About Unfolding

Unfolding is a strategic consultancy that helps towns, cities, and regions navigate the complexities of digital transformation and the evolution toward smarter, more connected communities.

Unfolding is owned and operated by Chris Dymond, a digital technology strategist and smart cities expert with over 30 years of experience at the interface between technology and society.

Chris has a rich background that bridges software design, public policy, and digital innovation. Starting as a software engineer in the very early days of the web, he went on to co-found Shift F7 Design Ltd, delivering the first generation of web and mobile-based digital services to blue-chip clients, public sector bodies and startups alike. Following the .com era, Chris pivoted to academia, earning a first-class honours degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities and a master’s degree in International Politics focused on global Internet governance. This interdisciplinary grounding enables him to connect digital technologies with broader social, economic, and political systems—a vital skill in the context of smart cities.

Chris has since worked at the intersection of technology, cities, and civic innovation. Since 2021 as Academic Director of the International Smart City Management Programme at Zigurat Institute of Technology, he helps prepare the next generation of smart city leaders. He is also a visiting lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, teaching courses in digital ecosystems, service design, and design thinking.

Beyond education, Chris also co-founded Sheffield Digital, the city's association for the digital industries, and is the producer and host of SmartSheffield, a event series that convenes people and organisations interested in the digital transformation of places. Since 2012, he serves as a director and trustee of the UTC Sheffield Multi-Academy Trust, supporting the strategic direction of specialist technical education for young people, and is also Entrepreneur in Residence at the Sheffield Business School, where he advises students and staff on digital innovation and enterprise. His projects span from high-level strategy to on-the-ground implementation, including work with city councils, universities, and innovation clusters.

Chris started Unfolding to operate on the belief that digital transformation should serve the public interest, enhance quality of life, and foster inclusive innovation.

Over the last decade, Chris has led or contributed to a wide range of smart city-related projects that illustrate Unfolding's practical impact and deep domain expertise:

  • Digital Island Programme (Isle of Wight Council) – Led early engagement and co-development of the island's digital regeneration strategy. The work helped position the Isle of Wight as a leader in place-based digital strategy and earned Smart Island of the Year recognition at the Smart Island World Congress in 2018.

  • SmartSheffield – Co-founded and curated a long-running series of public meetups and workshops that brought together technologists, planners, academics, and citizens to explore how emerging technologies could improve urban life in the city.

  • Stakeholder Consultations and Expert Reports – Led and contributed to numerous multi-sector consultations focused on economic strategy, digital infrastructure including public Wi-Fi, digital inclusion programmes, and regional digital skills initiatives. These engagements have informed local and regional policy and produced strategic plans that continue to guide public sector digital and economic decision-making.

  • SmartSheffield Report – Commissioned by the Sheffield First Partnership, this project mapped the landscape of smart city actors and initiatives across the city, identifying opportunities for greater alignment, innovation, and collaboration.

  • BiDiS (Big Data in Sheffield) – Supported a multi-institutional partnership between the city council, NHS trusts, and universities to explore secure and ethical data sharing for public good.

  • Digital Capability Framework for Sheffield City Council – Contributed to the development of a strategic framework for assessing and improving the council’s internal digital capabilities and service delivery potential.

  • Sheffield Things Network – Played a key role in establishing a city-wide Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure for experimentation and civic innovation using LoRaWAN technology.

  • Digital Transformation Workshops for South Yorkshire Police – Designed and facilitated a series of workshops for South Yorkshire Police to explore the implications of emerging digital technologies, assess organisational readiness, and identify strategic priorities for digital transformation in policing and public safety.

These projects demonstrate Unfolding’s ability to work across scales and sectors, translating complex technology trends into actionable, place-based strategies that benefit communities.

In almost all cases, Chris acts as the lead or lone consultant and brings in trusted domain specialists as and when required.