Biographies

President's Biography

Dr Peter Hawkins (President)

Dr Peter Hawkins, joint founder (1986) and chairman of Bath Consultancy Group, is a leading consultant, writer and researcher in organisational strategy, learning, managing complex change, leadership and Board development. He has worked with many leading organisations in many parts of the world including Europe, South Africa, America and the Far East co-designing and facilitating strategy reviews as well as major change and organisational transformation projects. He has helped a number of Boards and senior executive teams develop their vision, values, leadership and strategy for the future, both in commercial companies, Government, large professional organisations and large and small charities.

He has coached a number of Corporate Executives, Chief Executives and Chairman in both the Public and Private sectors, including: Chief Executives of FTSE 100 companies; Chief Executives of younger growing companies; International Lead Partners in PricewaterhouseCoopers, Local Authority Chief Executives and Chief Executives of international not-for-profit organisations. He is currently team coach of the executive team of one of the largest Government departments.

Peter is a thought leader in Executive Coaching, President of the Association for Professional Executive Coaching and Supervision and a member of the advisory Board of the University of Bath's School of Management. He leads the international modular training programme in the Supervision of Coaches, Mentors and Consultants through Bath Consultancy Group and works with a number of organisations helping them maximise the learning and value they achieve from their coaching activity. (www.bathconsultancygroup.com).

Peter is the co-author of the best selling "Supervision in the Helping Professions" Open University Press 1989, 2000 and 2006 and "Coaching, Mentoring and Organizational Consultancy: Supervision and Development" McGraw-Hill/Open University Press 2006 and the CIPD change Agenda "Coaching Supervision". He is also author of "The Wise Fool's Guide to Leadership" O Books 2005.

His current and recent client companies include Ernst & Young, Canon, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Department of Work and Pensions, IBM, Mayer, Brown, Rowe and Maw and the BBC.

Directors' Biographies

Eve Turner, Chair

Eve combines research and writing with a busy coaching and supervision practice, having first started as an internal coach while working as a senior leader in the BBC. A fellow at Henley Business School and the University of Southampton, she has received several awards as a coach, supervisor and writer including the 2018 EMCC Supervision and 2015 EMCC Coaching Awards, the Coaching at Work 2018 award for Supervision and 2019 and 2015 awards for Best Article/Series and the 2009 BPS award for Distinguished Research project in Coaching Psychology.

Eve is actively involved in a wide range of pro bono projects: aside from professional bodies this includes setting up the Global Supervisors’ Network, co-founding the Climate Coaching Alliance and volunteering for EthicalCoach and CoachActivism.

A sedentary fan of football, and reluctant gym goer, she has found a previous role as an orchestra conductor particularly useful in coaching and leadership! Please drop Eve a line with any suggestions and thoughts.

Adina Tarry

Adina Tarry joined APECS as an accredited executive coach in 2006 and became active in special interest groups including the development of the Team Coaching Accreditation Framework since 2010. Adina is also a member of the ABP, EMCC, BPS, SGCP, RSM and AC, which affords her an exceptional overview of the coaching industry of the last 15 years, since she transitioned to management consulting. Adina is registered with the BPS for the use of some 16 psychometric tools, holds certificates in NLP and the Brief method, a Diploma in Executive Coaching and her MSc dissertation was on a complex evolving systems perspective in executive coaching. Educated internationally, Adina has lived and worked in six countries and is multilingual. An avid learner, she uses her extensive CPPD and work as a Visiting Lecturer in Business Psychology and HR Strategy & Consulting since 2002, to share knowledge on subjects of interest that connect executive coaching with complex evolving systems, psychology, cultural complexity, quality management, HR strategy and career management.

Based on her previous international experience with IBM, Alcatel, Johnson&Johnson and Bristol Myers Squibb as a manager and subject matter specialist in supply chain, manufacturing, international trade and quality management, Adina combines in her work with executives, extensive business knowledge, cross cultural savvy and qualifications in psychology (clinical and business), to enable change and performance. Her coaching style has been described as client centric, empowering, inspiring and pragmatic.

In recent years Adina has also worked with “Millennials” in start-ups and SMEs, delivering a combination of coaching, mentoring and consulting to develop the organizational system by blending corporate know-how, entrepreneurial energy and inter-generational complementarity, to enable an effective and appropriate 21st century leadership style.

Alexandru Popa-Antohi

Alexandru Popa-Antohi is a Leadership Development Specialist and Executive Coach with 10+ years of international business and organisational experience across Europe and the US.

His focus area is designing, facilitating and embedding leadership development programmes in organisations, coaching senior leaders and teams in their shared endeavour to create value for the organisation and all its stakeholders. He is particularly experienced in working with blue chip tech-driven organisations operating in an agile environment.

Alexandru brings a unique mix of technology and psychology, having studied a Bsc. in Computer Science and a MA in Psychology – Educational Sciences – Adult Learning. Alexandru is a Practising Executive Coach with APECS, Level A & B qualified with the British Psychological Society (BPS), accredited in using robust psychometric assessments like Hogan Assessments, EQ-i 2.0 and NEO / Primary Colours of Leadership. He also holds a Certificate in Systemic Team Coaching from the Academy of Executive Coaching.

Andy Jones

Andy qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PWC and has over 30 years’ experience of leading global teams in organisations such as Credit Suisse and Fidelity International where he was European Finance Director. Andy experienced the benefits of coaching first hand in 2007, leading to a change in career direction and the delivery of transformational change programmes as both a consultant and leader. He now runs his own executive coaching and change consultancy practice which specialises in working with CFO’s, Finance Directors and their teams.

Change Consultant and Coach
Gwella Consulting Ltd

Ant Mitchell

Ant has more than 25 years’ experience as a leadership coach, facilitator and mediator, working with business leaders and their senior teams in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US. This work traverses many sectors including Banking, Insurance, Professional Service Firms, Retail, Technology, Healthcare and Hospitality, as well as ongoing pro bono work with charities.

Following an early career in the theatre, advertising and leadership consultancy, his work is now primarily focused on executive coaching, team development and supervision.

Known in his coaching work for connecting deep listening and creativity, Ant works with experienced individuals to help find new questions that link their existing perceptions to a renewed understanding of themselves and the challenges they face.

Ant holds an MA in Psychological Coaching, is a CEDR accredited mediator, an APECS accredited executive coach and a CSA qualified supervisor.

Barbara StClaire-Ostwald

Barbara joined APECS as an Accredited Executive Coach in 2015. Barbara is also a member of BPS, SGCP, SIETAR, ISCP and previously a member of the EMCC between 2004-2007 where she was part of the Research Team and Chair of the International Conference Committee. Before becoming a Coach, Barbara lived and worked internationally and in the UK in sectors ranging from Diplomatic, IFI’s, EU, Investment Banking and Asset Management, Government & Public sector institutions NGOs, Advertising & PR for 30+years.

She graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2005 with an MA in Coaching & Mentoring Practices and she was the first student to deliver a dissertation in Coaching Across Cultures. Her research in Cross Cultural Coaching has been referenced in publications and papers “Diversity in Coaching” and Coaching at /work Magazine; “Enterprise Ireland” – A regular speaker at ICF SIGs on Coaching in Culture and at the London Coaching Group on Generation Y. Barbara has also delivered Cross cultural training programme(s) at Oxford Brookes University and joint workshops at SIETAR Annual Congress in Granada, London and Wroclaw. Barbara is a certified practitioner of MBTI, Culture in the Workplace Questionnaire, Berlitz TMC COI/M level II, Argonaut Cultural Connector, Polaris Global 360, TMA Country Navigator, DiSC. She holds a BSc(Hons) in Social Science and Psychology, a Diploma in Sociology and a Certificate in Cultural Training.

Barbara works with global executives and Millennials to enable effective leadership and communication skills by delivering a combination of coaching and consultancy services on working internationally and across generations. She is fluent in French, Polish and English and speaks conversational German, Dutch, Czech and Slovak. Barbara lives in Sopot, Poland (the Baltic Coast).

Carolyn Didsbury

Carolyn is an executive coach and thinking partner with a passion for challenging and supporting people to be the best they can be.

Her corporate background includes 15 years’ experience of human resources and leadership development at VP level in GlaxoSmithKline, a complex multinational organisation, partnering with General Managers and other senior commercial leaders. She led and managed HR teams in the UK and across Europe and has coached executives in a variety of roles and functions throughout her career, in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Carolyn’s understanding of business, leadership and enabling individual development combine with her experience, awareness and presence as an executive coach. She now works with leaders and future leaders, coaching them to increase self-awareness, to create positive change, to be and perform at their best and to fulfil their potential and achieve business and personal goals.

Carolyn joined APECS in 2016 and was accredited in 2018. She holds an MSc in Coaching and Behavioural Change and a post-graduate certificate in Psychosynthesis Leadership Coaching. She is a qualified NLP practitioner and has trained with Nancy Kline and Andrew Machon.

Christopher Smith

Chris has over 20 years experience as a consultant, coach and business leader, working with a range of industries, including FMCG, technology, professional and financial services. His work encompasses executive leadership and team coaching as well as organisation change consultancy and he most enjoys challenges which connect these, enabling real shifts in performance for individuals, teams and businesses.

His individual coaching work focuses on senior and executive leaders, as well as partners in professional service firms, helping them as they lead change in their business or at times of transition in their own careers. He also coaches senior leadership teams, helping them to shift their patterns of interaction to better drive systemic change in their business.

Chris is an experienced coaching supervisor and has taught coaching, supervision and team coaching to fellow practitioners and to line managers in major businesses. He is an accredited coach with APECS and joined the Board in 2019.

Chris now works for SheppardMoscow, working with clients around the world. Until recently he led the Leadership Development, Coaching and Consultancy team in GP Strategies Ltd. Earlier in his career he was active in and on the Board of Bath Consultancy Group and has been Director of L&D at a FTSE 100 company, a consultant with Price Waterhouse and an Associate Programme Director with London Business School.

Ian Ross

Ian came to coaching late in his professional life having worked for a range of private sector companies in a 35 year career that spanned over 80 countries. He has been on Operating Boards of 2 FTSE100 companies. Experience of being coached crystalized a belief that it has the potential to unlock the core talent of any organisation - its people. On leaving his last full time role he enrolled in the Henley Business School MSc programme for Coaching and Behavioural Change from which he graduated with distinction in 2016.

Laira Gold

Laira is an organisational and leadership coach and a trainer with 15 years experience in personal and professional development. Specifically, she draws upon a unique cutting edge Leadership and Organisational model called the Five Dimensions of Leadership, having trained directly with the originator, Roger Evans. Her first career was in financial services at Morgan Stanley where she worked in Institutional Equities, developing and managing relationships with European Consumer Goods companies.

Using both room-based and Equine Guided Leadership Coaching, Laira has delivered organisational learning outcomes concerning personal impact, presence, team dynamics and leadership. Clients include Renault F1, Nissan, Thales Group, Scapa, Chiswick Business Park and the Royal Veterinary College.

Laira is also a Monty Roberts Certified Instructor, one of just 70 hand picked Instructors globally. For 10 years she taught Natural Horsemanship to those who wish to strengthen their human horse bond, across Europe and the USA.

Alongside her business partner Harriet Hanmer, she is co-founder of Equilibrium Partners, a bespoke training provider for women in leadership, www.equilibrium-partners.com.

In addition to her coaching/training practice, Laira is also a UKCP Accredited Psychotherapist, with a private practice in Northamptonshire.

Rajwant K. Bains

Rajwant set up her consultancy practice in 2001 following a successful career in academia and as a senior leader in local government. Over the past 20 years she has designed and delivered a wide range of development interventions for senior academics/researchers in Russel group universities, public sector organisations and global philanthropy.

As alumni of Henley’s MBA Programme Rajwant decided to enrol on the very first cohort of the School’s MSc in Executive Coaching and Behaviour Change programme. The focus of her award-winning research as part of the course was the development of coaching programmes to support progression of women to Partner level in one of the top 4 leading Professional Services firms. This enabled her to bring together her interests in coaching and representation of different groups at senior levels in organisations.

Her current areas of interest are in building the capability of senior leaders to have conversations across difference to move beyond the symbolism of diversity and inclusion to actual substance.

Rajwant has been a member of APECS for many years and secured accreditation in 2017.

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APECS Ambassadors

Krishna Ramamurthy

Krish has worked in the area of people development and in particular Executive coaching for the last 35 years. Krishna is an Accredited Executive Master coach with APECS since 2015, as well as a Professional Certified Coach with the ICF, and a Certified Master Coach with the Behavioral Coaching Institute.

He has extensive experience in coaching leaders and managers in diverse multi-industry and multi-cultural and technical environments. Krishna uses lateral thinking in his coaching practice thus making it possible for his clients to achieve their goals.

In addition, he manages an ICF accredited coaching school and has successfully trained and mentored 100+ coaches. His approach to training, coaching, and facilitation is multi-disciplinary, drawing on Social Cognitive Neuroscience, Eastern thinking, and Mindful awareness.

Krishna is currently an application support partner with the APECS Accreditation Team and he is looking forward to serve as APECS Ambassador to India.

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Lilian Abrams

Lilian Abrams PhD, MBA, MCC, ESIA is an organizational psychologist and senior executive leadership coach, with over 25 years’ experience consulting with global and US organizations.

She holds a PhD in Organizational Behavior (Psychology) as well as an MBA. Dr. Abrams is accredited, since 2015, as an executive coach by APECS, as well as the ICF as a Master Certified Coach (MCC) and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) as a Master Practitioner. As a Coach Supervisor, she is trained, certified, and accredited by the EMCC as well (ESIA). Her executive coaching works builds on her decades of applied OD and research work, and includes special focus on leaders who are multicultural, technical and/or women.

Dr. Abrams is passionate about advancing both senior executive leadership coaching and coach supervision, through her own practice as well as through her research, publishing, webinars and presentations. For APECS, in addition to active remote participation, she has served on the Accreditation team, the Accreditation Review working party, and is happy to now serve as APECS Ambassador to the Americas.

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