Business development consultancy for culture, heritage and landscapes

Authentic. Sustainable. Creative.

Eagle & Oak

We are an independent business development consultancy working with cultural, heritage and landscape places. Our work is based on authenticity, sustainability and creativity and informed by over twenty years of varied experience in all four corners of England.

Founded by Jon O’Donoghue in 2022, Eagle & Oak brings together consultants in all areas of culture, heritage, and landscapes to ensure clients can face the future with understanding, confidence, and excitement.

The kind words of others

  • "Jon has an incredible ability to come up with truly unique and creative ideas and then develop these concepts into a truly remarkable reality. His flair, drive, enthusiasm and creativity is such a rare and awe-inspiring combination, it is not difficult to see why he gains the respect, gratitude, and support from both his team and fellow directors. Being a Finance Director myself, I have been repeatedly impressed with the quality of financial information contained within any proposal Jon brings to the table. Jon has a very unique ability of being able to see ‘the big picture’. He is not just an ideas man, but can take a concept, consider the wider implications and deliver a well-thought-out business plan. He can then effectively and efficiently turn these plans into reality."

    Lyndsey Short, Fellow Member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

  • "Jon is a charismatic change maker whose values-driven work has real social impact. He has a strong instinct for what really matters to people and understands how to build new community based programming in a way that empowers even the most reticent and reluctant individuals. If I ever need help to design a new strategy to engage my local community with heritage, and to draw out their own most compelling stories, Jon would be the one to work with. He understands the methodology, and how to communicate well, and all the operational processes, but most importantly he creates heart felt work that gives us all courage to be brave enough to bring our talents to the fore and be the change we want to see."

    Cathy Pütz, Director of Programmes, Derby Museums

  • “Jon has a deep understanding of how to make visitor attractions successful – in the broadest possible sense. He’s transformed our understanding of how to consider the value we have in our visitor offer. This has absolutely included considering opportunities for effective and appropriate commercial success, but far more important to the way Jon approaches each site is in leading organisations to grasp what makes their places special, and the social, cultural and natural value they have to share with visitors. Jon has helped us to see what is at the heart of what will make us a great place to visit!”

    John Castling, Archaeologist, Binchester Earth

  • "Jon encourages you to be playful and creatively fearless within your work. With an infectious sense of fun, he provided incredible leadership mentoring at the start of my career in visitor experience. His ability to listen to challenges and meet them with supportive solutions gave me the confidence to truly realise my potential as a manager able to lead teams effectively."

    Beth Nicholls, Creative Practitioner

  • "The fact that Jon's ability to understand sense of place is matched by his creativity makes him a compelling presence in a project team."

    Robyn Brown, National Trust Senior Cultural Leader

  • "Jon quickly understood the opportunities of such an iconic site as St Michael's Mount but also the challenges of thousands of people visiting the island each day. He used his resourcefulness and creativity to work through both of these."

    Ramon Van de Velde, Managing Director of the Lost Gardens of Heligan and former CEO of St Aubyn Estates

  • “I always enjoyed working with Jon as he brought enormous energy to even difficult issues. He made good use of numbers to inform significant decisions and explore different scenarios – such as extending opening hours and reviewing the boating operations at St Michael’s Mount”

    Jessica, Finance Director

Authentic

Sustainable

Creative