Cymraeg

Academi Wales

Virtual Summer School 2020 - speakers

Chairs and speakers

Chief Executive, Wrexham County Borough Council

Ian took up his post as Chief Executive of Wrexham Council in August 2018 and for the previous fourteen years worked at a senior leadership level within large public service organisations in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and North East Wales. Most recently, since 2014, this has been at Flintshire County Council as a Chief Officer leading successfully the development and implementation of a number of major strategic programmes.

Ian is committed to public service delivery and aims to work with partners, local communities and residents to build and deliver a clear vision that achieves outstanding results. Ian has lived in Wrexham for the last 17 years and is passionate about the current positive opportunities Wrexham and Wales provides and the potential for the future.

Audit Wales

Chris is a long time contributor to Academi Wales Summer School, starting out as a delegate in 2008 and acting as a facilitator and running workshops over the years.

He leads the Good Practice Exchange Team at Audit Wales which is focused upon sharing knowledge and inspiring improvement in Public Services.

In 2018 he was awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship and visited the Basque Country in north-east Spain and the north-east of the United States to look at how large cooperatives operate to support a sustainable economy and vibrant society.

Chris maintains his enthusiasm for cooperatives and social enterprises through Board positions at Cartrefi Cymru Coop and Merthyr Valleys Homes.

He’s always pondering on the questions of; Why things work the way they do?, and How we can make it better? You can read more about this at whatsthepont.blog.

Amy passionately delivers the message that you and your organisation have a huge amount of potential that can be better accessed if you understand how to work with your brain optimally.

Leaving UCL medical school to pursue a coaching career she became fascinated by what the brain can teach us to help transform thinking & performance.

Amy’s company, Synaptic Potential, now works consulting and training to organisations in Europe, Asia and Australia and is involved in research projects with Bangor university to advance the practical applications of what neuroscience can bring to businesses.

She is the author of ‘Make Your Brain Work’ & ‘Neuroscience for Coaches’ published by Kogan Page and ‘Engaged: The neuroscience behind creating productive people in successful organisations’ published by Palgrave Macmillan.

Director General for Education and Public Services, Welsh Government

Tracey has been directly involved in the regeneration of Wales and Ireland for over 20 years working for the Welsh Government, Welsh Development Agency, the Irish Government, the UK Government as well as working with the European Commission.

Tracey is the Senior Sponsor of the Welsh Government’s Women Together Network, which aims to provide a united voice for women’s issues across the organisation.

Tracey was born in Splott in Cardiff and joined the Welsh Government in 2006 from the Welsh Development Agency. Since that time, Tracey has held posts in economic policy and transport policy, as well as a wider strategic role across the Economy, Skills and Natural Resources Group. Tracey was appointed to the post of Director General for Education and Public Services in November 2017.

Chief Executive, Social Care Wales

Following a varied career in industry and the retail sector, Sue took a break from paid work to become a full time carer and parent. She then restarted her higher education and worked with several voluntary organisations.

Sue joined the NHS in 1992, moving from Public Health Medicine into various management roles. Sue's experience in the voluntary sector brought her to the sharp end of meeting the needs of children, young people and adults with disabilities. This stimulated her interest in a career within the field of health, social care and housing. Her previous NHS roles focussed around the planning, commissioning and delivery of health services (primary, community, acute and tertiary) in South East Wales, with a particular interest in the interface between NHS and external organisations.

Between 2006 and 2012, Sue undertook a range of Joint Director roles with responsibility for planning, commissioning and operational delivery of a range of health, social care and housing services. This encompassed the role of Statutory Director of Social Services, which she retained as Chief Officer of Social Care and Housing with Torfaen County Borough Council until July 2016, when she became Chief Executive of Social Care Wales. Sue has a keen interest in promoting the importance of the role of social care in helping to safeguard and improve people's lives, through empowerment as well as support. Sue is keen to use her own experience of being an unpaid carer to help ensure that a citizen centred approach to social care is experienced across Wales.

Catherine is an experienced academic who is actively involved in teaching and research within the public management and leadership fields. She delivers both short courses and University accredited modules.

Catherine is currently leading Cardiff University’s MSc Public Leadership award and also the MSc Leadership and Governance as part of the All Wales Public Management Graduate programme.

Catherine is interested in public boards and their governance. Her current research is focused on governance in services including education and fire and rescue. She has published widely on leadership and governance in a range of public services.

Catherine chairs the Academi Wales Advisory board and she also chaired the Welsh Government’s Task and Finish Expert School Governance group which reviewed models of governance in education.

Described as ‘the first leadership guru for the MySpace generation’ and ‘the freshest voice in leadership today’, Emmanuel has worked with organisations ranging from Astra Zeneca to Zurich Financial Services via Google and The United Nations. For over 15 years, his interventions have focused on creating the capability in organisations to deliver results through world-class leadership. He is also cofounder of the consultancy Collaboration Partners specialising in helping organisations collaborate better.

One of Europe’s most sought after leadership speakers; he is the author of Kogan Page’s UK and US bestseller ‘The Connected Leader’, ‘LeaderShift’ and ‘Follow the Leader’. His latest book ‘Disciplined Collaboration’ was published by Urbane in 2016. His books have established him as one of the foremost thinkers on new leadership models.

Academi Wales

Ian’s professional background is in nursing, education and leadership development. With twenty years of multi-sector facilitation, coaching and mentoring experience, Ian has a successful track record of working with individuals and multi-professional teams to create and build relationships that produce effective results and purposeful change.

He is an active member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, as well as the UK Association for Coaching, and has presented many innovative papers on leadership, coaching and mentoring at a variety of UK and European Conferences. Ian works part-time for Academi Wales, Welsh Government and also runs a training and consultancy business; he is recognised for adopting a knowledgeable, creative and values-based approach to personal, professional and organisational development.

Professor Keith Grint is Professor of Public Leadership and Management at Warwick Business School (WBS).

Professor Grint spent ten years in industry before switching to an academic career. He is currently Professor of Public Leadership & Management at Warwick Business School. He is the Director of the Warwick Commission.

He previously taught at Brunel University and Oxford University and held Chairs at Lancaster, and Cranfield Universities. He is a Member of the Sunningdale Institute, National School of Government. His research looks at leadership in all its forms.

Vice Chair, Hywel Dda University Health Board

Judith Hardisty is Vice Chair of the Hywel Dda University Health Board. she joined the UHB as an Independent Member (IM) in 2016 and became Vice Chair in January 2017.

Prior to joining Hywel Dda as an IM, Judith was a former NHS Assistant Chief Executive (Organisational Development) and an experienced HR/Workforce Director. She had more than 20 years’ experience of working at Board level with various NHS bodies and nearly 40 years’ NHS experience across all sectors. She is a Fellow of the CIPD.

Judith retired from the NHS in December 2015 and is also an external assessor for the Corporate Health Standard and a member of the Academi Wales Advisory Board.

Dr Margaret Heffernan is an entrepreneur, author of five books and her TED talks have been seen by over seven million people. She is Lead Faculty for the Forward Institute’s Responsible Leadership Programme and through Merryck & Co. mentors CEOs and senior executives of major global organisations. She holds an honorary doctorate from University of Bath and continues to write for the Financial Times and the Huffington Post.

https://www.mheffernan.com

Chief Executive, HEIW

Alex started working in the NHS as a graduate management trainee and has held a number of senior management posts across south Wales over the last 20 years, including nine years as Director of Planning for Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust.

Alex was appointed to ABMU Health Board when it was first formed in 2009, as Director of Primary, Community and Mental Health Services, and was made Chief Operating Officer in April 2012 with day to day responsibility for delivery of all clinical services within the Health Board.

Following a year as Interim Chief Executive Officer at ABMU Health Board, Alex was appointed CEO of HEIW in February 2018, which has a leading role in the education, training, development and shaping of the healthcare workforce in Wales, bringing together three key organisations for health; the Wales Deanery, NHS Workforce Education and Development Services (WEDS), and the Wales Centre for Pharmacy Professional Education (WCPPE).

Minister for Housing and Local Government, Welsh Government

Until she was elected as Member of the Senedd for Swansea West, Julie was a leading environmental and constitutional lawyer. Prior to this, she was assistant chief executive at Swansea Council. She spent most of her legal career in local government, working as a policy lawyer with the London Borough of Camden before returning to Swansea to work for West Glamorgan County Council and then the City and County of Swansea.

Since being elected Julie sat on the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee, Enterprise and Business Committee and Environment and Sustainability Committee. Julie published the ‘Influencing the Modernisation of EU Procurement Policy’ Report as Chair of the Enterprise and Business Committee’s Procurement Task and Finish Group. Julie also sat as Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee’s Common Fisheries Policy Task and Finish Group.

Julie James was appointed Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology in September 2014. In May 2016 Julie was appointed as Minister for Skills and Science. Julie was appointed Leader of the House and Chief Whip on 3 November 2017. On 13 December 2018 Julie was appointed Minister for Housing and Local Government.

Thimon de Jong runs WHETSTON/strategic foresight, a think tank specialised in future human behaviour, societal change & business strategy.

He is an experienced keynote presenter and leadership trainer and has worked for clients like Morgan Stanley, Vodafone, and IKEA. Thimon also lectures at the social psychology department of Utrecht University where he teaches master students how academic research can be practically applied to improve business strategy.

He has a master’s degree in Cultural Studies with a minor in International Business Studies. He is a former insights & strategy director at TrendsActive, researcher at FreedomLab Future Studies and editor in-chief of RELOAD Magazine.

Chief Executive, Wales Council for Voluntary Action

Ruth is Chief Executive of Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), the national membership body for voluntary organisations in Wales.

Ruth was the first Older People's Commissioner in the world establishing the independent office and used her statutory powers to review health care for older people; producing the report “Dignified Care”.

An experienced charity sector activist and leader, she has led RNIB Cymru and Chwarae Teg and an independent review into health regulation in Wales.

Her post graduate qualifications are in human resource management and collaborative leadership.

Ruth regularly contributes to inquiries and Advisory Boards on issues including diversity, volunteering, the charity sector and civil society. Ruth is a trustee of ACEVO and Cynnal Cymru, an advisory board member of Academi Wales, an advisory panel member for the Future Generations Commissioner, a member of the Board of Governors at Cardiff Met University and a director of the International Federation on Ageing.

Academi Wales

Moira has been offering her unique brand of coaching and facilitation since 1991 when she joined the NHS. Her first career was in the performing arts and she spent a number of years in the recruitment business.

Moira is committed to supporting across the public and third sector. She has a postgraduate certificate from Bangor University in Mindfulness Based Approaches and is a Certified Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).

Moira has helped countless individuals across the sectors, present themselves confidently and congruently, manage change, manage stress, create a more powerful personal presence and forge and maintain constructive relationships. As a trainer and facilitator, Moira has been called "inspirational" and "a master of her craft".

Permanent Secretary, Welsh Government

Shan’s career has spanned a wide range of roles in the Civil Service and Diplomatic Service. On graduation from Kent University, she joined the Employment Department, working in the Manpower Services Commission in a variety of employment and training policy roles.

From 1994-1997 Shan was the UK Government delegate to the International Labour Organisation’s Governing Body before a secondment to the British Embassy in Paris as Labour and Social Affairs Attaché. She then took up her first appointment to the UK Representation in Brussels as the Counsellor responsible for Social, Environmental and Regional affairs.
On return to London in 2006 after the UK Presidency of the EU, Shan transferred to the Diplomatic Service as Director, European Union in the Foreign Office, responsible for negotiations on the Lisbon Treaty and leading the UK parliamentary process of ratification.

Shan was HM Ambassador to Argentina and Paraguay from 2008-2012, a period which included the 30th anniversary of the Argentine invasion of the Falklands. She returned to UKRep, Brussels, as Deputy Permanent Representative in 2012, representing the UK on the Committee of Representatives of the Member States (Coreper I) in the Council. She was responsible for leading negotiations across a wide range of subject areas including climate change, environment, energy, fisheries, social affairs, health, transport, and other Single Market issues.

In February 2017, Shan was appointed Welsh Government Permanent Secretary, and leads the Welsh Government Civil Service in delivering the priorities of Ministers, accountable for a budget of £17 billion.

Principal and Chief Executive, Bridgend College

Simon is Principal and Chief Executive of Bridgend College, rated as ‘excellent’ by Estyn (March 2016). Estyn commented that “the Principal provides inspiring leadership that has had a significant impact on the transformation of the College”.

Simon is the winner of the 2018 Institute of Directors (UK) Director of the Year for the Public Sector. Bridgend College has achieved a number of prestigious awards including WhatUni UK FE College of the Year for Higher Education (2018); a UK AoC Beacon Award for Leadership and Governance (2018) and Apprenticeship Provider of the Year for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (2018). Bridgend College is the highest ranked FE College in the UK in the Times 100 Best Companies to work for in both 2017 and 2020. In 2019, Bridgend College was named Times Educational Supplement College of the Year.

He has worked in the education sector for over thirty years. This includes work in the Higher Education, Further Education and School sectors. He has also worked as a Head of Department in Los Angeles, USA on a year long Fulbright Scholarship. Simon sits on the Advisory Board for Academi Wales and is a Board member of National Theatre Wales.

Director, Academi Wales

Paul has over 25 years’ experience in leadership development after joining NHS Wales as a development practitioner during the 1990s. Paul has worked in Academi Wales, Welsh Government since 2013. During this time, he has taken the lead on governance, executive and board level development across the public and third sectors in Wales.

Having developed senior team-assessment frameworks, for leaders, Paul is involved in enabling senior teams and boards. Helping them to identify the characteristics, approaches and strategies required for organisations to implement and sustain organisational high performance.

Paul has a particular interest in exploring concepts around individual, group and system dynamics and their impact on effective decision making at board level. Following completion of the ‘Board Level Dynamics Programme’ with the Tavistock Institute, he contributed a case study chapter to ‘High Performing Boards – exploring the influence of unconscious behaviours for the Dynamics at Boardroom Level’ (A Tavistock Primer for Leaders, Coaches and Consultants), published in 2019 by Routledge.

Naomi is the author of a number of books. Her latest book entitled ‘Organization Design: A Practitioner’s Guide’ was published in 2018.

During her earlier UK career, she was a corporate employee of large multinational companies, including Price Waterhouse, British Airways, Xerox and Marks & Spencer, where she was Head of Organisation Design and Development.

She then moved to the US working as an organisation design consultant to a range of organisations in the government, non-profit and private sectors. She has now returned to the UK to work as a lead organisation designer in the UK government sector.

https://naomistanford.com/about/

Sharon is an independent leadership development specialist and academic who has published and contributed to the field of leadership, organisational change, and global executive development for many years. She has worked with leaders from a wide range of sectors across the globe to support them and their organisations to thrive in this volatile world.

She has taught at a number of business schools in both the UK and overseas, and co-written three books. She is interested in how personal and organisational transformation can be mutually reinforcing, and the important relationships between leadership, personal growth, organisational productivity, and responsibility for society.

Academi Wales

With over 25 years of public sector experience, Nick has been working in the field of continuous improvement and change for 20 years. Nick has spent the last twelve years working with organisations and teams in developing their improvement capability across the NHS and wider public service in Wales and is part of the Academi Wales Continuous Improvement and Change Team.

Richard has been a leader in education for eighteen years. His company, Fearless Leadership, delivers training and leadership consultancy in organisations based around his model ‘The Fearless Approach’. He is the author of ‘Fearless Leadership – unlock success using the secrets of the brain’.

Deputy Chief Constable, South Wales Police

Jeremy Vaughan was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable of South Wales Police in December 2019 and has responsibility for the day to day running of the organisation.

Jeremy began his career with North Wales Police in 1996 where he undertook a number of differing roles working up to the rank of Chief Superintendent in 2014 with responsibility for local policing across North Wales.

In 2016 Jeremy transferred to South Wales Police as Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for Specialist Operations, including Professional Standards, Criminal Justice, Operational Planning and the Public Service Centre. In December 2017 he took responsibility for the Territorial Policing portfolio including leading on Neighbourhood Policing.

In addition to his Force responsibilities, Jeremy is deputy chair of the UK Police Counter Corruption Advisory Group and chair of the South Wales Local Resilience Forum. He is the UK police lead for Facial Matching (Identification), supporting the national development and use of facial recognition technology by the police forces of England and Wales.

Jeremy is the Welsh lead for gender equality and was recognised for his work in this area by the International Association of Women in Policing in 2019 with the HeForShe award. He is strategic lead for our Representative Workforce project which is focussed on attracting and retaining more members of our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and in 2019 was recognised with a Leading Wales Award – Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion.

A fluent Welsh speaker, Jeremy was appointed to the Gorsedd Cymru in 2019 for services to the Welsh language.

Chief Executive, Welsh Centre for International Affairs

With a passion for involving people in internationalism, Susie leads the WCIA, and has been involved in the organisation since getting involved as a volunteer in 2013. Her career in the third sector has included work in gender equality, education and inclusion in Wales, England, South Korea and Eritrea.

“I’m constantly inspired by the people in Wales who give their time, energy and experience to creating a fairer and more peaceful world. At the WCIA, we want to build on these fantastic examples and get more people involved so Wales can continue to punch above its weight as a globally responsible nation.”