Allison Turnley
Liverpool,United Kingdom
Summary
Working across circular fashion and community-led sustainability, with a focus on how clothing is used, reused and lost within real-world systems. A background that combines hands-on experience managing large volumes of clothing through film and production environments, alongside more recent work developing circular initiatives that connect communities, partners and practical delivery. Particularly interested in building initiatives that move beyond one-off workshops, creating structures where skills, participation and local value can continue to grow over time, and where individuals and communities can generate new forms of value from clothing that would otherwise be discarded.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work history
Founder
Converte Global Ltd
Liverpool
2024.01 - 2026.03
- Developing a model focused on how clothing waste is identified, sorted and redirected
- Engaged in circular economy discussions through the Circular Economy Exchange (CEE), contributing to conversations around Digital Product Passport (DPP) frameworks
- Exploring how local participation (repair, reuse, redesign) can connect into wider circular economy systems
- Developing early-stage approaches to community participation within circular value chains
Founder
Wardrobe Works Ltd
Liverpool
1994.01 - 2026.03
- Led wardrobe sourcing and management across 600+ film, TV and commercial productions
- Worked at scale with high volumes of clothing, including sourcing, sorting, reuse and redistribution under tight timelines
- Built and managed networks of designers, stylists, makers and suppliers across UK and internationally
- Delivered training and workshop-based learning within retail and production environments
- Established working studio environment used for fittings, collaboration and hands-on wardrobe development
Creator
NIA (Narratives in Action)
Liverpool
2025.01 - 2026.03
- Designing identity-first framework supporting women to access economic participation, funding pathways and business development
- Focused on addressing confidence, positioning and access barriers prior to skills or finance interventions
- Developed in alignment with work through Savvitas, 1WBW and wider discussions around inclusive economic systems
Founder
Converte World Ltd
London, United Kingdom & Nairobi, Kenya
2020.01 - 2024.01
- Built and tested upcycling model using post-consumer and surplus clothing
- Worked across UK and Kenya to understand how garments move through reuse systems
- Streamlined operations with innovative systems implementation.
- Delivered workshops with Durham University translating circular concepts into practical activity
- Engaged with industry stakeholders exploring waste reduction and reuse
Founder
Tena Na Tena
London, United Kingdom
2017.01 - 2018.01
- Explored second-hand clothing systems and informal reuse economies
- Delivered community-facing sessions around sustainable fashion and reuse
- Worked directly with local sourcing networks and resale channels
Education
BA - Philosophy & Psychology
UNISA
Pretoria, South AfricaSA8000 Social Systems Lead Auditor - Assess design & implementation of SA8000
SGS
Milton Keynes, United KingdomCertificate - Understanding the Environment: A Systems Approach
Open University
OnlineDiploma - Sustainable Business
Alison
OnlineSkills
- Circular economy (practical, community-level application)
- Clothing reuse, repair and redistribution systems
- Community engagement and stakeholder collaboration
- Programme design and facilitation (through partners and networks)
- Project coordination and delivery
- Cross-sector and cross-cultural collaboration
- Innovation development
- Creative collaboration
- Idea generation
Affiliations
- Savvitas (BoardAble Alum)
- 1 Million Business Women (1WBW)
- Circular Economy Exchange
PROGRAMME & COMMUNITY DELIVERY
- Designing initiatives that can be delivered through local partners rather than relying on a single facilitator
- Bringing together designers, makers and participants into collaborative working environments
- Supporting individuals to move from participation into confidence and contribution
- Focus on continuity, ensuring activity can continue beyond initial delivery
Timeline
Creator
NIA (Narratives in Action)
2025.01 - 2026.03
Founder
Converte Global Ltd
2024.01 - 2026.03
Founder
Converte World Ltd
2020.01 - 2024.01
Founder
Tena Na Tena
2017.01 - 2018.01
Founder
Wardrobe Works Ltd
1994.01 - 2026.03
BA - Philosophy & Psychology
UNISA
SA8000 Social Systems Lead Auditor - Assess design & implementation of SA8000
SGS
Certificate - Understanding the Environment: A Systems Approach
Open University
Diploma - Sustainable Business
Alison