A little about me…

My career began in a variety of high-profile PA roles; until – when my children were young – the opportunity arose for a move to the Middle East. Working on a voluntary basis, I took on a community communications role; building consensus and encouraging cross-cultural collaboration between the management and residents of a multi-national compound in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  

On returning to the UK, I brought this communication experience to South Warwickshire Tourism; working alongside Directors of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Warwick Castle, and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to promote the area to a global audience in the launch of the very first private/public marketing partnership between Stratford-upon-Avon and South Warwickshire. 

Following its success, I launched a public relations partnership in South Warwickshire; providing creative opportunities to promote local SMEs in national media. I was then commissioned by Sir William Lawrence – then the Chairman of the English Tourist Board – to co-edit a regional business magazine; promoting new start-ups, providing networking opportunities, and creating awareness of funding and training opportunities.  

Throughout my career, I have delivered a variety of courses: from the roll-out of the English Tourist Board’s customer service training to high-street retailers; including personal development training on Managing Difficult People, Assertiveness Skills, Stress Management, and Effective Goal Setting.  

When the opportunity of a purpose-fuelled role came up – designing and delivering experiential leadership development courses for an international charity – I took it. Here, I developed courses that provided entrepreneurial challenges for senior leaders from a range of private and public organisations – including the NHS, BBC, and Oxford University Business School – set within the challenging environments of prisons, homeless centres, drug rehabilitation centres and mental health charities. 

Later on, I made the lifestyle choice to return to self-employment, training as a Life and Executive Coach with Noble-Manhattan - the largest international coach training organisation, accredited to the International Authority for Professional Coaching and Mentoring (IAPC&M) and endorsed by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) - and setting up a coaching consultancy in Warwickshire. This natural progression brought together my diverse background in training and business strategy with my personal passion for encouraging others to fulfil their potentials in a way that suited them. 

I have coached both self-employed individuals – from artists to airline pilots – and within organisations; including senior management in the hotel and hospitality sector, and major retail groups. I have also coached couples, enabling them to communicate more openly and authentically, while being true to themselves as individuals. As a regular guest-speaker giving coaching insights on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire radio, national public speaking finalist and award-winning hospital radio presenter, I was also annually invited to speak to students of Coventry University at the end of their degrees, to inspire their next steps. 

Following a move to the Isle of Wight to be closer to my family and grandchildren, I am now re-establishing my life coaching consultancy, while continuing to teach a handful of gentle yoga classes here on the island. 

I have full public indemnity insurance for my coaching, training and yoga teaching and am committed to continued personal development in the area of understanding and supporting people in a fast-changing world.

And on a somewhat more personal note: I love dancing (from rock and roll to tango), snow skiing, sea swimming, beach walking, ukulele playing and singing! Claims to fame include – in no particular order – include sharing a radio slot with 90s fitness guru Mr. Motivator; setting the world to rights over an orange juice with Brian May; and almost (but thankfully not) knocking into actor Ralph Fiennes’ car on his way to an evening performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. I am extremely proud of my two grown-up children: my daughter who has always followed her heart, and is a freelance writer with a passion for equality and the environment; and my singer/musician/entrepreneur son, who is the co-owner of Austria’s very first ‘non-smoking’ musical après ski bar. Both have children of their own, providing me with oodles of fun, love, and laughter.