In the beginning 

I had a 25 year career in nursing, education and leadership within the NHS and voluntary sector. Working in a range of areas including community, hospice, acute care, transformation and corporate services. This included strategic implementation of innovation and improvement at scale and the Professional Development strategy for a workforce of over 6000 healthcare professionals, as a Head of Nursing in a large NHS acute trust. It was through this work the importance of relationships, human connection and compassion for self and others became my mission.

My long-term interest in communication that builds relationships, thriving and innovative workplace cultures took me on an extensive journey of personal and professional development, enabling me to work with others as they become more self-aware, more open to dialogue, to create, innovate, grow and develop.

Experience and training

I bring my 25 years experience in Nursing and Healthcare leadership together with skills in Executive Coaching, Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Advanced Facilitation and Relational Organisational Gestalt. My approach integrates a range of psychological models with my experience to connect with the real-life challenges leaders face.

I trained in Advanced Communication, and then with the Maguire Unit, Christie Hospital, Manchester in Advanced Facilitation, worked with Leeds Institute of Medical Education, facilitating communication skills with medical students and developed a communication skills training programme at Wheatfields Hospice in Leeds.

Training as an executive coach in 2017 accelerated my journey from ‘fixer to facilitator’. I realised that coaching and facilitation enabled me to work with others without having to fix them and used my skills in building relationships to create the conditions needed for learning and growth.

Recent training with Relational Change as a Relational Organisational Gestalt practitioner enables me to work creatively and respond to what is emerging in groups and teams as a facilitator and team coach.

In the last 4 years I have facilitated action learning, reflective practice and leadership development for over 250 nursing and midwifery leaders across England enabling them to become more confident, visionary leaders, able to shape inclusive and compassionate cultures.

And now

Since forming my own company in 2021, I have provided hundreds of hours of executive coaching to a range of individuals, groups and teams. I am a faculty member of the NHS Leadership Academy and work with the NHS and several national healthcare organisations, scoping, designing and facilitating transformational leadership and development programmes. I regularly speak to large audiences and facilitate workshops on staff well-being, energy management, workplace culture and compassionate leadership.

My current work with the West Yorkshire Staff Mental Health and Well-being hub facilitating the roll out of the Trauma Informed Staff Support Programme, develops cultures and workplace practices that support healthcare staff and enable them to thrive.

I have recently designed and facilitated 9 cohorts of leadership development for Ward Leaders up to Nurse Directors at an NHS Acute Trust, enabling increased confidence, the integration of coaching skills, creation of psychological safety and improved relationships.