In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to leverage partnerships across industries and sectors is becoming a critical driver for systemic change. This is particularly true in the realm of sustainability, where the challenges we face are too complex and vast for any single organisation to tackle alone. Rafi Addlestone, Chief Strategy Officer at Pineapple Sustainable Partnerships, is at the forefront of this movement. With a career spanning government policy, major consulting firms, and global technology companies, Rafi is now focusing on how strategic partnerships can drive the kind of large-scale, systemic change that is desperately needed to address global sustainability challenges.

A Journey Rooted in Impact

Rafi’s career began in the public sector, where he worked on various policy initiatives related to education and child poverty. “I started out in government, in the education department, looking at future education and child safeguarding,” Rafi explains. However, he quickly realised the limitations of working within a bureaucratic system, where the ability to effect tangible change was often stymied by red tape and hierarchical decision-making processes.

“The problem with the system is that it’s very complex, messy, and bureaucratic. I found it quite frustrating,” he admits.

This frustration led Rafi to seek out opportunities where he could make a more direct impact. He transitioned into the private sector, joining Deloitte, where he worked on public sector strategy and corporate impact initiatives. At Deloitte, Rafi developed a deep understanding of how businesses could integrate social and environmental considerations into their core strategies. “I ended up leading projects that focused on corporate purpose and impact, helping institutions make choices that contribute more to society and drive positive change,” he recalls.

Rafi’s work at Deloitte marked a significant turning point in his career, as he began to explore how large organisations could be leveraged to drive systemic change. His experiences at Deloitte also laid the groundwork for his subsequent roles at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Pineapple Sustainable Partnerships, where he has continued to push the boundaries of what is possible through strategic collaboration.

The Role of Technology in Partnerships

One of the key themes that emerged during the podcast conversation was the transformative power of technology in enabling partnerships. Rafi highlighted how advances in technology, particularly in data sharing and analytics, have fundamentally changed the way organisations can collaborate.

“We’ve come a long way since letters and pigeons,”

Rafi quips, underscoring the shift from traditional, slow-paced communication methods to the real-time data sharing capabilities that now facilitate seamless integration between partners.

This technological evolution has opened up new possibilities for partnerships that were previously unimaginable. Rafi points out that the barriers to integration have largely disappeared, allowing organisations to work together more effectively and at a much larger scale. “The ability to share information in real-time across organisations means that partnerships now have the potential to operate at a scale and speed that was previously impossible,” he says.

Rafi’s time at AWS was particularly influential in shaping his understanding of how technology can be harnessed to drive sustainability. At AWS, he led a global sustainability team, focusing on how data and technology could be used to solve complex environmental challenges. “Technology and data are going to be real drivers of the change we need to see,” Rafi asserts. He believes that by leveraging the vast technological resources at their disposal, organisations can play a pivotal role in creating a more sustainable future.

​

Pineapple Sustainable Partnerships: A New Approach to Collaboration

Rafi’s current role at Pineapple Sustainable Partnerships represents the culmination of his experiences and insights from his previous roles. Pineapple is a “Think Do” consultancy that specialises in forming commercial partnerships to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. At Pineapple, Rafi is leading efforts to create shared business models that bring together large organisations, innovators, and disruptors to tackle systemic sustainability challenges.

One of the key projects that Pineapple is working on involves decarbonising social housing in the UK. “We’ve developed a model that makes it much easier for social housing providers to buy decarbonising technologies like solar panels, heat pumps, and batteries,” Rafi explains. This innovative approach allows social housing providers to finance these technologies through future revenue streams, rather than relying on upfront capital. “It’s quite an innovative approach, and we’re working with some of the biggest social housing providers in the UK to scale this model,” he adds.

Another area where Pineapple is making significant strides is in agriculture, where they are developing new business models to help farmers adopt sustainable practices. “We’re looking at how we can connect the dots between small farmers at the bottom of the value chain and the large retailers at the top,” Rafi says. By facilitating partnerships between these different stakeholders, Pineapple aims to create scalable solutions that benefit both the environment and the economy.

The Importance of Bold Leadership

Throughout the podcast, Rafi emphasised the need for bold leadership in driving systemic change. He believes that in order to address the complex challenges we face, leaders must be willing to take risks and think beyond the traditional boundaries of their organisations.

“We need leaders who are prepared to act boldly in a world where we don’t ultimately facilitate boldness in many ways,” Rafi argues.

This call for bold leadership is particularly relevant in the context of partnerships, where the success of a collaboration often hinges on the vision and commitment of those at the helm. Rafi notes that many of the most successful partnerships he has been involved in were driven by leaders who were willing to take a long-term view and invest in initiatives that might not yield immediate returns. “Partnerships are all about taking a bold view and addressing complex problems with a grand vision for success,” he says.

Rafi’s work at Pineapple Sustainable Partnerships is a testament to his belief in the power of bold, innovative leadership. By creating new business models that bring together diverse stakeholders and focusing on scalable, sustainable solutions, Rafi and his team are helping to pave the way for a more sustainable and equitable future.

The Future of Partnerships

Looking ahead, Rafi is optimistic about the potential for partnerships to drive systemic change. He believes that as more organisations recognise the value of collaboration, we will see an increasing number of bold, innovative partnerships that address the most pressing sustainability challenges. “We’re entering an era where partnerships will be the key unlocker to driving change,” Rafi predicts.

However, he also acknowledges that there is still much work to be done. Many organisations remain hesitant to engage in the kind of bold, systemic partnerships that are needed to address global challenges at scale. Rafi encourages leaders to embrace the opportunities presented by real-time data sharing and technological advances and to think creatively about how they can collaborate with others to achieve their goals.

In conclusion, Rafi Addlestone’s career journey and his work at Pineapple Sustainable Partnerships offer valuable insights into the power of partnerships in driving systemic change. By leveraging technology, fostering collaboration, and embracing bold leadership, Rafi is helping to shape a future where sustainability is not just an aspiration, but a reality. As he eloquently puts it, “We’ve come a long way since letters and pigeons.” Now is the time to take the next step forward, harnessing the power of partnerships to create a better world for all.