Ben Satchwell

As Head of Capabilities at Acorn, I design the systems that connect what people can do, what they want to do, and what their organisation needs them to do.

My lane is specific: capability frameworks, competency frameworks, skills taxonomies, and position descriptions.

I build and implement these globally from mid-sized 200 person software companies to large 10K plus complex organisations, the goal being to turn the theory into processes and technology that (on good days) actually help people and businesses grow.

The work sits across client advisory, workforce design and product strategy. The goal never changes though: bring some humanity back into performance, capability, and learning, ideally without anyone losing the will to live.

Alongside Acorn, I write regularly for Training Journal Magazine and facilitate with the Australian HR Institute, exploring how capability frameworks, AI, and behavioural science can make work more meaningful, fair, and slightly less bureaucratic.

At heart I believe something simple: better capability design makes better workplaces, and better workplaces make better lives. That’s the point, really.