APDO SIGs (Julie, Julia, Stephanie, Karen)
Introduction to the Productivity SIG
About the Productivity SIG
Established in 2021, the Productivity SIG (Special Interest Group) provides a welcoming space for APDO members who are interested in supporting clients with productivity — whether it is already a specialism or an area they would like to develop.
We meet monthly to share ideas, resources and experiences, with a particular focus on how productivity support fits alongside organising work. A key principle of the group is that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach: just as every home or business is different, so every client needs a system tailored to them.
By building a broad toolkit of approaches, organisers can help clients discover ways of working that genuinely suit their circumstances, abilities and wellbeing.
At conference, the SIG core team — Julie, Julia, Karen and Stephanie — will each introduce a different aspect of productivity work: supporting clients at home, working with businesses, building a “second brain”, and using planning to support wellbeing.
Whether you already offer productivity support or are simply looking for new ways to help clients move forward, we hope these sessions will give you practical ideas and confidence to try them.
SIG Member Bios
Stephanie
Stephanie Rough is the founder of The Organised Zone, supporting busy families and individuals to create calm, organised homes through practical systems that save time and reduce overwhelm.
A working mum of three, Stephanie is passionate about productivity that supports real life — not perfection. Her work focuses on creating sustainable systems such as Family Command Centres and life admin routines that help households (and businesses) run more smoothly.
With over 20 years’ experience working with private clients and small businesses, Stephanie brings a people-centred approach to productivity. She is an award-winning organiser and regular speaker, having appeared on stages including Ideal Home Show and Home Life & You LIVE.
As part of the APDO Productivity SIG, Stephanie enjoys exploring how organisers can apply productivity principles not just for clients, but within their own businesses and working lives.
https://www.theorganisedzone.co.uk/
Julia
Julia Jamieson is a Professional Organiser and Productivity Coach, and the founder of Orka Living, supporting busy people to create calmer, more organised lives through simple, realistic systems. She helps clients cut through paperwork overload, digital clutter and mental load so they can focus on what truly matters, without striving for perfection.
Julia’s warm, realistic approach blends practical tools with empathy, making productivity feel achievable rather than overwhelming. Much of her work centres on Paperless Living and “Building a Second Brain”, helping people create digital systems that hold information, reduce stress and support everyday life.
She works one-to-one with clients and delivers talks and workshops on productivity, life admin and sustainable organisation, both in homes and organisations. Audiences and clients leave with clarity, confidence and straightforward strategies they can use immediately. Julia supports individuals, families and organisations across the UK and has been an active member APDO for nearly 5 years.
Karen
Karen joined APDO back in 2019. She’s now one of the training team and has been involved with the Productivity SIG from the beginning, as well as helping to set up the Sustainability SIG. For her, productivity isn't about 'efficiency' – it’s a way for us all to get the most out of life. She recognises that’ll look different for each of us, so she enjoys working with clients to find whichever strategies work best for them and to provide support along the way. She’s also recently started Planning Club – a supportive online group for anyone who has a lot going on, giving some regular time to reflect & plan… and she’s on a mission to get more people to appreciate the power of planning as a self-care tool, as she believes that it can be just as good for our wellbeing as a yoga class or gym session!
Julie
Julie Stevens founded Younique Designs in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades working with people at points of change. With a degree in Interior Design and Architecture, she began in commercial workspace design before moving into residential design and home staging, training with Ann Maurice as one of the early UK Home Stagers.
Through this work she recognised that lasting change in a space often depends on the habits and behaviours of the people living and working in it, which drew her to decluttering and professional organising.
Now a certified Co-Creative Transformational Coach, Julie continues to work with career professionals — doctors, dentists, vets and lawyers etc who are approaching a new season of life and re-thinking their purpose, legacy and what comes next beyond their professional identity.
A naturally curious designer and coach, Julie is interested in how people adapt to change. Her recent exploration of AI tools and how they can be used in business pulls together even more her passion for seeing people embrace change positively and with confidence in order to live brilliantly.
