourke.” One World Consulting. Accessed January 2, 2022. http://www.oneworldconsulting.com/owc-about.php?b=00