Our Journey
Synergy was launched in 2000 with a mission to unite business, government and society on sustainable development challenges.
Fuelled by our passion for positive change, we have become experts in understanding the impact that each of our specialist sectors has on people and our planet, developing tailored approaches that bring long-lasting legacies for the better.
As we have expanded, with offices in South Africa and France, and a merger with Senegalese consultancy, OSIEC, we have stayed true to our core values: People-centred, Excellence, Collaboration, Bias for hope, Passion. These continue to guide us through the complex contexts in which we work, and enable us to empower organisations across the world to improve their social impact.
2000
Synergy established in the UK.
2000
First ESIA in Africa (O&G, World Bank).
2002
First social performance training delivered to a major mining company (Shell).
2003
Founder Amar Inamdar leaves.
2004
First large-scale social baseline (Rio Tinto).
2011
First consulting project in the Middle-East (Maaden).
2008
First resettlement project (Kumba Dingleton).
2008
SA subsidiary established by Paul Kapelus.
2008
Synergy achieves an annual turnover > £ 1,000,000.
2005
First corporate-wide social performance audit (Newmont).
2012
First independent investigation for a development bank (IFC).
2014
Ben Nénot sets up the France office in Paris.
2014
First supply chain due diligence audits (ITSCI).
2017
Synergy achieves an annual turnover > £ 2,000,000.
2017
Tom Huxley joins Synergy as Operations Director.
2022
Synergy achieves an annual turnover > £ 3,000,000.
2021
First London Bullion Market Association gold mine site assessment.
2020
Owner Katharine Gotto Walton leaves.
2019
First Human Rights Impact Assessment.
2018
Development of the Responsible Mining Index.
2023
First GISTM-related assessment (Rio Tinto).
2024
OSIEC Senegal joins the Synergy Group and Abdourahim Ba joins Synergy as a Group Executive.
2024
Sam Choshi is appointed Director (South Africa).
2024
Synergy reaches 30+ in-house consultants.
2025
Owner Paul Kapelus dies.
2026
Synergy has delivered 1,000 projects in its history!
2026
Creation of Synergy Beijing.
2025
Synergy achieves an annual turnover > £ 4,000,000.
2025
Synergy delivers its first SBIA for a NBS project in (Rio Tinto/Birdlife, Madagascar).
2025
Synergy produces the 25 years sustainability strategy (Kamoa Mines, Ivanhoe Group).
2026
Ben Nénot & Ed O’Keefe are appointed as Co-CEOs & Robin Lenahan is appointed as UK Country Lead.
OSIEC & Synergy Global Consulting join forces!
We are proud to announce the strategic merger between OSIEC, a Senegalese consulting firm with unparalleled insights into African contexts, and Synergy Global Consulting, recognised for its social and environmental expertise through its work on the African continent and the wider world.
Effective since July 2024, this partnership was formed around our shared values: people-centred, excellence, collaboration, bias for hope and passion.
Combining OSIEC’s local and regional roots, in-depth knowledge of African cultures, and continent-specific challenges with Synergy’s extensive experience in bringing positive impacts to organisations, governments and communities across the globe, this merger marks an exciting and historic step for both organisations.
By aligning our human, technical and strategic resources, we continue to offer innovative solutions that empower businesses to improve their social and environmental performance and ensure that communities thrive for the long term.
This new chapter allows OSIEC and Synergy to bring the power of our collaborative, future-focused work to a growing number of geographies and sectors — including mining, energy, infrastructure and agriculture.
A new synergy is underway, to build the Africa of tomorrow together.