I am a highly experienced coach and coach educator working regionally, nationally & internationally with individuals and teams including chief executives, board members, health professionals, senior directors in large organisations and entrepreneurs. As a professional coach with over 10 years experience, my main focus is supporting sustainable individual and organisational change and growth through reflection, learning & action.
Clients include NHS Education for Scotland; Scottish Government; University of Newcastle; National Education Scotland; NHS Scotland Health Boards; Four Housing; Care Inspectorate; Abellio; Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland; Sky UK; Health & Social Care Partnerships; Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS); Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL); the National School of Government; Local Authorities, National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services; the Department for Education & Skills (DfES) and hundreds of individuals.
I am excited and privileged to be an elected Trustee on the Board of the RSA and serve on the Board of the RSA US.
I believe that coaching is a future focused and collaborative process which enables individuals, teams and organisational systems to develop by:
- Reflecting on what they want and are trying to achieve
- Identifying performance and leadership goals
- Identifying challenges, barriers, strengths, & resources
- Problem-solving, developing new knowledge and practical ways to resolve issues
- Using this learning to take action, achieve goals and create change
- Being more conscious, intentional and aware of their impact
- Being able to apply, integrate and sustain the learning in different contexts.
Principles underpinning my coaching philosophy:
- Everyone is naturally creative & resourceful: with the capacity to change, grow and develop
- Coaching can develop the capacity to engage, empower, collaborate and motivate
- Coaching promotes greater confidence, self-knowledge and understanding of others
- The coaching process supports people in recognising the strengths and solutions which work effectively for them in their specific context, clarifying what they most value.
Clients who work with me can expect to experience a safe, non-judgmental, confidential and courageous space in which the coaching is:
- Grounded in a tried and tested robust framework
- Focused on the future and working towards solutions
- Exploratory, reflexive and challenging, with high levels of positivity and creativity
- Tailored and collaborative.
Leadership & management experience
Leader, trainer and consultant for national and regional organisations using coaching as a catalyst and support for leadership development. Extensive experience of leading complex challenges in public sector and private organisations: translating strategy and concepts into implementable models and practice.
Experience includes using coaching and action learning approaches to identify and meet strategic priorities, raise levels of performance and impact to achieve target outcomes. Experienced senior member of Government Standards Unit with high profile national and regional leadership roles formulating strategy, delivering policy and implementing plans.
Responsible for leadership and development of the national coaching strategy and policy for Dept for Education Standards Unit: leading multi-million pound national tender process for the development of Subject Learning Coaches. Member of the Government's National Programme Board for Success for All.
Currently serving on the board of the Gateway Studio Project. Recently served as Director on the Global Board of the Association for Coach Training Organisations (ACTO). Served as Regional Chair of the RSA for the North East of England, and previously also served on the UK International Coach Federation (ICF) Board and as co-Chair of the ICF Global Conference Education Committee.
As Director of Teaching and Learning in a large further education college, I managed a multi-million pound budget and led large teams of management and front-line staff: building capability and providing direction for front line service, product development and curriculum innovation.
Bespoke design and development
Highly experienced in supporting individuals at all levels to build their businesses and teams; use coaching approaches; develop excellence; hold strategic intention and focus, and create change and growth.
Authorised to use a number of feedback tools such as Global Executive leadership Inventory (GELI) , Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Team Diagnostic Assessment (TDI).
Designed and led innovative national coaching and action learning programme on behalf of government to support sustainable change in new collaborative partnerships. Over 1,000 participated. Established national team of coaches committed to reflective practice and personalised learning. The impacts of this programme were highly rated by clients, sponsors, stakeholders, internal and external evaluators.
While Regional Director for DfES, worked with government to create a national programme to train people in coaching in the learning and skills sectors as part of a major change programme. Over 4,000 frontline practitioners were trained to use coaching and action learning approaches and tools with peers.
Qualifications and Training
- The Daring Way - Biering & Hay 2016
- Science of the Art of Coaching – Professor Paul Brown 2015
- Professional Certified Coach – ICF 2014
- Neurobehavioural Modelling Coaching Programme - Professor Paul Brown 2013
- Leadership with Horses - Leaders by Nature 2013
- Authorised Immunity to Change Facilitator – Robert Kegan & Lisa Lahey – Harvard 2011
- Certified Practitioner MBTI Step I and Step II – CAPT 2009
- Certified Organisation and Relationship Systems Coach – CRR 2010
- Brief Solutions Coaching & Team Coaching Masterclasses – ICBC 2009
- Leadership Mastery – CTI France 2008
- Authorised Team Diagnostic Assessment Facilitator –TCI 2008
- Solutions Focussed Coaching – CEL 2007
- Certified Professional Co-Active Coach - CTI 2006
- Graduate Leadership Programme - USA 2004
- Senior Leadership Programme - Hay Group 2002
- See CV here
Membership
- International Coach Federation (ICF)
- Association of Coaching (AC)
- European & Mentoring Coaching Council (EMCC)
- Association for Coach Training Organisations (ACTO)