This system intervention was inspired by a thought from Freud’s, ‘Civilisation and It’s Discontents’ and supported by the Arts Council of England’s Cultural Leadership Programme. It brought together eminent thinkers from different sectors to discuss and debate the key skills required for international working. We were seeking transferable skills and their indicators. The work took place over a number of two day seminars in London and Aston and participants included: Professor Michael Worton (Vice Provost of University College London); Carole Souter (Director of the UK’s Heritage Lottery Fund); Danny Sriskandarajah (Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society), Professor Duncan Higgins (Nottingham Trent University), Anna Brennan (Director, Ironbridge Gorge Museums); Professor Graham Harrison (Sheffield University); and Hermin McIntosh (Executive Director of Kajaans).