Meet The Team
Learn more about the Integrity Coaching Associate team.
Integrity Coaching Associates
Find out more about the associates that work for Integrity Coaching with related expert interviews and leadership think pieces.
Viv Grant
Founder & Director
Viv Grant is widely recognised as an expert in Inner Leadership, an integral concept that underpins all facets of effective School Leadership, including Anti-Racist work.
With a fervent commitment to fostering deeper, more authentic leadership practices, Viv passionately advocates cultivating the five Cs of Inner Leadership: Curiosity, Commitment, Courage, Compassion, and Connection.
These principles form the cornerstone of her innovative approach, empowering school leaders to navigate challenges with resilience and empathy. Viv’s model, born from over three decades of experience and a deep understanding of educational leadership, equips leaders with the tools to embrace complexity and drive meaningful change within their institutions.
Guiding Transformation through Coaching & Public Speaking
As an Executive Coach, Author, Public Speaker and Director of Integrity Coaching, London’s leading provider of leadership coaching services for MATs and schools, Viv leads by example, guiding Headteachers and senior school leaders on a transformative journey towards holistic leadership. Through her coaching and speaking engagements, she ignites a sense of purpose and possibility, inspiring leaders to lead with authenticity and vision.
A sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, Viv captivates audiences with her profound insights and unwavering dedication to empowering educational leaders. Her acclaimed book, “Staying A Head,” continues to shape the discourse on leadership and well-being in education.
Recognised as an expert in the field, she has contributed to various books and periodicals on the subject. As an expert commentator, her contributions have also been featured in The Guardian, London Live, Sky News, Radio Four, Woman’s Hour and the World at One.
Viv has also been an Advisory Board member of the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools at The Carnegie School of Education, Leeds Beckett University.
Pioneering Race Equity
In addition to her expertise in Inner Leadership, coaching and wellbeing, Viv is a trailblazer in Race Equity and Diversity initiatives, leveraging her expertise to foster inclusive educational environments. She has played a lead role in developing EDI programmes, with a particular focus on race, for The Institute of Education, The DfE, The NHS, The Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman, The former NUT and a large number of LA’s.
Currently pursuing her PhD, Viv’s research explores the intersection of Anti-Racism, School Leadership, and Wholeness, further cementing her status as a thought leader in the field.
Inspired by…
“a quote from American author and social activist: “I was certain that the task for those of us who chose this vocation was to be holistically questing for self-actualisation. Her words remind me that each and every day, the steps that I take to be the best version of myself (even when times are tough), I do not only for myself but for those who I am called to be in relationship with.”
Viv’s Story
Isolation, stress and tears … the truth about being a headteacher
Read Viv’s full story and what inspired her to create Integrity Coaching.
Read the Article >>
Hannah Dalton
Head of Client Relations
Hannah Dalton joined Integrity Coaching in May 2023, bringing with her over fifteen years of expertise in client relations, sales, and leadership.
Throughout her career, particularly in hospitality and sales, Hannah has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to her clients, ensuring a transparent, efficient, and personalised experience.
In her current role, Hannah supports MAT Leaders, Headteachers, and Senior School Leaders as they embark on their journey towards 1:1 or team coaching, or one of Integrity Coaching’s transformative programmes. She takes immense pride in contributing to the company’s mission: empowering educational executive leaders to reach their fullest potential, both professionally and personally, thereby inspiring future generations.
Having experienced the profound impact of coaching herself, Hannah is a firm believer in its power to create positive change. If you’re curious about how our approach can benefit you, your team, or your organisation, Hannah would love to connect with you. Don’t hesitate to book a call – she’s eager to help you explore the possibilities.
Inspired by…
“It is important to expect nothing, to take every experience, including the negative ones, as merely steps on the path, and to proceed.” – Ram Dass
Rachel Joshi
Head of Marketing
Rachel Joshi joined Integrity Coaching in July 2024, bringing with her over 22 years of experience in marketing and sales.
Throughout her career in large corporates as well as small agencies, Rachel has shown commitment to applying targeted insight- led strategy across the marketing mix.
In addition to her Marketing and commercial experience, Rachel is also a qualified Health & Wellbeing Coach with a Diploma in Health Coaching from the College of Naturopathic Medicine. Rachel is passionate about supporting individuals with their health & wellbeing to obtain the right balance in their lives for optimal health. In her current role, Rachel works closely with Hannah and the team to help understand and support MAT Leaders, Headteachers, and Senior School Leaders as they embark on their journey towards 1:1 or team coaching, or one of Integrity Coaching’s transformative programmes.
Inspired by…
““Don’t ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility. Make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn’t.” – Michelle Obama
Giles Barrow
Associate
Giles started out in education as an English teacher in a secondary modern school in south London, where he was born and bred.
He then moved into work in specialist contexts, including off-site provision for youngsters excluded from school or at risk of custody, eventually leading local authority support services for schools across the age range.
Since those early days Giles trained in Transactional Analysis, a psycho-dynamic model providing a useful educational psychology for making sense of the relational aspects of teaching and learning.
Nowadays Giles lives in Suffolk where he runs a smallholding and offers workshops on a range of themes including school leadership, educational inclusion, ecological education and personal growth for all those working with people. He writes on similar topics in a number of journals and has published several titles on Transactional Analysis and Education.
As an Associate at Integrity Coaching, Giles has been a regular coach working with Headteachers and senior leadership teams for many years. He was also involved in the early stages of developing and delivering our Race, Identity and School Leadership (RISL) programme, facilitating the conferences on the theme of love in education.
Giles is a Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst, has a PGCEd, a Post-Grad Certificate in SEN, a Masters in English Literature and a Masters in Education. He recently completed his PhD in Educational Philosophy.
Inspired by…
“Some great teachers both past and present. I continue to be astonished at just how powerful educators can be in touching the lives of their students.”
Expert Interview
How to Support New Headteachers
In this expert interview, Giles explains why he believes that new Headteachers need a unique form of support, that is rarely made available to them.
Read the Interview >>
Pat Joseph
Associate
Pat is a Leadership Development and Executive Coach. She describes herself as being ‘passionate about people’ and is driven by supporting others to make positive progress in their lives and learning.
She is keen to support people as they come against their ‘growth edges’ and help them explore their way through and beyond.
Pat’s foundations are in education and social care, having over 30 years of experience supporting inclusive practice in these areas. She has worked in the statutory, voluntary, and private sectors and was a business owner for over 18 years, running a values-led training business which supported frontline workers to improve their practice when working with vulnerable families. During this time Pat worked to deliver national training programmes on behalf of the government’s Children’s Workforce Development Council. She is committed to values-based leadership and has used this approach to inform her work.
Pat is committed to raising awareness of and addressing inequalities that particularly impact black communities, and delivers our Race, Identity and School Leadership (RISL) programme. She has worked towards addressing injustice and promoting anti-racist practice through her work in both the statutory and the voluntary sectors.
Pat currently spends much of her time working as a Leadership Development Coach, working predominantly with CEOs and Senior Leaders within the social sector. She runs 1:1 coaching, group coaching, delivers resilience workshops, and takes a systemic view of coaching – very much through a Transactional Analysis lens. She sees herself as a coach who comes alongside clients and supports then to unlock their resourcefulness in the spirit of being the best version of themselves.
Pat couldn’t name a favourite book, but loves reading and has been in her book club for over 20 years. She is also a fan of walking, particularly around coastal paths of the UK – favourite locations include the Pembrokeshire coast, and the Northumberland coastal path.
Inspired by…
“Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear, I rise.” – Maya Angelou
Expert Interview
What is Values-Based Leadership
In this expert interview, Pat Joseph considers what is values-based leadership and why it is so important for Headteachers and leaders working in schools today.
Read the Interview >>
Mark Bisson
Associate
Mark is a leadership and executive coach with experience in strategic transformation.
He started his career as a civil engineer and then moved on to senior management roles in strategy and performance.
This was followed by leadership roles in Children’s social care, Education and Youth services.
Mark has been coaching and mentoring for 20 years with senior management and executive clients in the commercial, public and 3rd sectors. He also specialises in mental health and well-being coaching. Mark is author of Coach Yourself First- A coach’s guide to self- reflection.
He has an M.A. in applied coaching and is a university lecturer. In 2019 Mark published George: The Cat who Lost His Confidence, a book aimed at supporting children in building their inner confidence through the use of coaching approaches.
Mark is motivated by a desire to support individuals learn, develop and gain new awareness about themselves. He believes that enabling the client to adjust their relationship with a topic and to shift their attitude, assumptions, beliefs, thinking or behaviour is key to them identifying new goals and building personal responsibility to take action.
Inspired by…
A quote from Paulo Freire from his book Pedagogy of the Oppressed “Looking at the past must only be a means of understanding more clearly what and who you are – so you can more wisely build the future.”
Leadership Think Piece
3 Tips to Effective Self-Reflection
Mark Bisson shares the 3 secrets that has learnt from his reflective practice over the last few decades that have enhanced his understanding of others both in his professional and personal life…
Read the Article >>
Lildonia Lawrence
Associate
Lildonia is a seasoned wellbeing coach, and equality and diversity trainer, with over a decade of dedicated service in education leadership.
Specialising in BIPOC wellbeing, anti-racism advocacy, and equitable healthcare, she passionately champions universal access to top-tier mental health and wellbeing education, particularly for marginalised groups.
Through transformative workplace training, group programmes, and personalised coaching, Lildonia empowers individuals, particularly people of colour, by integrating healing from racial trauma with comprehensive anti-racism education. Her work aims to create inclusive environments where everyone can thrive autonomously and share their empowerment with others.
In April 2025, Trigger Publishing will release her book, “Back Yourself – A Wellbeing Guide to Healing from Racial Trauma,” a crucial resource for navigating and healing from racial trauma in educational settings and beyond.
Inspired by…
Trisha Hersey’s nap ministry, her book Rest is Resistance, and her radical approach to rest as resistance against colonialism and as an act of radical self-care.
Madhu Bhachu
Associate
Madhu’s motivation is seeing children and adults flourish through mentoring, coaching and inspiring leadership.
She has worked in education for 20 years and has recently been a headteacher. She currently works as a Quality and Partnership lead for SEN and Inclusion for a London Local Authority and is a qualified transformational coach.
Throughout her teaching and leadership career she has been devoted to exploring and developing relevant and creative solutions to improve the quality of education that we provide for the children in her school and beyond.
Now as a qualified transformational coach, she wants to support School Leaders and walk alongside them on the wonderful yet challenging role of leadership. She believes that supporting leaders will enable them to be more effective at their job but also happier individuals which ultimately has an impact on the experience our children have in school.
Inspired by…
“The resilient and strong children and young people that I have had the pleasure to teach over the years. They teach me something new every day and inspire me to be the best leader that I can be.”
Joshua Okunlola
Associate
Joshua is a seasoned facilitator and executive coach with over a decade of experience in guiding individuals and teams towards personal and professional excellence.
With a rich background spanning multiple sectors including corporate, education, and charity, Joshua brings a diverse skill set when partnering with his clients. Having navigated the unique challenges of each sector, he is able to adapt and tailor his facilitation approach to meet the specific needs of diverse environments and is committed to creating inclusive and equitable spaces.
Joshua has facilitated the RISL programme for a number of schools, successfully facilitating dialogues on race with headteachers and recognising the importance of addressing diversity and promoting understanding in educational leadership.
One of Joshua’s key strengths is his extensive training in Advanced Transactional Analysis – a powerful psychological framework for exploring the intricacies of human interactions, fostering meaningful connection, and facilitating transformative change.
With a wealth of experience, a profound understanding of human dynamics, and a passion for constructing compelling narratives, he is a catalyst for empowering individuals and teams on their journey to success and fulfilment.
Joshua is a father of 5 and in his spare time, he enjoys keeping fit, baking, and spending time with his children.
Inspired by…
The book of proverbs: Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.
Leadership Think Piece
Why Reflective Spaces are Key to Growth
Why is having reflective spaces so important as a School Leader, and how can they support one’s developmental journey?
Read the Article >>
Sam Jayasuriya
Associate
Sam is a Leadership Energy Coach certified by the ICF to PCC level. Working with leaders in education and business, Sam is a somatic coach who coaches the whole person; the head, heart and gut.
Sam has a 30-year background in the education sector and was a Headteacher in 3 separate schools. She has been part of two Co-Headships in her career. Sam’s experience of working with a huge range of people across different cultures, economic and social backgrounds, gives her the strength of connecting with others. As a trained Resilience practitioner, Sam helps leaders dispel the myths around resilience which can have an enormous negative impact on their lives. She believes that the most valuable things in life cannot be seen – love, friendship, hope, trust, compassion and integrity, yet these are the essential requirements to achieving harmony.
Sam is the lead facilitator of our Essential Coaching Skills Programme, where she teaches participants a range of coaching techniques and tools to manage performance of those they lead, and to support the development of embedding a supportive coaching culture in their schools. She delivers Headteacher coaching circles and coaches 1-2-1. She also specialises in working around resilience, seasonal wellbeing, and in helping schools to develop coaching cultures in their contexts.
Sam seeks to live a creative life. She lives with her partner and two sons, and a very bouncy dog.
Inspired by…
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – Antoine de Saint-Expury
Expert Interview
Wellbeing And What It Means To Me
How can School Leaders safeguard their own wellbeing and develop a culture of well-being in their School? Find out in this expert interview with Samantha Jayasuriya.
Read the Interview >>
Tim Small
Associate
Tim’s deep interest in learning and leadership is grounded in twenty-seven years’ experience of teaching and leading in six comprehensive schools, culminating in a headship in Wiltshire.
He has practised for fifteen years as an education consultant, working across the UK and in Australia, Denmark, Malaysia and the Middle East, field-testing and reporting the impact of University of Bristol research into Learning Power in practice.
Tim has coached education and business leaders in a range of challenging contexts, working alongside them on improving their own and their organisations’ resilient agency and capacity for transformation. He has contributed articles and chapters to prestigious, peer-reviewed publications on leadership, learning and values education and he is passionate about integrating the accountability agenda with a humanity agenda.
Based in the West Country near Bristol, he was a governor of a village primary school for twelve years and completed advanced training in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy at the Berne Institute, near Nottingham, with a small private practice, including Psychological Wellbeing groups for serving Headteachers.
Inspired by…
…the words and wisdom of Parker J. Palmer, helping us to ‘re-integrate the inner work with the life-giving outer work’ and found our profession upon identity and integrity.
Expert Interview
Building Learning Power
In a short interview, Tim discusses the emerging research into “Learning Power” and how the findings can be used to benefit both Schools and their leaders.
Read the Interview >>
Barbara McCleery
Associate
Barbara is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and Coach with more than thirty years’ consultancy experience operating at all levels in an organisation, from front line teams to senior management level, within the public and blue-chip private sectors.
She has lived and worked in Asia as an HR Consultant for a multi-national organisation, and has considerable experience coaching senior managers from a diverse range of backgrounds. Her approach is to provide solution-based and goal-focused coaching to leaders (and rising stars) to move them beyond their perceived limits and, in so doing, enhance their performance and agility. She has worked closely with members of a global senior level talent pool within a large multi-national organisation, helping individuals realise their potential and be their best selves. She has a highly empathetic and intuitive approach to coaching and is passionate about facilitating another’s development; creating space for reflection and growth of self-awareness, and ultimately allowing the individual to nurture their aspirations in pursuit of personal fulfilment and authenticity.
Inspired by…
“The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.” – George Bernard Shaw
Expert Interview
How to Manage & Develop Talent
Talent Management is an organisation’s ability to recruit, retain and produce the most talented employees – but how can this be done in a School context?
Read the Interview >>
Claire Stewart-Hall
Associate
Claire is an executive coach who supports leaders and organisations to reflect on how values and beliefs are connected to leadership growth. She develops leaders’ self-efficacy to interact with impacting organizational systems of which they are part.
Her coaching supports development of internal processes and structures which can be used to unlock inner agency and leadership.
Claire served as a leader and Headteacher in the UK in urban areas of economic disadvantage and poverty and has a wealth of experience in supporting creativity, optimism and self-organising systems to enable positive cultures to grow.
Her PhD research is focused on diversity and whiteness in leadership and how institutions can develop discourse and processes to create equitable and inclusive cultures.
Claire uses transformational coaching to facilitate internal values work that deepen and strengthen clients’ confidence to take action. She uses a blend of transformational and psycho-dynamic coaching approaches, alongside her research of organisational, transactional and inter-group theory and andragogy (adult learning) within organisations.
Claire believes answers to our own development lie within us. She uses creative tools, such as, images, words, puppets and narratives, for unlocking and building rapport and creates trust to offer people time to reflect on their current situations and evolve ways they want to grow internal and external narratives.
Inspired by…
‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.’ – James Baldwin
Leadership Think Piece
Why Schools Fail to Tackle Racism
In this expert think-piece, Claire Stewart-Hall explores why schools often fail to address racism and why white teachers must learn to talk about race.
Read the Article >>
Thérèse Hoyle
Associate
Thérèse is a highly sought after Leadership Coach, Mentor, Coach Trainer and Educational Consultant with over 25 years’ experience.
She has held International Coach Federation (ICF) Certification, PCC level since 2006, is an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) accredited coach and trainer, DISC Behavioural Styles Practitioner, and Action Learning Set facilitator.
Therese’s greatest desire is to see people thrive and flourish in their career and role. Driven by a passion for creating positive and harmonious organisational cultures, she supports individuals and teams in reaching their full and true potential in this ever-changing landscape.
She specialises in Coaching, Leadership, Management Development and Educational Consulting. Thérèse advises schools and organisations nationally and internationally on all aspects of behaviour management, outdoor play and learning, wellbeing, leadership and organisational development. Her work focuses on building positive relationships in organisations through coaching, communication, behavioural assessments programmes and strong leadership to maximise performance. She loves working with people to create happy and productive teams and workplaces that are built on trust, respect, collaboration, and continuous learning. She aims to draw out practical solutions that support people to be the best they can possibly be both in their workplace and in their lives.
Thérèse’s work has been featured in a Department for Education, anti-bullying video and numerous UK publications and Education journals. She is also a writer and author of three published books, 101 Playground Games, 101 Wet Playtime Games and Activities and The Big Book of Whole School Wellbeing.
Inspired by…
“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again… as if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly” – Theodore Roosevelt
Expert Interview
How can School Leaders improve Staff Well-being?
In this expert interview, Thérèse Hoyle shares some strategies, tips and tools that School Leaders can use to improve and support staff well-being.
Read the Interview >>
Suzanne Holt
Associate
Suzanne is a Leadership Coach and Facilitator with over 17 years’ experience supporting public sector leaders with organisational culture and behaviour change.
She describes her first introduction to coaching as transformational and the closest thing to workplace magic she has ever experienced. She is passionate about helping her clients to discover and use their unique talents, strengths and potential.
Suzanne is the lead facilitator of our Essential Coaching Skills Programme in the North. Drawing on her ILM coaching accreditation to share a range of coaching techniques and tools to help school leaders improve the performance of those they lead. Creating a learning environment where they can prepare to create and sustain a supportive coaching culture in their school or Trust.
Suzanne’s foundations are in Behavioural Science, graduating from The University of Huddersfield with First Class Honours and a fascination with human behaviour. She has spent her career in Local Government, focusing on how we can transform services by making small changes that add up to a big difference. She has a strong track record of influencing and leading organisational change. Using her background in Behavioural Science and keen interest in neuroscience and positive psychology, she brings an evidence-based approach to coaching. Her clients value the support, insight, and gentle challenge she provides, helping them to develop and grow.
Suzanne has an ILM 7 Executive Coaching qualification and a commitment to personal and professional development. She is motivated by a desire to help people to see who they are at their best and bravest so they can show up like that in all situations.
Suzanne enjoys drawing and walking – from getting her steps in on the school run to tackling some of West Yorkshire’s moorland and hills.
Inspired by…
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better” – Maya Angelou
Rabiya Mckeverne
Associate
Rabiya is an Executive Coach, NLP Trainer and a Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Teacher. She has an MA in Applied Coaching, an MSc in Health Psychology and is an academic supervisor on the MA for Neuro-coaching at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
Her speciality is supporting leaders to build resilience to navigate their often complex personal and professional lives, so that they can show up as the best versions of themselves, and experience peace, fulfilment and joy.
Rabiya delivers a variety of short and long-term courses on mindfulness, self-care and self-compassion. As a trauma-sensitive trainer with a lifelong interest in mindfulness, she regularly brings that and her background in health psychology to support individuals and groups to better cope with stress, depression, and anxiety.
Her earlier career echoes her passion for developing others but also her passion for inclusion, reducing inequalities and improving individual and communities’ quality of life. In all these inclusion roles, she worked directly with diverse Black and South Asian communities and collaborated with a host of agencies from education, social services, police, NHS, charity sector and art and culture on projects to reduce the impact of socio-economic determinants on health. She continues to feel passionate about inequalities in society. The tragic death of George Floyd and the need to address continuing social injustice in society led her to Integrity, where she now delivers the Race, Identity and School Leadership (RISL) programme alongside one-to-one coaching for senior leaders in race literacy, as well as executive coaching.
Rabiya likes running and every week, rain or shine, she will roll out of bed on Saturday morning to join her run club. She’s a member of the School of Meditation and has attended for half of her life now. Her favourite book is I Am, I Create by Erin Werley.
Inspired by…
“In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you”
– Deepak Choptra
Liz Sproat
Associate
Liz is an ICF certified group and executive coach and facilitator. She’s passionate about authentic leadership and will help you unlock the confidence and skills necessary to be the best leader you can!
Over the last 30 years’ Liz has led teams dedicated to improving learning outcomes for some of the world’s most well known companies – from Pearson Education, to Google and Lego. She’s built a reputation for developing teams renowned for their learning culture and psychological safety. As an executive coach, her focus remains in the commercial education and teaching and learning sector. She coaches senior level leaders in a range of companies as well as Heads and Deputy Heads looking to enhance their leadership skills. She’ll create a safe space for you to reflect, be constructively challenged and move forward with tangible next steps. She’s committed to helping you grow personally, professionally and often both!
Inspired by…
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou
Hazel Hyslop
Associate
Hazel is an Accredited Systemic Psychotherapist, Professional Executive Coach, Leadership Trainer/Facilitator.
She holds a Degree in Nursing, BSc Hons in Psychology, MSc in Systemic Psychotherapy, Postgrad Dip in Coaching, Postgrad Dip in Systemic Supervision. Hazel is professionally accredited by the UKCP, AFT and AC.
Hazel has over 25 years of working in the NHS and additionally working in social care and third sector, in clinical, leadership and training roles. She has experience of working across multi-cultural contexts and has worked in inner and outer London boroughs such as Hackney, Tri-boroughs, Essex, Kent and the West Midlands as well as Globally with the NHS, Social Care, Third sectors and Marketing Agencies. Hazel now works independently delivering Executive and Leadership Coaching, Individual, Couple and Family therapy. She also works as a Clinical Supervisor to individuals and organisations and currently teaches on the Systemic Management and Leadership Programme in Public and third sector at the Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust. Hazel believes that change in individuals and groups should be an inside/out process. That is, to be effective, in our work, our relationships and our organisation, there must be firstly an inner change, which then transfers into outer actions. This starts with a process of figuring out who you are, what your values are, what drives you. Hazel integrates her training in Psychology, Systemic Psychotherapy, Mental health nursing and Coaching as well as her Intuition to connect to her clients. Hazel is passionate about working with women in leadership, and women and wellbeing. Having experienced stress and burnout in the past, Hazel is passionate about spreading the message of wellbeing in her personal and professional life. Therefore, Hazel has her own Podcast which she started in 2019 called Healing E-motions, currently on Spotify and other streaming platforms. She has recently written her first book called “Bringing Your Heart To Work”: A seven step journey to mental health and wellbeing, which will be published later this year by Karnac Books. Outside of work Hazel enjoys Pilates, Yoga, Writing, Sea swimming and Djembi drumming.
Inspired by…
“Hope is being able to see that there is light, despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu
Mbeke Waseme
Associate
Mbeke is an experienced Executive coach, trainer, and facilitator boasting a rich 20-year background of collaborating with organisations and developing leaders in the UK, Jamaica, Ghana, Dubai, and Malaysia.
She is passionate and committed to advancing racial and social equity and the effects of Intersectionality. There may be some discomfort but, it will not last. She will look at the current image and co-create the future one, achieving the solutions in a style that is right for you and your organisation. Her recent clients have included, London Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Anne Frank Trust, The Wilde Foundation, Best Practice Network and the Alzheimers Society. She is a yoga and photography specialist a champion of health and mental-fitness (Simon Sinek). She is a published author of two poetry anthologies, with the latest publication “How to Live, Work and Thrive Abroad”. For fun, Mbeke loves to dance, travel, write, meet people, be a tourist and find out new things about health. When not working, she spends time with a friend or two, in Ghana, Jamaica or Malaysia. She loves fasting, writing, hiking and reading. She is inspired by the human spirit every day. Thriving against the odds and knowing that where we start, is not where we must remain.
Inspired by…
“And the Day Came When the Risk to Remain Tight in a Bud Was More Painful Than the Risk It Took to Blossom.”
– Anais Nin. In our work, we may go through pain and growth, and blossom together.
John Fleming
Associate
John is a credentialed coach, mentor and professional development specialist. He has 15+ years of experience in operational delivery and implementing transformational change in multiple sectors as an organisational consultant.
He brings his past professional experience together with cutting-edge organisational psychology, coaching and coaching tools that form a multidisciplinary approach leading to transformational professional growth. He is fuelled by the spirit of inclusion and empowerment in all of his work. He has an energetic and straightforward approach. As a coach, he is warm, playful and uses creativity to guide clients. When facilitating he weaves the process by using his spontaneity and ability to structure to bring participants on an engaging journey of self-discovery and growth. John’s coaching approach is strongly influenced by the following modalities, theories, disciplines and theorists: Transactional Analysis, Systemic Coaching, NLP, Neuroscience and Nancy Kline. He is an expert in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) in organisations with a particular focus on LGBTQ+, Gender and Neurodiversity, Professional Development in the areas of communication and effective behaviour, and Personal Development in the areas of emotional intelligence and authenticity.
Inspired by…
“If we value diversity, if we value independence, if we value creativity, then we need to let every child grow at their own pace and in their own way.” – Dr Howard Gardner (Dev Psych)
Garath Symonds
Associate
Garath Symonds comes to coaching after a career in public sector leadership, where he gained experienced in running large operations, responsible for revenue budgets over £100 million per year and staff teams of over 1000 people.
His leadership career was defined by his ability to lead change and deliver innovative solutions to social problems.
Garath started his career as a youth work, before becoming a School Improvement Adviser specialising in social inclusion, and then an education consultant for a national charity. He has been a school governor and was an Assistant Director of Education in a number of large local authorities. It was in local government that he led services for pupil inclusion, behavioural support, education policy, SEND commissioning, early education, school place planning and was Director of Building Schools for the Future. Garath has a broad experience of local government children’s services and worked in an education context for many years.
Garath has advised multiple CEOs and other senior leaders, and supported numerous executive teams, coaching and consulting across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, both in the UK and internationally. Having logged over 1000 hours of coaching Garath is a European Mentoring & Coaching Council accredited senior practitioner. In his forthcoming book, The Anxious Leader, he explores the impact of anxiety on leaders and organisational life from the perspective of the Tavistock Tradition.
A qualified systems-psychodynamic practitioner, he is an experienced adviser, consultant and coach. He has completed the Executive Coaching Programme at the Tavistock Centre and holds a post-graduate qualification in Leading and Consulting in Organisations: Psychodynamic and Systemic Approaches. He is trained in advanced group facilitation, eco-therapy and systems leadership. An experienced mediator he has a further degree in Conflict Resolution.
Inspired by…
“A human being is part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. The true value of a human being is determined by the measure and the sense in which they have obtained liberation from the self. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if humanity is to survive.” – Albert Einstein, 1954
Harroop Sandhu
Associate
As an EDI consultant, performance coach, facilitator, speaker, and senior school leader with 18 years of experience, Harroop plays a crucial role in supporting educators as they navigate the challenges of balancing their professional and personal lives.
With a deep commitment to fostering environments where teachers and staff can thrive both inside and outside the classroom, Harroop ensures that schools are not just places of learning but also nurturing and supportive communities.
Harroop has developed her expertise in EDI, completing certifications from EMCC, in PURE Coaching, a fellowship with the Institute of Educational and Social Equity, Facilitation fundamentals and Coaching for Social Justice. This foundation enables her to guide schools through strategic transformation.
Her work has garnered notable recognition, with OFSTED recently commending the cultural shift at her current school:
“Pupils learn not only that they should not discriminate but that, if they identify it, they need to challenge discrimination.”
Harroop’s aim is to foster safe spaces for difficult conversations and introspection, promoting collective responsibility and co-creation among stakeholders. Her approach is to integrate EDI work into existing systems, encouraging strategic thought and collective responsibility while honoring the humanity of all individuals—without causing overwhelm, shame, or blame.
She helps develop the confidence and competence needed to address protected characteristics in schools, equipping students to thrive and contribute actively to their communities. Harroop also deepens leaders’ personal and organisational cultural intelligence, ensuring all stakeholders possess the language and strategies necessary for meaningful EDI discussions, leveraging systems for impactful, sustainable change.
Inspired by…
“It is in collectivities that we find reservoirs of hope and optimism.”
This quote reminds me of the power of nurturing communities and the importance of not walking the path alone.
“Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.”
As leaders, it is crucial to show ourselves the same love and compassion that we extend to others, letting go of shame and blame.
Adanna Onuekwusi
Associate
Adanna is an executive and leadership coach, consultant, speaker, and writer who is passionate about supporting people to transform their lives by consciously exploring and changing the narratives they carry about who and how they are ‘supposed’ to be.
She draws on nearly 20 years of professional training and experience to create unique and impactful coaching and training. This includes extensive experience as an English teacher and school leader in several London schools; coaching Executive Headteachers and Senior Leaders across England, and leading successful national education projects. Her qualifications include a BA in English Literature; a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE); an MA in Language, Ethnicity and Education; and ICF ACC coaching accreditation.
Adanna has a person-centred, heart-and-head approach to coaching that focuses on the relationship between identity, language, and wellbeing. She uses Positive Psychology, Transactional Analysis, Neurobiology and Narrative Coaching to show people the immense power of your mind, your words, and your creativity to transform your actions and experiences, thereby enriching who and how you are in the world.
Adanna particularly loves working with leaders from under-represented backgrounds, especially women leaders and leaders of Global Majority Heritage. She believes that when leaders connect to and live from a space of their authentic sense of purpose and power, the ripple effect changes not only them, but their organisations, families, communities, and society at large.
Alongside her work, Adanna is a governor in an inner- London primary school and a Trustee for Mandala Theatre Company, a youth charity committed to championing social justice through the arts. Born in Nigeria and raised in Manchester, Adanna now lives in London with her husband and their two children.
Inspired by…
“Let us so live we will not regret years of useless virtue, and inertia, and timidity, and ignorance, and in our last moments we can say: ‘All my life, all my conscious energies, have been dedicated to the most noble cause in the world: the liberation of the human mind and spirit — beginning with my own’.” – Maya Angelou
Helen O’Grady
Associate
Helen is an accredited executive leadership coach and coach supervisor. She has over 15 years’ experience in coaching and leadership development. Helen’s background includes many years practicing as a paediatric nurse and Helen utilises her understanding of complex public sector workplaces to support individuals to increase their effectiveness and achieve their goals.
Helen has an approachable style, which quickly builds rapport to ensure a collaborative working relationship, founded in a safe and supportive environment. Helen’s belief is that each client is unique, an expert in their own situation and has the capacity to achieve their goals.
Feedback from clients demonstrates that they value Helen’s ability to support and challenge them, enabling them to think more clearly and identify new ways forward. Helen focuses on individuals’ strengths and abilities and uses those to support the client to achieve his or her goals, overcome challenges or make changes to how they work. Her biggest passion is helping great professionals thrive in challenging workplaces.
Helen lived and worked in Australia for 18 years and relocated to Wokingham in 2018.
Inspired by…
““Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain