About me
After 25 years working for the public sector (University of London and the Civil Service), I set up my own business to share my skills and experience, driven by a real desire to make a meaningful impact.
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What I do now
I use my knowledge and experience to help others grow, solve problems and achieve their goals.
Having my own business means I can:
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focus on projects I’m passionate about
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tailor my services to your needs
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build genuine connections
This new path allows me to create value and positively influence others. I am currently focusing on 3 strands of work.
a. Change and transformation coach
Having completed an International Coaching Federation (ICF)-accredited course at Barefoot Coaching, I’m a qualified coach, specialising in change and transformation.
Half of the UK’s professional coaches are unqualified; only 5% achieve ICF level 2 accreditation. My Barefoot Coaching training has given me the tools and knowledge to guide individuals or teams through transitions, helping them adapt to and embrace change effectively:
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I employ coaching techniques such as active listening, powerful questioning and motivational strategies to help my clients gain clarity about their challenges and create action plans.
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I help clients to build resilience, foster a positive mindset and break down large, daunting changes into manageable steps.
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I support clients to shift their perspectives, identify strengths and leverage resources to achieve their desired outcomes.
I work with clients facing various types of change, such as career shifts, organisational restructuring, lifestyle adjustments or personal growth.​​​​
b. Bespoke stakeholder management training
You could say that stakeholder management is my superpower.
I know how to engage stakeholders at all levels and keep them onside to ensure work can progress.
I know the transformative potential of partnership working, where people with different skills, knowledge and expertise come together to deliver what people come to your website to find.
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I learned all of this through my long career as a content specialist and as a lead negotiator for my union branch.
I now want to share my knowledge with others. As a trainer, I am keen to work with groups of content designers to help them learn about:
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the key principles of managing stakeholders
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the stakeholder management process
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how to develop effective communication strategies for stakeholder engagement and management
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the skills you need to deploy to get stakeholders on board
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how to gain trust through the use of compelling narrative and evidence
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Who should attend?
This course is designed for digital content designers who are struggling to engage positively and constructively with stakeholders or who simply want to gain some confidence to tackle their next project.
​c. Workshop facilitator
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Good communication is at the heart of effective partnership working. But it only works well if all partners to conversations are given a chance to speak and be heard, in an environment of mutual respect.
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I can help you plan, convene and run effective workshops that help you to take important decisions and achieve equilibrium.
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My career history
I have been working full-time for more than 25 years. ​I learned the most from 3 areas of work:
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​Content specialist
I spent more than 25 years specialising in content roles at both the University of London and the Government Digital Service.
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Along the way, I implemented digital standards, mastered search engine optimisation, learned how to meet audience needs and developed content strategy. I managed digital teams and helped them focus on delivering user-centred content that aligns to strategic objectives.
I also specialised in training:
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While at Birkbeck, University of London, I developed and delivered the Digital Passport training programme, used to induct all new web staff into the practice of digital design, so that the website complied with our new digital standards.
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At the Government Digital Service, I initiated and led the project to develop the bespoke onboarding training for all new content designers, which resulted in more efficient and faster onboarding of new staff.
Find out more about my deliverables in these roles
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Union activist and branch chair
For 25 years, I was a union activist, 17 years as the branch chair of Birkbeck Unison.
In this role, I was responsible for representing and advocating for the interests of my union members. But I also organised branch activities, chaired meetings, recruited and mentored branch activists, and took the lead on addressing issues such as workplace conditions, grievances and negotiations. As a spokesperson and leader, I worked to protect workers' rights and promote fair treatment.
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Networking lead
I wish someone had told me at the start of my career the importance of networking. Having realised the importance of it, I didn't waste any time:
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At Birkbeck, University of London, I founded and led Birkbeck Astrea, the women’s network. In this role, I negotiated for budgets, ran workshops and brought in trainers to support the professional development of our members, from interview skills to basic negotiating.
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At the Government Digital Service, I stepped into the role of co-chair and continued with the development activities I initiated at Birkbeck.
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I organised and led 2 networks for content staff across the Civil Service: one for Heads of Content and one for content team leads. These provide safe spaces for peers to share their experiences and provide support on topics of mutual interest.