Ania Mendrek FIEP is Founder and Managing Director of Crafting Civic Change, a consultancy focused on enhancing citizen-centric services.
Ania said: “Being a Fellow of the IEP empowers me to stay at the forefront of employability services, ensuring that I can bring the most innovative and effective solutions to organisations who work with people in need of those services. It enables me to collaborate with professionals and Thought Leaders from across the sector, enriching my work and enhancing the impact we can make together. This Fellowship is not just a recognition; it’s a responsibility that I cherish, driving me to continually advocate for and implement policies that support and uplift vulnerable populations through meaningful employment opportunities.
“I am committed to leveraging my expertise in human-centred design, global experience in market entry and service implementation to contribute to the IEP’s mission. My approach, which integrates empathy with evidence-based strategies, aligns perfectly with the IEP’s commitment to innovative and inclusive employability solutions. I am particularly passionate about the opportunities for collaboration to enhance our collective impact and I am ready to share my knowledge through mentorship, helping to nurture the next generation of employability professionals.”
Ania’s approach combines operational excellence, expert facilitation, evidence-based methodologies, and user-centred design to create a meaningful impact on individuals and communities. She brings experience in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and policy advocacy from a long career in employability services.
Ania advocates for leveraging technology and innovation to enhance employment services, emphasising digital tools and data analytics to increase access, efficiency, and effectiveness. She champions technology as essential for empowering individuals and enabling service providers to deliver personalised support and accurately evaluate their impact. She believes that it’s only through innovation that the employment sector can stay responsive to economic trends and meet evolving workforce needs.
Ania has over 17 years of experience in advocating for policy improvements and labour market reforms. Her extensive international work and engagement with key institutions such as the European Parliament, European Commission, and International Labour Organisation demonstrates her adeptness in navigating complex policy arenas and pushing for innovative solutions. She has been particularly focused on issues like youth unemployment and the development of effective public-private partnerships, showcasing her ability to influence social policy discussions towards practical, real-world applications. She has spoken at multiple events and conferences, often by invitation from public officials across Ministries of Labour or international institutions. Ania has delivered Masterclass sessions on public-private partnerships in employment services that focus on engaging vulnerable populations and leading job seekers into self-sufficiency on the labour market.
In her previous role as Director of EU Business Development at Maximus, Ania played a crucial role in devising market entry strategies and establishing operations in Italy and Sweden, as well as researching multiple other markets and establishing Maximus as a Thought Leader among key stakeholders. Her continued advocacy for operational excellence in citizen services within the labour market further enhanced her relationships with institutional stakeholders, policymakers, and advocacy groups, fostering partnerships in employment services.
Prior to Maximus, Ania has also worked as a senior consultant for a local authority in London, where she led service design strategies to reduce youth reoffending rates. By building a multi-stakeholder partnership model, she ensured the effective delivery of these strategies.
Her career in employment services started at A4e, where she was quickly promoted from frontline advisor into managing local & international operations, and then leading operational transformation solutions for major tenders in employment and justice programmes.
