About BIRK Consulting

Established in 2021, by Alexander Birk Ege, BIRK Consulting is a small firm specializing in advising and supporting ambitious global climate initiatives.

What we offer

BIRK Consulting provides support with:

  • Executive leadership, offering confidential external sparring for leaders of international climate philanthropies

  • Leading the development of new strategies, whether organizational or programmatic

  • Offering sparring, stress-testing and improving early stage ideas to increase their chances of becoming a reality

  • Establishing, refining or expanding networks of purpose-driven organisations to enhance collective impact

  • Assisting in the creation of new organisations, institutions or networks

  • Assessing existing strategies or reviewing incoming proposals and ideas

  • Running time-bound, clearly defined, climate campaigns or projects

If you have a need, that is not described here - do not hesitate to reach out.

 

Our approach

BIRK Consulting works exclusively with people and organizations committed to ambitious climate action, driving the strategies and approaches urgently needed to prevent climate catastrophe. Our approach is grounded in what science tells us is necessary.

We aim to understand what you want to achieve, and from there, we can suggest the best ways to achieve those results. Our approach is people-centered, with a strong emphasis on co-creation, inclusion, and ensuring ownership among all involved stakeholders.

Our expertise is on strategy development and implementation. Within the climate field we especially focuses on energy transition, energy and climate politics, hard-to-abate sectors, short-lived climate pollutants, strategic communications, and sustainable finance.

We have experience working on both community-rooted campaigns and strategies that involve collaboration with governments and corporations.

Our specialty lies in working with philanthropy, translating philanthropic goals and ambitions into impactful grant-making strategies.

 

Who is Alexander?

  • I am a 40-year-old Dane living in Copenhagen with my wife and two daughters.

  • I hold a Master's in International Development Studies and EU Studies from Roskilde University.

  • I have spent the majority of my life working to address climate change, eradicate poverty, and enhance human and minority rights.

  • I’ve been part of executive leadership teams at several foundations and funds, including the KR Foundation, Global Methane Hub, and most recently as Chief Programmes and Strategy Officer at Quadrature Climate Foundation.

  • I am an experienced line manager, including managing managers.

  • I have built philanthropic systems, such as grant-making, KPI monitoring, and governance structures, from the ground up multiple times.

  • As a philanthropic programme director across several organizations, I have overseen grant-making of approximately USD 500 million.

  • I have been involved in founding new organizations and initiatives, coordinating efforts among more than 100 foundations, and securing over USD 30 million in support.

  • I have overseen climate strategy development in Europe, the US, South-East and East Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa, covering areas such as finance (public and private), communications, policy processes, power sector transformation, oil and gas transitions, coal phase-outs, methane mitigation, CDR, critical minerals, and high-level political commitments.

  • I have helped found and shepherd global government initiatives.

  • I have also worked for several NGOs, including CARE, ActionAid, and CAN-International, as well as the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Why BIRK?

First and foremost, "Birk" is Alexander's middle name. It's the Danish word for birch trees (fun fact: the surname "Ege" means oak trees!).

Second, the birch tree is one of many species that will be endangered by rampant climate change—much like Alexander himself. One of the driving forces behind Alexander starting BIRK Consulting was the urgency and the need to do everything possible to stop climate change.

Finally, there's a cautionary tale related to birch trees. In the 1990s and early 2000s, many Danish (and likely other European) cities sought to quickly increase their "green areas." Since birch trees are easy to plant, relatively cheap, and low-maintenance, many cities chose to plant an extraordinary number of them. However, birch trees also produce a large amount of pollen. As a result, the widespread planting of birch trees in Danish cities led to a significant rise in pollen allergies, especially to birch pollen.

This serves as a reminder that the easy and quick solution may not always be the best long-term one—something BIRK Consulting keeps in mind.